Unique Literacy Histories

The goal is to teach children to read. When teachers recognize that children have already been exposed to words they can use this to their advantage by finding out what kind of experiences the children have had. What kind of questions should a teacher ask her students to really understand the students unique literacy histories?
Idea: Compile a "class book" of files where you keep a record of each of the children's interests, experiences and development throughout the school year. Not only will this knowledge be something you can refer to when creating discussion groups but it can also help you individualize print rich environments. I love how our textbook recommends making each student the king or queen for the day and using their names and interests to help develop fluency and phonemic awareness!