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Literacy 7-12

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Literacy 7-12 > Strategies > Read-alouds

Read-alouds

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Overview

Reading aloud to adolescents models Reading Fluency as texts become more complex and disciplinary in nature and therefore, more difficult to understand. In middle and high school, teachers can stop and model their thinking while reading, illustrating their Metacognition processes to provide a model for students as they engage with a difficult text.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch how this middle school teacher reads aloud to help her English Learners make meaning from their texts. By pausing during the reading to ask questions, she models questioning and also provides Vocabulary support. With these prompts, students are able to practice these strategies and build as a community of readers.

  • Read-aloud prompts prior to introducing new material and embedded during and after lesson activities provide an integrated, rich reading experience that lead to more active engagement, stronger Attention, and contextualized Vocabulary development. Read-alouds can be especially powerful for older readers who are developing Disciplinary Literacy by exposure to content specific texts spanning multiple genres.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

    Learn how Read&Write from TextHelp allows learners to follow along in written text by highlighting the words as they are being read. Having the audio pronunciation simultaneously with a visual highlight cue helps learners develop their Reading Fluency.

  • Audiobooks and human-voice text-to-speech software across a variety of content areas can provide more opportunities for students to hear fluent readers. Developers can also provide visuals to support read-alouds that illustrate new Vocabulary or discipline-specific conventions to further support comprehension and to bring visual Working Memory into action.
    • View References

    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Hints on How to Read Aloud

    Reading Rockets tips for doing read-alouds with a group of children

    Examples

    Just Books Read Aloud

    A library of children's books with corresponding read-aloud videos

    Examples

    Modeling Deep Understanding

    ReadWriteThink guide with a step-by-step real-aloud process and sample lesson plans

    Examples

    Reading Aloud in Middle School

    Edutopia article on the benefits of reading aloud to adolescents

    Examples

    Storyline Online

    A curated selection of videos featuring actors reading children's books

    Examples

    Treasury of Read-alouds

    A list of recommended read-alouds from several genres

    Research

    Facilitating Text-based Discussions

    The importance of facilitating text-based discussions from Digital Promise's Ask a Researcher

    Research

    Reading & Cognition

    Subtopic that explores cognitive models of reading on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Reading Comprehension

    Subtopic that includes research on how people develop reading comprehension skills on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Literacy Environment
    Physical Well-being
    Primary Language
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status
    Vision
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Motivation
    Sense of Belonging
    Cognition
    Attention
    Inhibition
    Long-term Memory
    Short-term Memory
    Speed of Processing
    Working Memory
    Literacy
    Background Knowledge
    Disciplinary Literacy
    Reading Fluency
    Syntax
    Vocabulary

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    Read-alouds: Discussing Emotions

    Using texts to discuss complex emotions and perspectives with students can help them see how they influence behavior and draw their own personal connections.

    Accessible Vocabulary & Syntax

    Using language that is accessible and appropriately leveled for each student allows all students to feel successful and participate in learning.

    Model the Assignment or Skill

    By talking through their thinking at each step of a process, teachers can model what learning looks like.

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