Shared Reading 101

Shared reading is one of my favorite activities to do in the classroom. It is also one of the surest ways to help young children 'up and reading' quickly.

What IS Shared Reading?

• The teacher guides the class (or small group) through a text at or slightly above the majority of the class' level

• Using a document camera, the teacher does the heavy lifting while encouraging the class to join in. A document camera allows you to utilize your entire leveled text library and more importantly, the books kids will be reading independently.

• Over the course of multiple reads, the teacher's voice gets quieter as the children read more/louder

Why do Shared Reading?

• A quick warm-up before independent reading

• Highly engaging and scaffolded tool to have children practice skills taught during lessons

• Easy transfer to independent reading - quite simply, you are modeling and having students try skills and strategies with you before asking them to do it on their own

When does Shared Reading happen?

• Can be done anytime during the day

• Highest leverage, after your mini-lesson and right before independent reading

• During small group time

How does Shared Reading look?

• Rally the class to read with you - explain what shared reading is and what their job is (hint: to read with you!)

• Use text at or slightly above most of the class' level - when children aren't reading conventionally, start with A/B level texts

• Keep it quick - about 10 minutes - you can stop and pick up where you left off later

Here's a video of me modeling Shared Reading

Tip! Use a text you have multiple copies of - then after a few reads, pass out the copies like gifts! You can also create your own texts or download the one I use below.

I hope this helps! If you'd like to use the text in the video above, here it's below. I'm working on more shared reading videos and texts, make sure you subscribe to my mailing list so you don't miss out!

Download my free Our Community shared reading text.