What Are Effective Ways to Read Text?

Carol Brewer
Mar 28, 2011

There are more effective ways for students to read text than others.  Shared reading or choral reading is when the teacher and students are reading together.  Paired reading is when the students are reading with their partner.  Independent reading is when students are reading silently. It is your responsibility to provide multiple opportunities for students to read text.

It is suggested to start reading the text together with the students.  This seems to activate student engagement.  It is also a chance to model what is being taught.  Paired reading is suggested for the next couple of pages for students to practice what has been modeled.  With this type of reading, students read to their partner and ask each other questions according to the focus of the lesson.  For example, if you are teaching sequencing, the students ask each other sequencing questions.  Independent reading is suggested for students who can read the text by themselves.  This is the ultimate goal with reading because the student has to read and comprehend on their own.