Scholastic Reading Hub | Teaching Reading | Comprehension | Whole-Class Reading
Whole-Class Reading
What is it?
Whole-class reading, is where a teacher shares a story with the whole-class at once.
The book is usually selected by the class teacher, or voted upon by the class from a shortlist put together by the class teacher. The important thing is that the book is selected for its read-aloud qualities, one the children may not pick for their own independent reading, and one that will expand their horizons.
As teachers read aloud to children, they stop only briefly and just a few times so as not to lose the momentum of the story. At the same time, teachers invite children to participate, make comments, extend the ideas of the author, and ask and respond to questions. In this way, children build more intricate networks of meaning than they could have accomplished on their own (Fountas & Pinnell, 2012).
Benefits to reading aloud to your class:- Children can encounter stories and worlds beyond their reading age
- Increases the vocabulary and grammatical structures pupils are exposed to
- Creates a shared experience for all class members
- Allows for a quiet time at the end of the school day that the child will remember.
What does the research show?
In the 2015 Kids & Family Reading Report, conducted by Scholastic and YouGov, 89% of 6-8 year olds, and 82% of 9-11 year olds either ‘liked a lot’ or ‘loved’ being read to.
After evaluating ten thousand research studies, the U.S. Department of Education’s Commission on Reading issued a report, Becoming a Nation of Readers (1985). It states: “The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.” The study found conclusive evidence supporting reading aloud in the home and in the classroom. Adults need to read aloud to children not just when children can’t yet read on their own, but across all the grade levels (Anderson, et al, 1985).
One of the most valuable aspects of the read-aloud is the experience it gives young children with decontextualized language, requiring them to make sense of ideas that are about something beyond the here and now (Beck & McKeown, 2001).
“If we wish to help children and adolescents become thoughtfully literate, classroom talk around texts is critical.” – Dr. Richard Allington, University of Tennessee.
Reading aloud is the single most important factor to help children become proficient, avid readers (Calkins, 2000).
How Scholastic can help
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Read & Respond
Get the most out of best-loved children’s books with this bestselling series – the perfect way to explore favourite stories in your classroom. A wealth of inspiring activities, discussion ideas and guided reading sessions based on books that children love to read and teachers love to teach.
Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine
Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine is a core of books that create a living library inside a child’s mind. It is a store of classics and essential reads that help children engage at a deeper level and enter the world of the story.
Comprehension
- Guided Reading
- Reciprocal Reading
- Repeated Reading / Close Reading
- Shared Reading
- Assessment
- Striving Readers
- Advanced Readers
- Whole-Class Reading