If you have yet to read my latest blog post where I define the 6 characteristics of interactive read aloud's that make them so great, I highly encourage you to read it HERE.
Today I'm going to share 5 big payoffs that come from doing interactive read aloud's in your classroom. So even if I didn't have you convinced to be using this teaching approach after the last blog, this will hopefully really get you thinking! So let's dig in a little deeper into what makes interactive read aloud’s so remarkably powerful.
1. The reason that interactive read aloud's are so great is because it creates a shared experience that contributes to rich literature circle discussions. Kids will understand how to have conversations about books because of all their interactive read aloud experiences.
2. Reading lessons in reading/writing workshops are amazing to use! The interactive read-aloud books that you are reading to your class will become invaluable tools as examples of what good readers and writers are doing during your workshops. So they really are the heart and soul of your lesson.
3. Reading and writing conference discussions are another great place to use what you’ve done during your interactive real aloud’s. You can use the interactive read aloud books during a one-on-one conference to provide support for your young readers and writers.
4. When your students are reading and writing independently they can use the interactive read aloud books to look over again for ideas about thinking like readers and writers.
5. Guided reading and strategy groups are a great time to look back and use those interactive read aloud books to quickly introduce a skill or review thinking during these small group times.
The best part about interactive read alouds, aside from all of these things, is that it really levels the playing field. Readers can learn with grade level appropriate text that includes rich interesting content regardless of there individual reading levels. All students can think and talk about books even if they can't read and decode those words by themselves. They can do this by listening and contributing in a read aloud. This is great news for ensuring that you are covering grade level standards for kids who are a year or more behind in there reading abilities. I hope this explanation helps you think more about using interactive read aloud's and their power today. Especially in literacy instruction.
If you love reading aloud to your class, I have a great resource for you! This resource is SUPER special because it includes EVERYTHING you need to have a successful Interactive Read Aloud experience with your class and allows you to put into practice everything we learned here today. You can check out all my interactive read Alouds HERE
If you enjoyed today’s lesson you can find this post and many more on iTunes, Spotify, or Alexa Briefings. Click here to listen
*CLIPART FROM A SKETCHY GUY. VIEW HIS STORE AT HTTPS://WWW.TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS.COM/STORE/A-SKETCHY-GUY
Happy teaching!
Jen
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Some of you may be unsure as to what an interactive read aloud is. A brief description is when the teacher reads a picture book, or a section of a chapter book aloud to the class and engages the students in becoming active participants in the thinking and reading. They’re not just passive learners. We as teachers aren't simply reading to them. Let's dig a little bit deeper into what exactly an interactive read aloud is by going over 6 characteristics that make them up. Each one of these descriptions will give you a better understanding of interactive read aloud’s.
Both the teacher and the students think about, talk about, and respond to the text. Instead of the teacher reading AT the students, the teacher actually engages students in conversation and thinking.
The students are engaged in the text, therefore, the learning is active. It is not passive.
Students process information, language, ideas, and make connections just as a reader normally would.
The teacher stops intentionally at places planned ahead of time to share thinking. So the teacher will plan a few places before reading aloud to stop to share his/her thinking and invite the students to share their thinking as well.
The read aloud is interactive and fun. There is no way to plan ahead for what listeners might share when they are talking about a text which makes read aloud’s unique and fun!
There is a shared text experience. The conversation is grounded in a shared text experience that is new every time. You can read the same book to the class and have a different experience each time!
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