Ready, Set, READ ALOUD!

Earlier I posted about reading aloud books to your students to launch the workshops. As you already know, my dear teacher friends, you want to model great reading habits in YOUR  read aloud so that the children can see what master readers do when reading. 


Some of my TOP TIPS For Reading Aloud as listed below:

1. Read the book before you even think of reading it to your class! (This goes with out saying)
2. Your GOAL is to teaching READING SKILLS! You are the model, the expert reader, the MASTER, so find the skills your group is lacking in and show them how it is done.
3. Read a variety of texts at all levels and all genres. This way all students can 'see' themselves in the books you read. Another plus is that you can teach content area topics at the same time! COOL!
4. Ask open ended questions to promote thinking
5. Give student opportunities to discuss the book without the teacher (Turn & Talk, Stop & Jot,  a thinking prompt, a listening prompt), with the idea that this will grow from a 2 person, to a 4 person to a whole class discussion!
6. Support the book with visuals for ELLs ( vocabulary, maps, picture cards)
7. Keep track of the BIG IDEAS discovered by your class during the Read Aloud

Happy Reading!