February 26 2008

Dear Parent/Guardians.

The Parents Association has purchased a large quantity of graded readers (at our request)to support our literacy progrramme. The books have been purchased for all classes from Senior Infants to Fourth and will be used to supplement our class reading

To enhance reading development and comprehension skills it is suggested that a question and answer session be integral to the reading of these book. This could take the format of "who", "what'", "when", "where", "why" questioning, for example:-

  1. Who are the characters in the story ? (Share something about them)
  2. What were the characters doing ?.
  3. What is happening in the picture?
  4. When did the action take place, when did a character change, a situation change?
  5. Describe where the story took place.
  6. Why did a character behave in a particular way or why did a particular incident or event happen?

Other questions might include:

  1. Guessing what the story could be about from the cover.
  2. Retelling the story.
  3. Relating the story to the child's own experience e.g. what would you do in that situation, if you were the boy or girl in the story?
  4. Predicting what might happen next in the story (while reading the story or when the story is read).
  5. Explain the message of the story.

Please keep this letter, the questions listed (plus the questions which appear on the inside front cover of many of the books) will help your child "explore" the readers to the full and so expand and develop their reading experience. I wish to thank the parents who were involved in the purchasing of these readers.

Yours sincerely.

Frances Murtagh

Learning Support Teacher