As you plan your shared reading lesson plans, it’s helpful to have a template. In today’s post you can download an editable one … for free!
Did you read last week’s blog post all about shared reading?
If you did, you’re ready to start writing your shared reading lessons.
One question remains.
What do shared reading lesson plans look like from day to day?
I recommend creating lessons that use the same text for 3-5 days.
While definitely not required, you might choose to have a pattern for your lessons.
One way to structure your 5-day shared reading lessons
- Day 1 – Introduce and read the text; teach vocabulary.
- Day 2 – Teach a related phonics skill.
- Day 3 – Focus on comprehension.
- Day 4 – Build fluency.
- Day 5 – Do a fun reading response.
One way to structure your 3-day shared reading lessons
- Day 1 – Introduce and read the text; focus on comprehension.
- Day 2 – Teach a related phonics skills.
- Day 3 – Focus on fluency.
How do you know what to teach in your lessons?
Like any other reading lesson you teach, this is going to depend on the level of your students and the particular text you’ve chosen.
For example, if I am teaching kindergartners who are mostly pre-readers, I will choose a very simple text (GRL B or C). If possible, I will use a Big Book to teach things like concepts of print, recognizing punctuation, identifying letters, etc. We will practice reading the book together a lot.
On the other hand, if I am teaching second graders who are starting to read chapter books, I might put a chapter book from a familiar series under the document camera. We will focus heavily on comprehension, and we will likely do very little choral reading of the text.
How do you keep track of what you’ve taught?
Many years ago, I went to a conference in which the presenter told us to attach a long strip of adding machine tape to the wall next to our shared reading center. She advised us to teach things as they came up during shared reading, and jot down the skills with the date on the adding machine tape.
This way we could keep track of everything we’d taught during shared reading.
For years I thought that was the way I was supposed to do shared reading … teach whatever I thought of as it came up, and jot it down after the fact.
No wonder I had a hard time sticking with shared reading!
Don’t try to do shared reading on the fly.
Plan in advance what you will teach, and develop a simple system for keeping track of the skills/standards you’ve addressed.
Download your EDITABLE shared reading lesson template below.
Check out the full shared reading series …
Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5

Get your free Editable Shared Reading Lesson Plans!
Watch the member workshop

In this 17-minute training, members will learn:
- How often you should do shared reading
- What to read during shared reading lessons
- The structure of a shared reading lesson
- What skills to teach
- How to keep the same text fun and interesting
Not a member yet? Learn more here.
Thank you this, just what I’ve been looking for. Thank you Anna.
Dear Anna,
Thank you so much. I must say that I am really learning and this resource will help me practice.
Thanks for the Template.
Rejoice
Bula from Fiji,
Thank you Anna for sharing this.