Shared Reading is a cooperative reading activity where the teacher
and the students sit together and read a story together. Ideally, the
text used will be a "Big Book." Shared Reading encourages
students to participate and become involved in the reading. The enlarged
text allows the teacher to easily demonstrate reading strategies and
the conventions of print. It also develops a "community spirit"
among the children.
Shared Reading...
- plays an important role in a balanced literacy approach. The teacher reads a story aloud so that all children, regardless of their reading level, enjoy the text.
- must include discussion before, during and after the reading to encourage high levels of interaction with the students.
- allows all students to not only enjoy the text, but to also share opinions, ideas and interpretations with each other.
- allows for all students to participate confidently because they are able to create their own meaning with support from the teacher and their peers.
For examples of shared reading lessons, click on the book titles below.
Lower elementary
Upper elementary
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