After children learn to decode text, the next most important skill for them to develop is the ability to comprehend what they read. One of the ways to check for understanding is to have children explain what has been happening in the section of text that they have read. When children can summarize the actions that have taken place, we can be reasonably assured that they have gotten meaning from what has been read. Once children can summarize what they have been reading well, the next step is to deepen their thinking by asking them to analyze or reflect on the text in more sophisticated ways. We can do this by asking children “why” or “how” questions about the characters or their actions which are not explicitly stated in the story. These questions require children to think more deeply about the text and make connections beyond the literal level. Some examples might be: “How is what happened to character x similar to something that has happened to you? or “Why do you think the father was angry at the store clerk in the story?” Engaging children in thinking about the text as they read builds fluency and enhances deep level processing.