Comparing Texts | Parent Activity Guide

What Is Your Child Learning?

Your child is learning to compare (find what's the SAME) and contrast (find what's DIFFERENT) between two texts on the same topic.

This skill is important because:

It helps readers understand information more deeply
It shows how authors make different choices about what to include
It builds critical thinking skills
It's tested on the FAST assessment!

Signal Words to Know

Compare = SAME

both
same
similar
also / too
like
in the same way

Contrast = DIFFERENT

but
however
unlike
different
on the other hand
while / instead

Activities to Try at Home

📰 News Article Comparison

Find two kid-friendly articles about the same topic (sports event, weather, animals):

Read both articles together
Ask: "What information is in BOTH articles?"
Ask: "What's in one article but not the other?"
Discuss: "Why might the authors have included different details?"

📚 Book Version Comparison

Compare different versions of the same story:

Read two versions of a fairy tale (like Cinderella from different cultures)
Watch a movie based on a book you've read together
Compare: What stayed the same? What changed?
This is a fun way to practice comparison skills!

🔍 Product Comparison

Compare two similar things in everyday life:

Two breakfast cereals: What's similar? What's different?
Two toys or games: How are they alike and different?
Two pets (or pictures of animals): Compare their features
Use comparison vocabulary: "Both have... but only one has..."

📊 Venn Diagram Practice

Create simple Venn diagrams together:

Draw two overlapping circles
Label: "Only [Text 1]" / "BOTH" / "Only [Text 2]"
Fill in facts from each text
The middle section shows what they have in common

Questions to Ask While Reading

"What is this text mainly about?"
"What did we learn from the first text that's also in this one?"
"What's new information we didn't see in the other text?"
"Both texts are about [topic]. How do they explain it differently?"
"If you could only read ONE text, which would tell you more about [specific topic]?"
"Why do you think these authors wrote about the same topic differently?"

Parent Tip: Read BOTH Texts First!

When comparing two texts, it's best to read both completely before starting to compare. If your child tries to compare while reading, they may get confused about which text said what. Read both, then go back and look for similarities and differences.

What to Compare Between Texts

Main Idea: What is each text mainly about?
Details & Facts: What information does each include?
Author's Purpose: Why did each author write this?
Author's Perspective: How does each author feel about the topic?
Text Structure: How is information organized?
Text Features: What features does each use (pictures, headings)?

Connection to the FAST Test

On the FAST test, your child will read two passages about the same topic and answer questions like: "How are these passages similar?" "How are they different?" "What information is in Passage 1 but NOT in Passage 2?" Practice these questions at home!

Información para Padres (Spanish Summary)

¿Qué está aprendiendo su hijo?

Su hijo está aprendiendo a comparar (encontrar lo que es IGUAL) y contrastar (encontrar lo que es DIFERENTE) entre dos textos sobre el mismo tema.

Palabras clave:

Comparar (igual): ambos, mismo, similar, también
Contrastar (diferente): pero, sin embargo, a diferencia de, diferente

Actividades en casa:

Compare dos artículos o libros sobre el mismo tema
Pregunte: "¿Qué es igual? ¿Qué es diferente?"
Use diagramas de Venn para organizar las ideas

Comparing Texts - Parent Guide