Answering Questions

Activities for Teaching Reading
from Curriculum for Adult Beginning Reader - Level 0-3.0

Who, what, when, where, and why questions become routine when introduced with newspaper articles. Generally a reporter answers these questions within the first two paragraphs.

Prepare the following form for distribution to the students:

1. Who is the main person in this story?
2. Where did it happen?
3. When did it happen?
4. What happened?
5. Why did it happen?

Tell the learner that these are the questions a reporter answers right away because the newspaper reader is in a hurry and wants the answers. That way the reader decides if he wants to read the whole article. (Point out that hardly anyone reads everything in the paper -- only what they are interested in reading.)

Also, use the above questions for the following activity:

• Read the lead paragraph of an article to the learner(s).
• Ask the learners to read along silently.
• Ask the learner verbal question(s).
• Ask the learner to fill in the above form with assistance.

Dear Abby Letters

Read learners a letter to "Dear Abby."

Learners discuss an answer. Then dictate another letter. Each learner then writes an answer to the last letter. Answers are shared in class.

Alternative: Students write their own letters to "Dear Abby" and exchange letters. Then they write answers and return to the owners. Letters and answers are shared.