Reception Reading

[BaresarkBunny]

My ds is 4.8 and is currently reading the Ginn lighthouse yellow band books which he can read easily.

Although he can read words easily I need to make sure that he actually understands the story behind the words. I'm struggling trying to phrase questions right for him to test his understanding. He can do 'what' questions but struggles with 'why' e.g if I ask why is the girl doing that he will say 'because she is'

Has anyone got any suggestions on how I can test his understanding or should I just carry on with the 'why' questions and hope that he understands the why concept.

Sorry if this makes no sense whatsoever.

If "why" questions are not his thing then I'd test him by saying something incorrect and see if he corrects you or reacts.

My why questions tend to be about the picture on the page- questions like why does the main character look sad in the picture?

Model answers for him and practise during the day. e.g. Why are we going to the shops? Because we need to buy milk etc.

My DS(5) often says 'because I am' when I ask him a why question but only because he's being lazy and can't be bothered to explain. He is quite able.

DOes your DS ask why questions?

Thank you for the responses. He doesn't really ask why questions, he has ASD and I think maybe why is a bit abstract for him.

Saying that if I do ask him why we need to go to the shops his answer would be for chocolate or biscuits.

I will try and encourage why questions in day to day life.

Ah, well that's a whole different thing then. People with ASD think very differently.

If your DS is reading then he must be fairly high functioning so plenty of modelling may help (eventually).

DO you have any support with this at school? SALT for example?

lol @ chocolate and biscuits. He can do that because that is his immediate need (well, want, not a need!) - he knows what he wants. He doesn't necessarily know or understand why anyone else does anything. That's one of the big things with ASD - difficulty understanding how other people thin and behave in the way they do.

I shold have mentioned the ASD in my earlier post, sorry.

He has an IEP at school mainly to do with anxiety and it also has about asking him about why. He has been discharged from SALT and didn't have any actual learning sessions with them.

Is modelling going over it with him to try and teach him the meaning of why. We have done it with what so fingers crossed that will work.

Is reading is amazing but there are concerns that he doesn't always understand what he is actually reading although school are notsure either way. We are waiting for the education Autism team to come and assess his needs so maybe they will be able to help.

Modelling really helps children with ASD - many learn by copying so if you ask and answer lots of 'why' questions yourself, he will (hopefully) begin to see the pattern and learn to do the same. Modelling really means just doing the things yourself so he can see how they're done. But 'why' can be quite abstract because it involves imagining why other people do things which can be very hard. It's part of the social difficulties that is part of ASD.

Hope you find some help - the Autism team should be useful.

Also, the IEP should be very specific and state how they are going to help DS with they 'why' thing - it should have simple steps which you should be able to follow or adapt to use at home.