Templates: Pre–During–Post Reading Templates
Make every story a conversation that grows with time.
Words That Bloom
Make Every Story a
Conversation That Grows
A gentle framework for reading together — before, during, and after the story.
These templates guide you in asking gentle, open-ended questions before, during, and after a story. Each stage activates a different part of comprehension — prediction, reasoning, and reflection — without turning reading into a test.
When you use this framework, you'll help your child build understanding, empathy, and confidence step by step.
✦ How to Use
Choose one or two questions from each stage.
Keep it light — treat it like curiosity, not a quiz.
Use follow-up prompts from the Response Scaffolding Guide below to keep the conversation going.
📖 Pre · During · Post Question Templates
- ? "Look at the title — what do you think will happen?"
- ? "What do you notice on the cover?"
- ? "Have we read any stories like this before?"
- ? "What do you think this story might be about?"
- ? "Why do you think the character said that?"
- ? "What might happen next?"
- ? "How do you think she feels right now?"
- ? "What do you notice in the picture?"
- ? "How did the story make you feel?"
- ? "What was your favorite part?"
- ? "Did the ending surprise you?"
- ? "What do you think the author wanted us to learn?"
💬 Response Scaffolding Guide
When your child answers, try one of these gentle responses to encourage deeper thinking and keep the conversation flowing:
✨ Try This Tonight
Pick one question from each stage and one scaffolded response:
The goal isn't right answers — it's connection, curiosity, and confidence.
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Templates: Pre–During–Post Reading Templates
Make every story a conversation that grows with time.
These templates guide you in asking gentle, open-ended questions before, during, and after a story. Each stage activates a different part of comprehension—prediction, reasoning, and reflection—without turning reading into a test.
When you use this framework, you’ll help your child build understanding, empathy, and confidence step by step.
How to Use
Choose one or two questions from each stage.
Keep it light—treat it like curiosity, not a quiz.
Use follow-up prompts from the Response Scaffolding Guide to keep the conversation going.
Pre–During–Post Question Templates
Stage | Example Prompts |
|---|---|
| ⏰ Before Reading | “Look at the title—what do you think will happen?” “What do you notice on the cover?” “Have we read any stories like this before?” “What do you think this story might be about?” |
| 📖 During Reading | “Why do you think the character said that?” “What might happen next?” “How do you think she feels right now?” “What do you notice in the picture?” |
| 🌈 After Reading | “How did the story make you feel?” “What was your favorite part?” “Did the ending surprise you?” “What do you think the author wanted us to learn?” |
Response Scaffolding Guide
When kids answer, try one of these gentle responses to encourage deeper thinking and keep the conversation flowing:
Encourage Thinking:
“That’s interesting—why do you think so?”
Invite Checking:
“Let’s look at the picture to check.”
Build Language:
“Can you say that in another way?”
Affirm Observation:
“I like how you noticed that detail!”
🌟 Try This Tonight
Pick one question from each stage and one scaffolded response.
“Before we read, what do you think this story might be about?”
“During: Why do you think he said that?”
“After: How did it make you feel?”
The goal isn’t right answers—it’s connection, curiosity, and confidence.