Chapter 13 Response

CHAPTER 13: Reading to and with Children

The importance of reading aloud to students of all ages is stressed greatly in this chapter. According to the chapter, there a variety of benefits in reading aloud with students. Some of these benefits include: increased motivation and positive attitude toward reading, language and literacy development, and vocabulary development. I think many teachers may lack the understanding of this significance. Of course, silent reading is always important, but reading aloud and making a book come alive holds a student's interest much more. I can remember when I was a student, even in high school while reading Of Mice and Men, having my teacher's read aloud to the class was always a highlight of the class period. I was much more interested in the story and found that I learned about the art of literature much better. 

Knowing exactly when to read aloud and with what topic can sometimes be tricky. So, it is important for the teacher to get to know their students and learn their interests and how they respond to different topics. For example, if you are teaching a dull topic, it may be useful to include a read aloud about it in order to keep the focus of the students. There are also many things to know about how to read aloud that should be considered before the actual read aloud. The teacher should know the story and what voice to use during different parts of the story. They should also have think aloud prompts thought up for the students to do. 

Shared reading and guided reading can be conducted as a way for both teacher and student to be involved with the reading. Shared reading provides the opportunity for both teacher and student to read aloud collaboratively, thus creating a more engaging environment for the student where they are more active in the read aloud. The teacher should select an engaging book and choose questions to ask prior to the lesson. It is also important to be sure all students can see and hear so that everyone can be properly involved. As for guided practice, students are able to apply reading strategies on their own, reading in groups with books of their interest level. Guided reading allows scaffolding in the classroom where teachers can observe and discuss a student's reading skills, while they learn on their own, as well. 

Working through all of these reading levels are an important component to student learning skills in literature. I feel there should always be a mix of reading to learners, reading with learners, and independent reading practice.