Children learn many valuable lessons during their early elementary school education. From arithmetic to teamwork, these lessons shape the rest of their academic experience as well as their adult lives.
One of the most crucial skills a child will learn during these early years is reading. Reading underlies everything, so it’s no wonder so much time and effort are devoted to this critical subject. And it’s no wonder there are so many different methods used to teach reading–every educator wants to get this one right, so a lot of effort goes into coming up with the right ways to nail it. One method teachers have found particularly useful for children learning to read is shared reading.
What is Shared Reading?
During a time of shared reading, the teacher uses a shared material–often an enlarged children’s book or multiple copies of the same story–and children are encouraged to read aloud together. The material is often read multiple times. First, students consider the big picture and meaning of the text. Then, they focus on more technical aspects like phonics. The teacher can gauge common problem areas and take the time to stop and expand on various needs throughout the lesson.
How Does Shared Reading Help Children Become Independent Readers?
Through the method of shared reading, children grow skills like active listening and fluency. Shared reading builds independent readers by:
1. Growing Vocabulary
Shared reading allows children to hear the correct pronunciation and context of a wider range of vocabulary than what is found in everyday conversation. The teacher stops to explain the meaning and usage of new and unfamiliar words. This allows students to focus on comprehension rather than analyzing the meaning of these words.
2. Modeling Fluent Reading
During shared reading, the teacher models to the students proper pacing, expression, intonation, and inflection. The student learns how punctuation affects tone, how sentences flow, and how expressive reading can increase engagement.
3. Developing Comprehension Skills
Shared reading offers a positive and encouraging environment for bolstering reading comprehension. Students will have opportunities to engage in discussion about the text with their peers, ask questions, and consider the text in a more critical manner. This helps kids drill down to the meaning of what they’re reading and make connections between the text and real life.
4. Improving Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness allows students to break words into their individual sounds, which is critical for fluent reading. Many of the materials used in shared reading lessons target phonemic awareness and use a variety of elements such as patterns, rhymes, and repetition to emphasize specific sounds.
5. Encouraging Participation
As parents, we often hope that our child will not be the one kid in the class too scared or embarrassed to answer a question or participate in an activity. Rather, we desire for our children to be confident participants and contributors. Reading with peers empowers children to read aloud and share ideas with confidence. This, in turn, increases their confidence for independent reading.
6. Nurturing a Love for Reading
Shared reading is a great way to make reading fun. Just like sharing a task with a friend can turn a mundane experience into a positive one, shared reading can help children associate reading with enjoyment. If children see reading as a positive and enjoyable activity, they are more likely to do it on their own.
7. Promoting Critical Thinking
In shared reading activities, the teacher will often pause to ask questions about the text to ensure that children are actively engaging in the material. Students will be asked to determine story themes, make predictions, and relate personally to the characters. These skills develop a pattern of critical thinking that can transfer to independent reading.
Is Shared Reading a Proven Strategy?
The kindergarten and early elementary teachers at our private school in Atlanta have found shared reading to be an effective method for helping children learn to read. But they aren’t the only ones who’ve seen it work. Shared reading is a research-backed method that is affirmed and recommended by reading and fluency experts around the world.
A 2023 study that tracked and compared student progress in a kindergarten classroom with the use of shared reading indicated “the positive effects of using the shared reading approach to improve the students’ comprehension” (Altamimi and Ogdol, pp. 1).
In the “Big Book Trend,” Don Holdaway, originator of the “shared book experience,” noted that “the natural setting of young children gathered around a big book or chart in a shared experience of literary pleasure with the teacher offers the possibility of powerful learning within a context of satisfying meanings” (1982).
Shared Reading: A Critical Tool for Independent Success
Interaction and engagement promote learning that lasts. Shared reading is a critical tool for building independent readers. When adults model proper reading skills and habits, students are better able to develop reading comprehension and critical thinking, grow phonemic awareness, and expand vocabulary.
In addition, this collaborative approach makes reading fun and instills confidence in young readers. Children can benefit from shared reading both in the classroom and at home, so try incorporating these methods into your daily reading time and watch your child’s love for independent reading grow.