Hello!

I know many parents have been thrust into the homeschool world and I wanted to put something
together that will help.
My name is Jen Bengel and I am the owner and founder of Out of This World Literacy,™ an
educational company providing literacy curricula for students in all grade levels.
I have a post-graduate degree as a Literacy Collaborative Coordinator and have worked for years,
training teachers around the world.
For that past 6 years, I’ve also had the honor of being a homeschool mom, so I know firsthand the
situation you’re in!
I put together these reading discussion questions with YOU in mind. They are VERY parent and child
friendly and fun! My hope is that you can use these discussion cards to discuss the texts your child(ren)
are reading at home, all while building critical thinking skills and fostering a lifelong love of learning!

❓👀 LOOKING FOR MORE AT-HOME LITERACY SUPPORT?

CHECK OUT THESE AT-HOME, PARENT-FRIENDLY RESOURCES!
CLICK HERE

Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)

 32 Days of Reading Questions
These reading questions are great to use with any book. They are a great way to check students’ understanding of what
they are reading. Your conversation may be 5 minutes, or it may continue for 10-15 minutes. The main goals are to check for
understanding, learn to reflect on reading, and build a lifelong love of reading.

HOW TO USE THE CARDS:

1. Have students choose a text to read. This can be a short story, passage, picture book, poetry, chapter book, and so on.
2. Have students read for 20 minutes.
• If students lose focus in less than 20 minutes, work to build their reading stamina up to 20 minutes.
• If the text is too difficult for the students to read independently, read it together!
3. After reading, ask the students the first question on the reading card or pass out the student page for them to write their
response. You can also have students copy the questions into a notebook and avoid printing!
4. Use these phrases to help readers say more…
• “Tell me more about…”
• “Tell me more…”
• “What made you think that…?”
• “What else are you thinking about…?”
• “What questions do you have about…?”
• “What are some things you’re wondering about…?”
5. Be sure to give students enough time to process your question before rewording. Ask the same question in the same way a
few times for students to process and think about their responses.
6. Continue the conversation with the follow-up question on each card.
7. Have fun talking about reading!!

Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)

Reading is Interesting Day Reading Teaches Lessons Day
1 2
What is something
What lesson did you learn
interesting that you learned
from reading today?
from reading today?
Follow-up How did the writer make learning about…so Follow-up Why is it important for readers to think about
Question: interesting? Question: lessons they learn from reading?

Reading is Power Day Reading and Imagination Day

3 4
Explain how what you read What do you imagine
today will help you in your (character) would do, say, or
own life. think if…?
Follow-up What does the phrase, ‘reading is power’ Follow-up Do you imagine you would be friends with…
Question: mean to you? Question: in real life? Why or why not?
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Challenges Us Day Reading Takes Skill Day
5 6
What part of your reading What did you do when you
today did you go back and came across a word you did
reread to better understand? not know?
Follow-up What question(s) do you still have about what Follow-up What other strategies do you use when you
Question: you read today? Question: need to solve a new word during reading?

Reading Makes Us Question Day Reading Teaches Patience Day

7 8

What question do you have What part of the text did

about the text after reading? you go back and reread to
make sure you understood?
Follow-up What is your best answer to that question? Follow-up Why is it important to go back and reread
Question: Explain your thinking. Question: parts that you do not understand?
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Makes Us Wise Day Reading Leaves Us Clues Day
9 10
In your opinion, what What kind of words did the
mistake(s) did (character) author use to describe
make in the text? (character, event, topic)?
Follow-up How does reading about character’s mistakes Follow-up What other things can you say about the text
Question: help you in your own life? Question: based on the clues the author left behind?

Reading Helps Us Connect Day Reading Opens Up the World Day

11 12
How are you the same and What is something you
different from the (character, learned about the world
subject)? today from reading?
Follow-up Which character do you think you are most Follow-up How can you use what you learned and apply
Question: like from the story? Why? Question: it to your own life?
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Builds Relationships Day Reading Builds Empathy Day
13 14

How did the characters treat What new points of view

each other in the story? did you learn from reading
today?
Follow-up Would you treat people in your life the same Follow-up How does reading about others help you to
Question: way the characters did? Why or why not? Question: be more understanding?

Reading is Just the Start Day Reading is Predicting Day

15 16
Now that you’ve learned What do you think will
about…, what more are you happen in the text the next
wondering? time you read?
Follow-up What can you do next to help you think more Follow-up What has happened in the text already that
Question: deeply about what you learned from reading? Question: makes you think the way you do?
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Forms Opinions Day Reading Changes Minds Day
17 18
What is your opinion of this How has your opinion of…
text so far? What makes changed since reading this
you think that way? text?
Follow-up Do you think you will ever change your Follow-up What did you read in the text that made you
Question: opinion? Why or why not? Question: change your opinions?

Reading Teaches Culture Day Reading Brings Back the Past Day
19 20
What background
Describe the culture from knowledge did you have
the text you are reading. that helped you read the
text?
Follow-up How is the culture in the text the same and Follow-up Did the information in the text match what
Question: different from your own? Question: you already knew before reading?
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Analyzing Day Reading Creates Detectives Day
21 22
Think about the main idea What clues did the author leave
of the text. What can you behind to help you understand
say about the main idea? (character, event, topic)?
Follow-up What else are you thinking about the text as a Follow-up What else can you say about the text that was
Question: whole? Tell me more. Question: not directly included by the author?

Reading Helps Tell Stories Day Reading Brings Perspective Day

23 24
Tell what you remember What is (character) attitude
from reading today in the about…? How do you
order it happened. know?
Follow-up What do you think about the events from the Follow-up Do you have the same perspective as
Question: text that you read today? Tell me more. Question: (character)? Explain.
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Facts Day Reading Discovers Words Day
25 26

What facts did you learn What were the 3 most

from reading today? interesting words from your
reading today?
Follow-up Which fact was the most interesting to you? Follow-up What does each word mean? How would
Question: Why? Question: you use the words in your own life?

Reading Creates a Mood Day Reading Is Entertainment Day

27 28
What was the mood in the What part of the text did
text you read today? How you enjoy reading the most?
do you know? Why?
Follow-up What kind of mood(s) were you feeling Follow-up What is your favorite book that you’ve ever
Question: during reading today? Why? Question: read? What makes it your favorite?
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Patterns Day Reading Teaches Reasoning Day
29 30
Explain the pattern of What was the most logical thing
events that happened in the (character) did or said in the
text you read. story?
Follow-up Which event do you think is the most Follow-up What do you think (character) decided to
Question: important? Why? Question: (action) ?

Reading Teaches Grammar Day Reading Is Persuasive Day

31 32
Which sentence was your What does the text make
favorite? What types of you want to do after
punctuation were included? reading?
Follow-up What do commas tell you as a reader? Periods? Follow-up Has the text persuaded you to do anything or
Question: Exclamation marks? Question marks? Question: make any changes in your life? Explain.
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
 Reading is Interesting Day Reading Teaches Lessons Day
What is something interesting that you 1 What lesson did you learn from 2
learned from reading today? reading today?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up How did the writer make learning about…so Follow-up Why is it important for readers to think about
Question: interesting? Question: lessons they learn from reading?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
 Reading is Power Day Reading and Imagination Day
Explain how what you read today will 3 What do you imagine (character) would 4
help you in your own life. do, say, or think if…?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What does the phrase, ‘reading is power’ Follow-up Do you imagine you would be friends with…
Question: mean to you? Question: in real life? Why or why not?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Challenges Us Day Reading Takes Skill Day
What part of your reading today did 5 What did you do when you came 6
you go back and reread to better understand? across a word you did not know?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What question(s) do you still have about what Follow-up What other strategies do you use when you
Question: you read today? Question: need to solve a new word during reading?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Makes Us Question Day Reading Teaches Patience Day
What question do you have about the 7 What part of the text did you go back 8
text after reading? and reread to make sure you understood?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What is your best answer to that question? Follow-up Why is it important to go back and reread
Question: Explain your thinking. Question: parts that you do not understand?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Makes Us Wise Day Reading Leaves Us Clues Day
In your opinion, what mistake(s) did 9 What kind of words did the author use 10
(character) make in the text? to describe (character, event, topic)?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up How does reading about character’s mistakes Follow-up What other things can you say about the text
Question: help you in your own life? Question: based on the clues the author left behind?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Helps Us Connect Day Reading Opens Up the World Day
How are you the same and different 11 What is something you learned about 12
from (character, subject)? the world today from reading?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up Which character do you think you are most Follow-up How can you use what you learned and apply
Question: like from the story? Why? Question: it to your own life?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Builds Relationships Day Reading Builds Empathy Day
How did the characters treat each other 13 What new points of view did you learn 14
in the story? from reading today?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up Would you treat people in your life the same Follow-up How does reading about others help you to
Question: way the characters did? Why or why not? Question: be more understanding?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading is Just the Start Day Reading is Predicting Day
Now that you’ve learned about…, 15 What do you think will happen in the 16
what more are you wondering? text the next time you read?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What can you do next to help you think more Follow-up What has happened in the text already that
Question: deeply about what you learned from reading? Question: makes you think the way you do?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Forms Opinions Day Reading Changes Minds Day
What is your opinion of this text so 17 How has your opinion of…changed 18
far? What makes you think that way? since reading this text?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up Do you think you will ever change your Follow-up What did you read in the text that made you
Question: opinion? Why or why not? Question: change your opinions?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Culture Day Reading Brings Back the Past Day
Describe the culture from the text you 19 What background knowledge did you 20
are reading. have that helped you read the text?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up How is the culture in the text the same and Follow-up Did the information in the text match what
Question: different from your own? Question: you already knew before reading?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Analyzing Day Reading Creates Detectives Day
Think about the main idea of the text. 21 What clues did the author leave behind 2 2
What can you say about the main idea? to help you understand (character, event, topic)?
____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What else are you thinking about the text as a Follow-up What else can you say about the text that was
Question: whole? Tell me more. Question: not directly included by the author?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Helps Tell Stories Day Reading Brings Perspective Day
Tell what you remember from reading 23 What is (character) attitude about…? 24
today in the order it happened. How do you know?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What do you think about the events from the Follow-up Do you have the same perspective as
Question: text that you read today? Tell me more. Question: (character)? Explain.

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Facts Day Reading Discovers Words Day
What facts did you learn from reading 25 What were the 3 most interesting words 26
today? from your reading today?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up Which fact was the most interesting to you? Follow-up What does each word mean? How would
Question: Why? Question: you use the words in your own life?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Creates a Mood Day Reading Is Entertainment Day
What was the mood in the text you 27 What part of the text did you enjoy 28
read today? How do you know? reading the most? Why?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What kind of mood(s) were you feeling Follow-up What is your favorite book that you’ve ever
Question: during reading today? Why? Question: read? What makes it your favorite?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Patterns Day Reading Teaches Reasoning Day
Explain the pattern of events that 29 What was the most logical thing 30
happened in the text you read. (character) did or said in the story?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up Which event do you think is the most Follow-up What do you think (character) decided to
Question: important? Why? Question: (action) ?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)
Reading Teaches Grammar Day Reading Is Persuasive Day
Which sentence was your favorite? 31 What does the text make you want to 32
What types of punctuation were included? do after reading?

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Follow-up What do commas tell you as a reader? Periods? Follow-up Has the text persuaded you to do anything or
Question: Exclamation marks? Question marks? Question: make any changes in your life? Explain.

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Copyright: Out of This World Literacy (Jen Bengel)