During a read-aloud, teachers often pause to check for understanding. Which practice best supports this process?

• A. Asking targeted questions that elicit main idea, details, and inferences
• B. Focusing only on phonics drills
• C. Allowing silent reading without interaction
• D. Ending the session with a vocabulary quiz

Answer: (A)

Checking for understanding during a read-aloud is best supported when you ask targeted questions that elicit the main idea, key details, and inferences. These questions turn listening into an active process, inviting students to articulate the overall message, point to evidence in the text, and use clues to draw conclusions beyond what’s stated. Pausing at meaningful moments gives students time to think aloud, respond, and receive feedback, which helps you gauge understanding and guide subsequent instruction. Phonics drills focus on decoding skills, not on comprehending the story as a whole, so they don’t reinforce meaning-making during the read-aloud. Allowing silent reading without interaction misses chances to check for misunderstandings and to steer interpretation. Ending with a vocabulary quiz emphasizes recall rather than building sense-making from the text during the read-aloud. In short, thoughtful questioning tied to the text’s ideas and evidence best supports ongoing understanding.