Read-Alouds
Overview
Read-alouds are an important part of developing young learners' foundational reading skills, and can occur both in the classroom and at home with the family, supporting the development of a strong Home Learning Environment. Incorporating strategies that engage learners with texts, including interactive read-alouds and dialogic reading encourages learners to generate conversation around texts they are reading, increasing reading Motivation and supporting lifelong reading. During interactive read-alouds, educators ask questions surrounding the text and encourage learners to engage in meaningful discussion which can include working through difficult vocabulary. Typically, interactive read-alouds are structured on “before” “during” and “after” reading prompts to engage learners with reading comprehension. Dialogic reading incorporates similar discussion strategies, but places the learner in a more active role, encouraging story-telling and making personal connections to the text. Educators take on the role of the audience as they encourage learner-generated discussion. Through these read-aloud activities, learners can develop language and literacy skills, including strengthening their Communication and Critical Thinking skills.
Conversations surrounding read-alouds can support learners' Creativity and Curiosity about the topics and help them integrate their Background Knowledge in the classroom as they take an active role in the learning process. Similarly, taking time to address learners' thoughts and ideas in relation to the reading can help to direct Attention and to build rapport in the classroom. This is especially important for multilingual learners, as dialogic reading and storytelling can support all aspects of language acquisition in young children.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Watch a teacher use dialogic reading. She first explains how parents can use dialogic reading at home, then she reads a book to her class demonstrating these techniques.
Design It into Your Product
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Instructional Approaches Strategies
Retrieval practice requires students to access information, or get information “out” from Long-term memory in order to support better retention and understanding.
Spaced practice is a learning strategy that deliberately spaces out learning or study sessions over varying periods of time, with the purpose of increasing retention, understanding, and long-term knowledge acquisition.
A strengths-based approach is one where educators intentionally identify, communicate, and harness students' assets, across many aspects of the whole child, in order to empower them to flourish.
