• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQ
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Community
  • Books
    • Books for Children by Age
    • Book Lists
    • Holiday Books and Activities
  • Reading Ideas
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Kindergarteners & Early Elementary
  • Writing Ideas
  • Parental Involvement: Building Partnerships
  • Start Here!
    • WELCOME TO THE GROWING BOOK BY BOOK COMMUNITY
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • FAQ
      • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Book Lists
    • Books for Children by Age
    • Book Lists
    • Holiday Books and Activities
  • Book Activities
  • Early Literacy
    • Alphabet Activities
    • Circle Time Activities
    • Phonological Awareness Activities

Growing Book by Book

  • Family Involvement
    • Start a Family Dinner Book Club
  • Start Here
  • Store
discovering with babies playing with toddlers exploring with preschoolers building with beginning readers

Bring joy and play into children's lives through books.

Yes, please!
Home » All categories » Shared Reading

Shared Reading

July 9, 2012 • 1 Comment

Sharing is caring!

92 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
SHARED READING IDEAS

Nurturing young readers involves reading with children, reading to children, and having children read on their own.   Today we are going to explore reading with children which is commonly called shared reading. It’s great to use in early literacy. So, What is shared reading?

SHARED READING IDEAS

What does shared reading look like?

During shared reading, the children can see the text and are involved in reading some parts of the text also.  In classrooms, the text is usually a big book or a piece of work projected large enough for the group to see.  Children are generally gathered close together on the carpet.   At home, almost any sized book or piece of writing will do.  Children at home often sit on our lap or next to us in a comfy reading spot.

Why do we do shared reading?

Shared reading is a fantastic time for us to engage with children as we read.  It provides an opportunity for children to read/hear a story that they are interested in, but might not be able to read it all independently.   A child is able to read parts that she knows in a predictable text.  We also use this opportunity to practice reading strategies (get your mouth ready for the first sound, look at the picture for a clue) and develop comprehension.  Beginning readers, will “pretend read” the text over multiple reads.  For older or reluctant readers, it allows them to read parts (maybe every other line, paragraph or page) while the older reader reads the other sections.  Most importantly, we are spending time enjoying books with children!

How often should I do shared reading?

I always recommend that teachers do at least one shared reading a day (preferably more in the early grades).  At home, I recommend either doing shared reading or reading aloud to your child every day.  Shared reading of a text is done multiple times.  In the classroom, we might read the same book each day for a week.  At home, you might read the same book every night for several nights.  It’s amazing how kids like to hear certain stories over and over again!

What are some texts to use for shared reading?

First, it doesn’t have to be a book.  Poems, songs, and chants work great for shared reading.  When selecting books, I recommend that you pick books you enjoy or books on topics that your child enjoys.  Books that have repeating lines or phrases work well. Texts that are predictable are also a plus.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Something from Nothing

I used this book over and over when I taught in the primary grades.  There are actually two story lines in the book.  The main one with text takes place on the top of each page.  Under the floorboards, you will find the second wordless story line about the mice who use all of the scraps of fabric that fall through the floor.  This book is especially good for repetitive text.

The Deep Blue Sea:  A Book of Colors

The bright vivid illustrations will keep you engaged in this predictable and repetitive text.  I’ve lost count of how many times my oldest son has brought me this book to read.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

This book has lots of repetitive phrases and plain old fun words to say, “swishy swashy”, “hoooo-woooo” and “squelch squerch”.

There are so many more great books that fit the bill for shared reading.  Check out most of the books by Mo Willems, Don and Audrey Wood, and Eric Carle to name a few.

Do you have a question about shared reading?  Leave a comment and I’ll answer you back.

MORE POSTS YOU MAY ENJOY

Read-Aloud Tips

Story Time Prop Kits

Did you get your free list of Books Kids Will Beg You to Read?

Get It

Sharing is caring!

92 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

1 Comment Filed Under: All categories, Reading Fun Tagged With: best books for shared reading, shared reading tips

About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Trackbacks

  1. Day 3: Organizing Literacy into Your Routine | says:
    August 22, 2012 at 5:01 am

    […] Try reading it with her.  Take turns reading every other page.  For more, check out Jodie’s Shared Reading ideas and Tips for Reading With Newborns to Age […]

    Reply

What can we help you find?

Subscribe to Growing Book by Book

lead magnet for growing book bybook
Welcome to Growing Book by Book!  Learn about the creator, Jodie Rodriguez.

Find More

alphabet activities
book lists for children
circle time button

Set Up for Circle Time Success

month by month circle time songs


Copyright ©2023, Growing Book by Book. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs | Privacy Policy