Turn Your Child Into a Story Detective: The Simple Strategy That Transforms Reading Comprehension

Kelly Sutherland
Oct 12
6 min read

Welcome to Day 3 of the 30-Day Family Reading Challenge!

Have you ever watched your child dive straight into a book, only to get overwhelmed or lose interest halfway through? You're not alone. This is one of the most common challenges I see with struggling readers in my 21+ years as a National Board Certified Reading Specialist.

But here's the good news: there's one simple technique that can completely transform how your child approaches every book they pick up. It's called the Story Detective Strategy, and it activates your child's brain BEFORE they even read the first word.

Why Most Children Struggle With Reading Comprehension

Here's what I see happening with struggling readers all the time:

They dive straight into the book without any preparation. Then they get overwhelmed or lose interest halfway through. They're not connecting with the story because their brain isn't primed for what's coming.

It's like trying to solve a puzzle without looking at the picture on the box first.

You're missing a crucial step that makes everything else easier. And this step is especially critical for children with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences who need additional support to stay engaged and process information effectively.

🎥 Watch the Full Video Tutorial

Before we dive deeper, I want you to watch this powerful video where I demonstrate exactly how to implement the Story Detective Strategy with your family:

👉 Watch: Can This Simple Trick Change How Kids Read Forever?

In this video, you'll see:

The exact picture walk technique that engages reluctant readers
Real examples of how to gather "story clues" before reading
How this strategy builds critical thinking and comprehension simultaneously

The Picture Walk Prediction Technique

Today, we're focusing on making predictions, and I'm going to teach you the picture walk predictions technique that gets your child's brain actively engaged before you even read the first word.

This is learning-focused family time that builds comprehension and critical thinking skills.

Here's How It Works:

Choose a new picture book from your inventory (one you haven't read before or haven't read in a while)
Become story detectives - Before you read a single word, walk through the pages looking ONLY at the pictures. Think of yourselves as detectives gathering clues.
Ask key questions:
- What do you see?
- What might be happening?
- Who are these characters?
- Where does this story take place?
Each family member shares one prediction about what they think the story will be about:
- "I think this story is about..."
- "I predict the character will..."

Read the story together and see how close your predictions were.

Your Step-by-Step Detective Plan for Today

Here's your complete action plan:

Step 1: Pick a book none of you have read before or one you haven't read in a while.

Step 2: Flip through looking only at the illustrations. Don't read any text yet. Be thorough detectives.

Step 3: Have each family member share one prediction.

Step 4: Now read the story together and see how close your predictions were.

Step 5: Discuss which predictions were accurate and what surprised you.

The Secret That Makes This Even More Powerful

Here's the bonus strategy that amplifies this technique:

Keep your family's book club selection visible and accessible in your home.

Create a special display—maybe a basket, a shelf, or even just a designated spot on the coffee table. When books are visible, reading happens naturally. This environmental cue serves as a constant reminder and invitation to read.

This is one of the key principles we teach in our Homework Peace Toolkit Course—creating systems and environments that support learning success instead of battling against your child's natural tendencies.

What Happens When You Do This Consistently

When you make prediction a regular part of your reading routine, something amazing happens:

✨ Your child starts approaching every book as an active thinker instead of a passive reader

✨ They're making connections, asking questions, and staying engaged throughout the entire story

✨ You're building that critical thinking foundation that turns struggling learners into successful scholars

✨ Reading becomes a fun, interactive family activity instead of a chore

This is exactly what the research shows: children who learn to make predictions become more engaged, more confident, and more successful readers across ALL academic contexts.

Perfect for Children with Learning Differences

If your child has ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning differences, this strategy is especially powerful because:

It provides structure - The picture walk gives a clear framework for approaching the book
It activates working memory - Making predictions helps prime the brain for the content
It reduces overwhelm - Knowing what's coming makes the reading experience less intimidating

It creates engagement - The detective game makes reading feel like fun, not work

Take Action Right Now

Here's what I want you to do immediately:

✅ Watch the full video tutorial to see this strategy in action

✅ Pick a new book from your collection

✅ Take your picture walk with your family

✅ Make those predictions together

✅ Spend your 15 minutes today being story detectives

✅ Share your experience - Were your predictions close to the actual story? What surprised you most? Share in our Community.

🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Complete 30-Day Family Book Club Challenge Guide

Don't miss out on our comprehensive guide that includes all 30 days of research-backed reading activities!

Download Your FREE Guide Here

This guide includes:

Daily activity instructions
Research citations
Tips for different age groups
Troubleshooting advice
Bonus strategies for struggling readers

Transform Your Child's Learning Journey

If you're ready to end homework battles and build lasting learning skills, our courses provide the complete system:

📚 Homework Peace Toolkit Course

End homework struggles forever with systematic thinking strategies designed specifically for ADHD, dyslexia, and all learning differences. This research-backed 3-step system builds cognitive superpowers that last a lifetime.

Perfect for:

Parents tired of homework battles
Children who struggle with executive function
Families seeking structured, proven strategies
Anyone who wants peaceful, productive learning time

📖 Unlocking the Secrets of Language Course

Give your child the gift of confident reading with Orton-Gillingham structured literacy techniques that unlock reading success for struggling learners.

Perfect for:

Children struggling with phonics and decoding
Parents wanting to understand structured literacy
Families dealing with reading delays
Supporting children with dyslexia

Explore Courses

What's Coming Next?

Tomorrow in Day 4, I'm going to show you the Word Detective secret that helps children remember vocabulary and make it stick in their long-term memory. This technique accelerates vocabulary growth faster than any flashcard could.

The next few days build on each other:

Day 4: Word Detective - Building vocabulary that sticks
Day 5: Story Retelling Relay - Revealing what your child truly understands
Day 6: Character Connections - Building empathy and deeper comprehension

Each strategy is designed to work together, creating a comprehensive approach to reading success.

Join Our Community

Share your story detective experiences with our community! Tell us:

What book did you choose?
What predictions did your family make?
How close were you to the actual story?
What surprised you most?

Your experiences help other families on this journey!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Remember: Be Informed, Be Empowered, Be Inspiring

Today, you're learning that prediction is one of the most powerful comprehension strategies you can teach.

You're not just reading books with your child—you're building critical thinking skills, comprehension strategies, and a love of reading that will serve them for a lifetime.

This is what we mean when we say we transform struggling learners into successful scholars. It's about giving children the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to thrive.

About Kelly Sutherland

Kelly Sutherland is a National Board Certified Educator and Reading Specialist with 21+ years of experience helping children overcome reading challenges. She specializes in Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy techniques and evidence-based strategies for children with ADHD, dyslexia, and all learning differences.

Through Courageously Confident Readers and Learning in a Distracted World, Kelly empowers parents and educators with the tools to transform struggling learners into successful scholars.