Make sure that the student has read the material from start to finish and has not skimmed or skipped the body of work. Have the student explain aloud the outline of the story or chapter read. The best thing for poor readers is to have them read aloud. The worst thing for poor readers is to read aloud in front of a group. Have your student read aloud privately, and then take turns reading pages or paragraphs for them as they follow along.
Many questions assume that the reader has a full understanding of characters and content.
Make sure that the student understands completely who is who, and who did what and when. Have them write a point form outline of the plot. Every word in a poem should be understood thoroughly before discussion and understanding can take place. This is not always true in a text piece, but there must be a general understanding of content and tone before discussion can take place. Refer to other stories, movies, or characters that the student might be familiar with.