One of the key reading skills we are building in Grade 2 is understanding the main point of a text. When children read, it’s easy for them to focus on small details. Strong readers learn to step back and think about what the text was mostly about.
We are practising a simple strategy that helps students do this. After reading, we ask two questions.
First: Who or what was the reading about?
This helps children identify the main topic or subject.
Second: What did they do?
This helps them think about the important action or information connected to that topic.
When students answer these two questions, they often end up with a clear sentence that captures the main idea of the reading.
You can practise this at home in a very natural way. Try asking these two questions during dinner as a family conversation. After your child reads a book, article, or even after someone shares a story from their day, ask:
- Who or what was it about?
- What did they do?
You might notice that different people in the family give slightly different answers. That’s completely fine. Reading and listening often involve personal interpretation, and hearing different perspectives can lead to thoughtful discussions.
These short conversations help children strengthen their understanding of what they read and practise explaining ideas clearly. Over time, this builds the confidence and comprehension skills they need as readers.
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