How To Align Reading Aloud to Kids with the Science of Reading

Most of us, as teachers, read aloud to our students. We love it! They love it! It’s a win! The science of reading research has shown us how children learn to read and the best practices for teaching reading. Reading aloud to kids is a powerful tool that aligns well with these evidence-based strategies. Today we are going to explore what this beloved time looks like as we strive to align it to the Science of Reading research.

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What does the research tell us?

Phonemic Awareness is crucial. This skill is the foundation that we build all other reading skills upon. During interactive read alouds, teachers can highlight phonemic patterns, such as rhymes and alliteration, and engage students in activities that focus on sound manipulation. For example, pausing to ask students to identify rhyming words or segmenting sounds in a word can enhance phonemic awareness.

Some favorite read alouds that lend themselves to this are Silly Sally, Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? and Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!

Vocabulary Development is essential. With the goal of reading being comprehension, we cannot get there without vocabulary. Interactive read alouds expose students to new words in context, helping them to understand and retain vocabulary.

• Choose books that are rich in a variety of words and concepts.
• Use vocabulary cards to explain them.
• Stop and discuss unfamiliar words during the read-aloud. I like to print them sticky notes to prepare my read aloud beforehand.
• Encourage students to use the words in their own sentences.

Comprehension is the goal in becoming a skilled reader. Understanding the meaning of a text is the ultimate goal of reading. Interactive read alouds allow us, the teachers, to model and practice comprehension strategies.

• Use think-alouds to demonstrate how to make predictions, visualize scenes, and make connections.
• Give kids sentence stems so they can practice talking about the text, too.
• Ask open-ended questions that encourage students to think deeply about the story and its themes.

Get this list of Open Ended Questions for Reading FREE! CLICK HERE.

Practical Examples for the Classroom

1. Select Texts that Support Vocabulary. Select books that are rich in language and offer opportunities for discussion
2. Choose Texts that Support Comprehension. Look for stories with complex plots, diverse characters, and engaging themes. Books that challenge students to think critically are valuable.
3. Have Fun with Phonemic Awareness! If the book lends itself to this, pause to ask questions that focus on phonemic awareness. For example, ask students to identify the beginning, middle, and ending sounds in a word. Ask kids to “popcorn answer” a list of words that rhyme with a given word from the story. These activities help to reinforce the sound structure of language and support early reading skills.
4. Encouraging Metacognitive Thinking Through Discussion. Interactive read-alouds should be more than just reading aloud; they should involve active discussion and reflection. Encourage students to think about their thinking, or metacognition, by asking questions that prompt them to explain their thought processes. For example, ask students to explain why they made a certain prediction or how they connected the story to their own experiences. This type of questioning helps students develop critical thinking and comprehension skills.

If you are ready to have read aloud lessons ready to go at your finger tips, then check out the lessons I have available in The Read Aloud Library! Each month you can find lessons delivered straight to you inside the membership!

Aligning interactive read-alouds with the science of reading ensures that your literacy instruction is grounded in research and best practices. You can create a rich and engaging experiences for reading aloud to your students. Reading aloud not only supports the development of essential reading skills but also fosters a love of reading that will last a lifetime.

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