Welcome to Kids Chapter Check-Ins, a space where we pause, think, talk, and write about great books together. Books are better together. So grab your book and let's check in. Welcome back. Today is a choose your own check-in episode. That means that you can use this episode to think through any book that you might be reading right now. So go ahead, pause me if you need to and grab your book. Got it? Awesome. Let's check in. Today we're practicing a reading strategy called stop and jot. Strong readers don't just race through a book, they stop, they notice things, they react, they ask questions, and they think while they read. A quick jot can help you to remember important details and think deeply about the story. Let's break this down even further. A stop and jot is exactly what it sounds like. While reading, you stop for a moment and you jot or write down a quick thought. Your jot might be a question, a prediction, a reaction, a connection, or even an important detail. It doesn't need to be long. Sometimes it's a few words, it might be a quick sentence, or even a picture, and it helps you to think carefully about the story. It can be really helpful to have some paper or sticky notes near you when you're reading. This will help you to stop and jot. But even without paper, you can always stop and think while you read. Let's practice together. Grab your book and think about the chapter that you have just recently finished. Take a moment to skim back through that chapter. And as you look back, I want you to find a place where you can stop and jot. Maybe you find something that makes you smile. Or maybe you find something that makes you ask a question. Or maybe you find a surprising moment, or a moment that reminds you of yourself, a family member, or maybe even of a different book that you've already read. As you find these things, pause, stop, and jot them down. You can pause the podcast here to try this out. Sometimes readers think, I just have to keep going, or I need to finish this book super quickly. But stopping to think as we read actually really helps us to remember more details. It helps us to understand the characters better and to notice some really important clues. Good readers are always paying attention to emotions, patterns, surprises, and questioning what's happening in the story. These small thoughts really help to build big understanding. Here's a challenge that I have for you. As you continue to read your book, I want you to keep a piece of paper or a sticky note nearby. Try to stop and jot once or twice throughout each chapter. Remember, you do not need to stop after every page. Just consider stopping when something feels important or maybe confusing or super emotional or exciting. That's what thoughtful readers do. Thank you so much for checking in with me today. The next time you read, remember you don't have to wait until the end of a chapter to think deeply about a book. Sometimes the best thinking happens when we pause along the way. I'll see you back here soon for another chapter check-in. Thanks for checking in with me today. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow along so you don't miss our next check-in. And remember, keep reading, keep thinking, and keep talking because books are better together.