Have your young students read with a dictionary close at hand. Teach them to look up any word they don't know as they proceed through their reading. Have them write down the word and a short definition. This way, children can keep a running list of new or difficult vocabulary words throughout the year.
Give children a series of questions to think about before they begin reading. Don't ask specific questions about the material that can be definitively answered. Ask general questions that encourage active reading, such as, "What point is the writer trying to get across?" and "Who is the writer's intended audience?" For younger children, ask simpler questions, such as, "Who is the main character?" or "Is it a happy ending or a sad ending?"
Ask your students to write a question mark in the margin next to anything in the book they do not understand, whether it is a textbook or fiction. Train them to identify the elements in a book that confuse them. When their reading is done, have the children write down at least one thoughtful question they have about the book. Use these questions as a discussion-starter.
Ask children to write a short summary of each chapter as they proceed with their reading. Have them summarize the main points in a few sentences. For younger children, have them write one sentence that they feel encapsulates the message of each chapter.