160 Stirling Highway Nedlands WA 6009, Australia

Tel: +61 (08) 9386 7611Fax: +61 (08) 9389 7232

www.pld-literacy.org mail@pld-literacy.org

3 Year Old Comprehension QuestionsThis learning resource contains a instructional manual and 35, double sided, cards that model appropriate questions and responses for books recommended for 3 year olds.

Designed by Speech Pathologists for teachers and parents.

Lists of recommended books and questions.

Samples of 3 year old answers.

Includes a simple and quick Pre-Test and Post-Test.

Other resources in this range are:• 4 Year Old Comprehension Questions (For 3½ to 4½ year olds.)• 5 Year Old Comprehension Questions (For 4½ to 5½ year olds.)• 6 and 7 Year Old Comprehension Questions (For 5½ to 7½ year olds.)

Visit our website www.pld-literacy.org to view these and other learning resources.

Instructional Manual

Pre-Test and Post-Test

35 Question and Response Cards

Pack Contents

Mc3

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

Overview Of Contents

Notes From The Authors 1

Overview Of Comprehension Development 2

Overview of Comprehension Questions For 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Year Olds 3

Recommended Books For 3 Year Olds 4

Guidelines For Use As A Whole Class Activity 5

Guidelines For Use As A Small Group Activity 6

Guidelines For Use As An Individual Activity 7

Establishing A Home-Based Comprehension Program 8

Narrative Retelling Process 9

Pre-Test Picture and Questions 10 - 11

Post-Test Picture and Questions 12 - 13

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones 14

Speech Sound Development Timeline 16

Concept Development Timeline 17

Included with this booklet are 35 cards that model appropriate questions and 4 responses for the books listed in the Recommended Books For 3 Year Olds. It is recommended that the cards be laminated.

In keeping with PLD’s distinct integration of speech pathology, occupational therapy and education, PLD Learning Resources are published under the Organisation’s

unique Skill Set approach.

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd. 3 Year Old Comprehension Questions 5

Guidelines For Use As A Whole Class ActivityTo be led by a teacher or education assistant (EA).

Aims of the whole class activity • To assist the teacher in identifying children who are not able to understand questions at an age

appropriate level. • For the teacher to understand how different types of questions have varying levels of difficulty

for children. • To give the teacher examples of question types and increase teacher awareness of how to

adapt questions within the classroom. • To provide models of adequate and appropriate answers to questions children are asked. • To involve children more thoroughly in the book reading / story telling process.

Suggestions for class layout

Arrange children so they are sitting in a circle and you are part of the circle. Hold book up for children to see and place question card on your lap or on the floor in front of you.

OR

Arrange children so they are sitting in a close group in front of you and you are holding the book up so that they can see the pages clearly. Place the question card on your lap if you are on a chair or on the floor in front of you if you are sitting on the floor.

• Tell the children that you are going to read a story and that you are going to ask questions as you go. It is important that they know that you are going to ask questions for them to answer.

• If you have children who you know find it difficult to answer questions appropriately, for example, children with language delay, it is helpful for them if you ask the question, provide the answer and then ask the question again. They repeat the answer you gave them, which allows you to give positive verbal feedback at their response.

• If you have children who you know are very competent at answering questions appropriately, you may choose them as a model for some of the harder questions and then ask a child who has difficulty answering questions or is very ‘shy’, the same question. This way, they have just heard an appropriate response and can learn from it and copy it. They then receive positive feedback for their response and build confidence in the task.

• It is recommended that you choose a child before you ask a question so that they are listening carefully and know that they will have to answer it. Say their name, and tell them that you are going to ask them a question. Then ask the appropriate part of the text and relevant question.

These guidelines are recommended to allow the activity to have the greatest benefit for the teacher and students, in terms of linguistic skill as well as confidence and self –esteem.

RemembeR… the activity needs to be a positive learning experience and is not designed to ‘test’ children all the time, otherwise they will associate story time with pressure, embarrassment and the idea of having to get the answer ‘right’.

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

bath

roo

m s

ce

ne im

ag

e fo

r Pre

–Te

st

10 3 Year Old Comprehension Questions PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

Pre –Test — 3 Year Old Blank Questions

Child’s Name: _________________________________________________ Date: _______________

Test administered by: __________________________________________

1. Put the picture of the bathroom scene in front of the child. 2. Ask the child to look at the picture. 3. Ask the child the four questions and tick whether the response is adequate

or inadequate. 4. Add the total scores at the bottom of the page.

Pre – Test Questions

1. (Level 1) What is this? (point to the bath)

Tick Child’s response:

Adequate response A bath; a girl in a bath; a bath with lots of bubbles.

Inadequate responseI don’t know; a box; a shower; a water thing; for the girl getting wet; bubbles.

2. (Level 1) Point to the stars.

Tick Child’s response:

Adequate response Points to both of the stars.

Inadequate responsePoints to anything except the stars; points to only one of the stars; I don’t know; doesn’t point to anything.

3. (Level 2) The girl is holding a …

Tick Child’s response:

Adequate response Duck; rubber duckie; a birdie; a toy duck.

Inadequate response Toothbrush; water; bubbles; bath.

4. (Level 2) What do we use a towel for?

Tick Child’s response:

Adequate responseTo dry ourself; to dry ourselves; for drying out body; to dry myself; to put the water off after it’s wet / a bath; for making me dry / not wet.

Inadequate response It’s on there; for going on you; for a towel; in the bathroom.

Summary: Level 1 / 2 Level 2 / 2

PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd. 3 Year Old Comprehension Questions 11

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd. 3 Year Old Comprehension Questions

Tips For Asking Children QuestionsWhen asking a child questions, it is important to support and teach them what the question means and how you want them to answer it. If a child has difficulty understanding a question, uses incorrect grammar or doesn’t give enough detail in their answer, you can:

1. Repeat the question using visual cues to support (e.g. pictures and gestures). 2. Rephrase the question or ask it in a different way. 3. Give two alternatives for the student to choose between. 4. Model the correct answer.

The following is an example to show how you might assist a child who has given an inappropriate or inadequate answer.

eXAmPLe

Picture book: elmer’s OppositesAuthor: David mcKee

Adult: What are the baby lion cubs doing?

Child: Closing they eyes.

Adult: They are sleeping. The lion cubs are sleeping.

Child: They are sleeping.

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

Sample Card

PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd. 3 Year Old Comprehension Questions

Picture book: elmer’s OppositesAuthor: David mcKee

Page Questions and Responses Question Level

1

Tell me, where is the bird?

2Adequate response On his trunk; on the elephant’s trunk.

Inadequate response There (points); I don’t know.

2

Which animal has stripes?

2Adequate response The tiger.

Inadequate response The tortoise; points to the tiger, but doesn’t say anything.

2

How are the tiger and the tortoise different?

2Adequate responseThe tiger is fast and the tortoise is slow; this one has stripes and this one hasn’t got stripes; anything which refers to the difference between the animals.

Inadequate responseIt’s a tiger and a tortoise; I don’t know; it’s got different things; it’s like the same.

3

What are the baby lion cubs doing?

2Adequate response Sleeping; cuddling and sleeping.

Inadequate response There; closing their eyes.

5

Show me which elephant is hot?

2Adequate response Points to the elephant that is hot.

Inadequate response Points to the elephant that is cold.

7

This bear is happy because he still has his…

2Adequate response Balloon.

Inadequate response That (points to the balloon); he’s happy; smiling.

8

The monkeys are in the….

2Adequate response Tree; jungle.

Inadequate response Him’s talking; the book.

9

Show me the thin rabbit.

1Adequate response Points to the thin rabbit.

Inadequate response Points to the fat rabbit.

9

The carrot is a vegetable. Tell me another vegetable.

2Adequate response Names another vegetable.

Inadequate response Can not think of another vegetable.

Sample© PLD Organisation Pty. Ltd.

Sample Card