In today’s classrooms, fostering a love for reading while building critical literacy skills is essential.
Shared reading is a powerful instructional practice that bridges the gap between read-aloud sessions and independent reading, creating a joyful and supportive environment for all students. It’s a great opportunity to positively impact students’ reading skills and their motivation and joy as readers.
What is Shared Reading?
Shared reading is an interactive experience where the teacher reads an engaging, enlarged text aloud with students. This approach goes beyond simply reading to children—it involves them in the reading process, making it a collective and enjoyable experience. Shared reading is uniquely equipped to strengthen the reading community within your classroom while also strengthening students’ reading skills.
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What are the Benefits of Shared Reading?
Shared reading offers several benefits that are crucial for developing proficient readers:
- High Level of Support and Participation: Shared reading gives students the opportunity to engage with texts they might not be able to read on their own. This supportive environment helps all students feel included and capable.
- Exposure to Complex Texts: Through shared reading, students are introduced to new vocabulary and more complex text structures, enhancing their language and thinking skills. This exposure is essential for developing advanced reading skills and strategies.
- Enjoyment and Pleasure: One of the primary goals of shared reading is to make reading a joyful experience. When students associate reading with pleasure, they are more likely to develop a lifelong love for literature.
- Fundamental Reading Skills: Shared reading helps teach essential reading skills such as concepts about print and fluency. These skills are critical for students’ independent reading success.
Practical Classroom Implementation of Shared Reading
Integrating shared reading into your classroom routine can be both simple and effective. Here are some practical tips to get started:
- Enlarged Texts: Use big books, projected texts, or other digital resources to make the text visible to all students. This ensures that everyone can follow along and participate actively.
- Daily Practice: Consistent practice helps reinforce the skills learned and makes reading a habitual part of your classroom culture. Reserving 10-15 minutes in your literacy block on a regular basis for shared reading is a great place to start.
- Read Across the Curriculum: Shared reading doesn’t have to be confined to your literacy instruction block. Incorporate it into subjects like science and social studies to provide a well-rounded educational experience. Using shared reading in the content areas is also a great way to level students up into more complex information texts and primary sources.
- Interactive and Varied Texts: Choose a variety of texts, including poems, songs, stories, and informational texts. This keeps students engaged and caters to different interests and learning styles.
Addressing Diverse Learners through Shared Reading
One of the greatest strengths of shared reading is its ability to adapt to the needs of all students, including those from diverse backgrounds:
- Cultural Relevance: Select books that reflect the diverse cultures and experiences of your students. This not only connects with their lives but also broadens all students’ perspectives.
- Support for Multilingual Learners: Provide additional support for students who are learning English as a second language. Use visuals, gestures, and repetition to aid their understanding and participation. Access to shared reading texts in Spanish is another way to offer scaffolded support for English language learners.
- Fluency Development: Reread texts multiple times—collectively and via independent reading after a shared reading experience. Repeated reading builds fluency and confidence, helping them become more proficient readers.
- Access to Little Books: Offer smaller versions of shared reading texts for students to explore independently or read in targeted small-group instruction. This allows them to revisit and reinforce what they’ve learned during whole-group sessions.
Shared Reading Resources
Transform your classroom into a vibrant, literate community with Shared Reading. By engaging students with complex texts, fostering a love for reading, and addressing the diverse needs of every learner, you can build the critical reading skills that will be a foundation for their literate lives in school, at home, and beyond.
Start incorporating shared reading into your daily routine and watch the joy and growth it brings to your students.
Advance readers’ comprehension, fluency, and foundational skills in an engaging, interactive whole-group literacy experience. Click here to learn more about our Shared Reading resource, available in English (PreK-4) and Spanish (PreK-2).
