Today, students were introduced to the A.P.E chart.  This is a new chapter for us as we learn to develop our reading response skills. To get students to think critically about what they read, we often ask those open-ended, thinking-type questions–questions that don’t have a definite answer and are subject to interpretation. (These are not yes or no questions). There is no wrong answer, but the quality of a good answer is based on the content within it.  The A.P.E chart, gives the students guidelines on how to answer these types of questions.

Words that begin open-ended questions:

• What, Why, How, Tell Me, Describe, Explain, Compare, and Contrast

When discussing your child’s reading at home, you could ask him/her an open-ended question such as:

• How is this character’s experience similar to something you’ve experienced?
• Why do you think _______ did that?  Would you have done the same thing?
• What’s your opinion of (situation, character)?
• If you could describe the character of (name of main character), what would it be and why?
• Why do you think the author…

These are just a few examples of the kinds of questions you can ask your child about what he/she is currently reading.  In response, whether in writing or orally, encourage him/her to follow the A.P.E model by Answering the question, provide Proof from the text, and Extend his/her thinking with personal opinions, thoughts, predictions or connections.  These are things that good readers do and that’s what we want our primary and junior students doing.

Here is an open-ended question to think about:

What are you most proud of in school this year?