What is shared reading? Shared reading is a major stage of the Workshop Model. It is a form of instruction where teachers and students engage in an enlarged version of a text that provides opportunities for our learners to expand their reading competencies. The primary goal is for the students to enjoy the text, think about meaning and continue to build their individual reading processes.
Why shared reading? Shared reading provides enjoyable, successful experiences with text for all students. It promotes the development of the reading process and builds language skills and vocabulary. Shared reading models expressive, meaningful and fluent reading as well as building understanding of various texts, formats and structures.
Big books are a wonderful resource for Shared Reading. Look for them in the DRC
Levelled Readers are a great resource for Shared Reading. Look into the DRC to find more.
What does shared reading look like? Shared reading is a learning experience where the teacher and students read text together. The text should be large enough for all the students to see clearly. Big books or a document camera are two ways for our learners to experience large text. The students use their voices to interpret the meaning and read in unison with others. The text doesn't have to be a book, it can consist of an infographic, video clip, poster, photograph or other images or webpages and digital or print advertisements.
How do I use shared reading in my classroom? As you venture through the text with your students try demonstrate the purpose or function of what you are reading, develop a sense of story through literary elements and devices, and promote reading strategies “What good readers do” (metacognition). Try to encourage making predictions and connections as you develop fluency and phrasing. Pose questions for understanding and inquiry and allow students to enjoy materials that they may not be able to read on their own. Try modelling poetry together or chants or legends or read classroom news together. Incorporate stories or informational texts about learning the students are engaging in other subject areas or other times during the day potentially drawing attention to text features, graphs, maps or captions. Guide conversation about the meaning and language and invite students to share their ideas. Select specific a part or parts of the text to revisit, emphasize and model thinking.
Useful Videos
Please have a look at the videos below on shared reading that may be helpful as you are planning your learning experiences.