An interactive workshop that teaches parents how to read *with* their child rather than just *to* them — using comprehension strategies, open-ended questioning, and discussion techniques that build deep literacy skills and a lasting love of reading. Appropriate for families of readers at all stages.
Standards Alignment
Welcome & Favorite Book Memory
Ask parents: What book do you remember loving as a child — or one your child can't put down right now? Share briefly at tables. This grounds the session in joy and connection rather than instruction. Reading is fundamentally relational.
Reading With vs. Reading To
Explain the difference: reading *to* builds vocabulary and a love of story. Reading *with* — through questioning, predicting, and discussing — builds comprehension, critical thinking, and stamina. Show a brief example using a picture book or short passage. Both matter; this session focuses on the 'with.'
The Three Questions Framework
Teach parents three types of questions to ask while reading: 'Right there' (literal — found directly in the text), 'Think and search' (inferential — requires connecting parts of the text), and 'On your own' (evaluative — connects to their own experience or opinion). Practice identifying which type each sample question is.
Partner Reading Practice
Pairs of parents take a short, age-appropriate text and practice reading it together using the three-question framework. One person reads, one asks questions, then switch. Debrief: which types of questions led to the richest conversation? Which felt most natural?
Building a Reading Routine at Home
In small groups: What makes it hard to read together at home? (Time, reluctant readers, competing screens.) For each barrier named, the group brainstorms one practical workaround. Share out. Distribute the '5-Minute Reading Ritual' tip card — small, consistent habits over long, infrequent sessions.
Closing & Book Recommendations
Invite parents to share one book recommendation for their child's age group. Collect these on a shared list to distribute. Remind parents: the most important thing is not the strategy — it's the conversation. Any book, any time, any place.