Predicting is a skill that prompts students to think about the story by making educated guesses about what might happen next. Using pictures is an effective way to practice this strategy. The teacher can show pictures to the class while reading aloud, or pass the book around and let the children look at the pictures before reading, sometimes called a "picture walk." The teacher then asks the children to discuss what they think is going to happen in the story. This activity builds excitement about reading.
Teachers can also demonstrate questioning strategies to their second-graders through picture books. Teachers prompt discussions from the pictures and model how to ask such questions as "I wonder why this girl is crying?" or "What is the setting of this book? Since I see a farm, it must be the country." Questioning helps readers learn and retain the most important details of the story. It will also help them begin to think critically about literature, a skill they will need in future grades.
Using prior knowledge to make connections to a book is another important comprehension skill. When second-graders realize that they can identify with a character or a situation, they become active readers who tend to remember more about what they have read. Teachers should ask students to look at the pictures and see if they are reminded of people and places or experiences they've had, then encourage them to share their thoughts with the class. Second-graders might not have a wealth of experience to draw upon, but they will learn that books can have personal meaning.
Summarizing is a comprehension strategy that emphasizes remembering the main parts of a story -- its characters and their motivations, the setting and action. Pictures in books usually depict many of these things, so they are effective for teaching how to summarize. After a book has been read, the teacher will slowly turn the pages, pause at each picture, then ask a specific question such as "What is her name, and what is happening in the story?" or "How does his expression tell us that this story will have a happy ending?" Hopefully, when children are retelling the story, the pictures will come to mind and help them recall pertinent information.