3. The Importance of read-alouds
In trying to help my students rediscover a love for reading, I have been reminded of the power that read-alouds have. When initially beginning my career as a middle school EC teacher, read-alouds were not at the top of my list of activities to do during my reading classes. I thought of them as something that happened in elementary school, not middle. However, as I have researched more and more about helping struggling readers, read-alouds have become a regular occurrence in my room. My students love them, and I have been amazed at their increased levels of engagement. Pennac (2003) shares the following ideas that I have found helpful in regards to read-alouds with older readers:
- Read-alouds provide demonstrations of oral reading and fluency
- Read-alouds provide demonstrations of quality writing
- Read-alouds support readers' development
- Read-alouds provide opportunities for extended discussions
- Read-alouds introduce readers to new titles, authors, and genres
Pennac, D. (2003). 13 good (scientifically based) reasons to read aloud with older readers. In Reading aloud and beyond (pp. 6-12). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
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