'Head'
Comprehension Question Stems
'Head
Questions' are those that the answers can be found in your head by
thinking about them.
Here
are two pages of question stems that I use in my reading sessions.
How
to use this guide:
-
when running a Guided Reading Session have these question stems next
to you and formulate appropriate questions as you see a context.
-
hand these question stems to your group and ask them to, 'Pretend
that you are a nasty, nasty teacher who lives only to make children
suffer. Using these question stems, what questions would you ask about
the text to try and trick the students?' - You might be surprised
how well they rise to this challenge :)
-
Have other groups answer the questions.
Focus
on Character
-
Why do you think (character acted... in this situation)?
- Why do you think (event happened)?
- List five ways (character) and (character) are alike?
- List five ways (character) and (character) are different?
- How is (character) similar to (character)?
- How are (character) & (character) dissimilar to each other?
- What do you think would have happened differently if (change a character's
thought or reaction)?
- If (change a character's personality) how might the story have developed
differently?
- What might have prevented (problem from text) happening?
- What are the strengths of (character)?
- What are the
weaknesses of (character)?
- What vulnerabilities does (character) have?
- Would you rather be (character) or (character)? Why?
- What do you think
(character) meant where he/she said ('...phrase...')
- What would your parents say to you if you came home raving about
(character from story) who (characteristic of character)?
- Do you agree with (positive or negative statement about a character)?
Why? Be prepared to share your reasons.
- Is (character) a hero? Read (passage from text). - How could this
section of text change a person's mind?
- Was (character) a villain? Read (passage from text). How could this
text change a person's mind?
- What were (character's) motives (at point in text)?
- What do you think motivates (character) in (situation)?
- Did (character's) motives change throughout the text? How?
- Do you think (character) should have...? Why or why not?
- You are a TV reporter, what questions will you ask (character)?
- What did (character) mean by the expression ('..........................')
- (Character) believes ..................... What is the counter argument
to this view?
- If you were (character) what would you have said to (other character)
when (incident occurred)?
- What can you learn from this author about character development?
- If I where (character) I would have (describe your action) when
(action from story)
- I wonder if (character) (felt emotion) when (action or event)? -
Students fill this one in.
- What caused (character) to (behaviour)?
- What else could (character) have tried to (solve or avoid complication)?
- Just suppose (character) had not done (action). What would have
happened differently in the story?
- At (position in story) how do you think the character feels - (rise
above the mundane) - 'sad' = heart broken = devastated
- (character) said ('...........................') do you agree or
disagree? Why or why not?
