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What is shared reading?

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What is shared reading, and what are its benefits? Get answers to these questions and more in today’s post!

If you’re little fuzzy on shared reading – or you want to make sure you’re on the right track, this post is for you.

Let’s tackle some common questions.

What is shared reading?

Shared reading is when a teacher and a large group of students read an enlarged text together.

There is one copy of the text, and it’s big enough that everyone can see it.

How is it different than guided reading?

Quite a bit.

  • Guided reading is always done with small groups who are at a similar reading level. While shared reading may be done with small, ability-based groups, we typically do shared reading with a large group of learners at all different levels.
  • With guided reading, each students gets his/her own copy of the text. Shared reading works best when everyone shares the same (enlarged) text.
  • During guided reading lessons, each child reads the text on his/her own. In contrast, shared reading usually involves all learners reading the text in unison.

Both guided and shared reading have an importance place in a balanced literacy model. 

What age/grade levels should do shared reading?

I recommend doing shared reading starting at the PreK level and going all the way through mid-elementary school.

I believe it is most valuable at the K-2 level.

What do you read during shared reading?

I recommend choosing a text that is 1-2 levels above the average reading level of your group. This way the text provides a small challenge as you work with it throughout the week.

Your text could be …

  • a poem or other text written on chart paper
  • a poem written on sentence strips in a pocket chart
  • a Big Book
  • any text enlarged with a document camera

What are the benefits of shared reading?

Here are just a few reasons to make shared reading a regular part of your school days.

Shared reading …

  • encourages enthusiasm for reading
  • builds book and print awareness
  • supports students at all reading levels
  • introduces students to different genres
  • gives practice with word solving skills
  • provides an opportunity to teach comprehension strategies
  • provides a platform for modeling and building fluency

How often should you do shared reading?

With all those benefits, you’d think that shared reading is going to eat up a lot of your day.

But it won’t!

You only need to set aside 10-15 minutes 3-5 days a week.

Stay tuned for more about shared reading!

 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Watch the member workshop

In this 17-minute training, members will learn:

  • How often I recommend doing 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.

CLICK TO WATCH THE MEMBER WORKSHOP

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Reader Interactions

25 Comments

  3. VaNae Barlow

    Thank you so much for all your insight on reading. You have a special talent and I am so grateful that so much is shared freely. I am a grandma helping my grandchildren with their reading. They need extra help. Your ideas have been so helpful. I had a pre-school for many years and then worked at our school in the reading program for twenty one years. I wish all your help would have been available then. I really enjoy using your ideas to help my grandchildren and to keep me up on some of the things I have forgotten.

    Reply to this comment

  8. Kathy Schreiber

    This is a great summary and clear explanation for all reading teachers. I love your heart for being so motivated and generous to help us learn what you know. I have used so many of your resources and shared your website with many of our teachers. Thanks again. Kathy in Texas

    Reply to this comment

  10. Abahi

    Dear Anne,
    I’ve faithfully followed your posts and used your resources here in Nigeria for over a year now and I tell you it’s been a fruitful experience for me and my learners. I look forward to more on the shared reading from you.
    God bless the works of your hands.

    Reply to this comment

  11. Deedee

    Thank you for writing such a clear and succinct explanation on shared reading and how it can benefit children. I absolutely love your resources and am very much looking forward to the information you have to share: your help is SO appreciated by thousands!!

    Reply to this comment

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