This is probably one of the most simple, but useful things I’ve realized in my teaching experience so far: reading aloud to students is extremely important.
I’ll say it again, reading aloud to students is extremely important [my Diagnostic/Remedial Reading professor would be so proud!]
There are plenty of positives to reading aloud:
- to introduce a topic
- to model correct, fluent reading
- exposing students to more difficult or new texts
- engaging students in auditory ways
- break from the text, ability to listen and enjoy
Reading aloud is useful for all students—high achievers can listen along without worry of reading interrupted by annotations, low-achievers can catch up to their peers in their reading, and students with disabilities/ESL students will be able to understand the text better, etc.
I’ve used reading aloud in my clinical placements and I plan to integrate it in my future classroom as well!