How does shared reading benefit students?

Shared reading is an instructional approach that involves an adult reading a text aloud while students engage with the text, usually by following along or participating in the reading. One of the key benefits of this method is that it aids in understanding fluency and text connections.

When students participate in shared reading, they not only hear fluent reading modeled by an experienced reader, but they also see how the text is structured. This exposure helps them develop their own reading fluency as they become familiar with phrasing, intonation, and expression. Additionally, shared reading encourages discussion around the content, which promotes deeper comprehension. Students can make connections between the text and their own experiences, other texts, or broad concepts, enhancing their understanding and retention of the material.

This collaborative reading experience also fosters a love for reading and helps build confidence in students’ reading abilities, as they often feel supported in a group setting. In summary, shared reading is effective in developing both reading fluency and comprehension skills, making it a central strategy in literacy education.