Pearson Family Book Nights
Pearson Family Book Nights is sponsored and underwritten by the Pearson Foundation.
Introducing and Using the Dialogic
Reading Method
Family Book Night provides a unique opportunity to introduce adult family members to the
concepts and tools used in dialogic reading, a proven and effective method of encouraging
young readers. In case you are unfamiliar with the method, an overview with examples
follows. Also provided are tips for presenting the method to family members through a brief
presentation and discussion on Family Book Night.
What Is Dialogic Reading?
Simply put, dialogic reading is taking turns in a conversation about a book, or reading and
talking about it. Talking about books is important for small children. Researchers have learned
that when children are regularly engaged in repeating, correcting, and expanding their use
of language around a book, they improve their language and literacy skills. Because having a
conversation about a book often naturally begins with questions, Grover J. Whitehurst (current
director of the Institute of Education Sciences) developed a way to ask questions during
reading. Asking and responding to questions forms the basis of dialogic reading.
The PEER Sequence
The word PEER stands for the way you ask questions and respond to a child. PEER stands for
prompt, evaluate, expand, and repeat. You can use the PEER sequence for almost anything you
read with a child. The chart shows steps, sample questions, and responses.
The PEER Sequence
Step How do you do it? How does it help?
P = Prompt the child • Ask the child a question or invite • Focuses attention.
the child to talk about something
Example:
on the page. • Engages the child in the story.
Adult: What is this?
• You can prompt the child to name • Helps the child understand the plot.
Child: A cat.
an object on the page or talk about • Builds vocabulary.
something in the story.
E = Evaluate what the • Think about what the child says.
child says Is the answer correct? What
information can you add?
E = Expand on what the • Add a few words to the child’s • Encourages the child to say just a
child says response. little more than he or she would
naturally.
Example: • In some cases, gently provide the
Adult: Yes, it’s a big orange cat. correct response. • Builds vocabulary.
Can you say that?
R = Repeat • Ask the child to repeat the • Encourages the child to use
Example: expanded or correct response. language.
Child: A big orange cat.
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Different Kinds of Prompts
As you know, the kinds of questions you typically ask a very young child (2 to 3 years old) are
different from the questions you can ask an older child (4 to 5 years old). Dialogic reading
techniques will help build a younger child’s verbal language skills and vocabulary. Older
children can recall events in a story and can make connections between what they see in a
book and their own lives. The letters in the word CROWD stand for the kinds of questions (or
prompts) developed for dialogic reading. CROWD stands for completion, recall, open-ended, wh-
prompts, and distancing. Recall and distancing questions are only for four- to five-year-olds. The
chart shows sample prompts.
The CROWD Sequence
Kind of Prompt How do you do it? How does it help?
C = Completion • Ask the child to complete a word or • Encourages the child to listen to
Example: Let’s finish this page phrase. Completion questions are and use language
together. often used in books that rhyme.
Over the meadows, in a hole • Ask the child to supply a repeated
in a tree, refrain, such as, “Not by the hair of
Lived a mother bluebird and my chinny, chin, chin.”
her little birdies _________.
R = Recall • Ask the child about what • Builds a sense of story.
happens in the story.
Example: What happens after • Helps the child to recall details.
the wolf climbs onto the third
little pig’s roof?
• Ask the child what the
characters do.
O= Open-ended • Ask the child to tell you what is • Provides an opportunity for the
Example: Tell me what is happening in the pictures. child to use language.
going on in this picture.
W = Wh- prompts • Point to something in the picture • Builds vocabulary.
Example: What’s this called? and ask the child to name the
What does the pig use it for? object or action.
D = Distancing • Ask questions that relate something • Helps the child make connections
Example: Have you ever made in the story to the child’s life. between books and life.
a cake? What did it look like? • Provides an opportunity for the
child to use language.
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Dialogic Reading Presentation
While Family Book Night is a lot of fun for the participants, there is also valuable information
to share with family members about their children’s development. It is recommended to
share this information either during the book assembly stage or immediately after, in small to
medium-size groups. At the end of the event, participants will receive the handout entitled
“Read Together: Simple tips for reading with your child,” which covers the basics of dialogic
reading. Below are a few talking points to use in your presentation and discussion of family
reading, to expand on what they will be given.
Discuss the importance of reading and literacy for young people, by:
• Explaining that children are much more likely to succeed in learning when their
families actively support them;
• Talking about how helping to develop reading skills is the most important thing
adults can do to help their children; and
• Sharing the concept that how well children learn to read affects their success in
school and does much to shape how well they do throughout their lives.
Give an overview of dialogic reading by:
• Explaining that reading aloud helps children to learn new words, learn more
about the world, learn about written language, and see the connection between
words that are spoken and words that are written;
• Discussing how dialogic reading works, highlighting the PEER sequence;
• Presenting examples of the prompt process; and
• Demonstrating (if appropriate) the method with a child volunteer, using the
child’s new ABC book.
Make sure to answer any questions family members may have.
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