Should Your Students Read Aloud? Tips for Teaching Reading
Show Notes
In this episode, we respond to a commonly asked question about reading lessons: should you have your students take turns reading a text out loud? Listen in as we first break down why asking students to read aloud is NOT an effective practice, then offer practical strategies for what to do instead.
In this Episode
Why students shouldn’t be asked to read out loud
The commonly asked question, “should students be asked to read aloud in class?” and the blunt answer: NO.
Why reading out loud doesn’t actually keep students engaged
Why reading out loud doesn’t actually help students develop reading comprehension
Why reading out loud doesn’t actually help students’ pronunciation…
…And a better resource for practicing pronunciation if that’s what you want to do
Ensuring the focus of a reading lesson is on reading comprehension and not anything else
Why reading out loud is not authentic, and why authentic skills practice matters in the classroom
What to do instead
If the students aren’t reading out loud, how do you know they’re really reading?
Set a clear task/ activity before asking students to read
Give students a reason and motivation to read
Students should have a question or prompt in mind as they’re reading
Why lead-ins matter at the beginning of reading lessons
A clear example of what “task before text” looks like
Why students need time to read silently to themselves and complete the reading task(s) on their own
How microstages work in reading lessons (more on microstages in this episode!)
The magic of pair checks in reading lessons
How to get the most out of feedback: letting students justify their answers