[Possible Interactive Read Aloud Summary]
Teacher and Student Actions During an Interactive Read Aloud
What do Teachers and Students do during Interactive Read Aloud?
What do teachers do?
- Read wonderful literature, chosen because of its rich qualities, aloud.
- Expose students to a variety of genres including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and editorials.
- Model appropriate forms of discussion.
- Model comprehension strategies and ways of thinking about books by thinking aloud.
- Pause at strategic stopping points and listen to encourage student response.
- Engage students in thinking and growing theories about characters, themes, and deeper structures of text.
- Provide opportunities for students to turn and talk with a partner.
- Hold students accountable to the text and to each other.
- Do the reading in order to enable students to be the meaning-makers.
- Coach the conversation, but back out of it.
- Attempt to avoid conversation starters; instead, listen in on students’ conversations and use this formative assessment data to plan and reinforce teaching points.
What do students do?
- Listen to the teacher as she/he reads texts that are both compelling and complex.
- Listen, think, and talk to develop metacognitive strategies.
- Recognize, appreciate, and become passionate readers of quality literature.
- Think deeply about the text and the comments of others in the group.
- Communicate that deep thinking through oral and written language.
- Listen to other people’s ideas and feelings, and respond and react to what they say.
- View themselves as members of a community of readers and thinkers.
- Grow theories and ideas about the literature that is read to them by participating in thoughtful discussions with teachers and peers.
- Support their ideas and thinking with evidence from the text.
Growing Accountable Talk During an Interactive Read Aloud
1. Establish a single focus for as long as possible. Talk, think, jot, reread, and talk more about the focus.
- Who has a question we can ponder for a while?
- Who can add to that thought?
- Let’s stick with this topic. Who has something else to add to _______’s idea?
- Let’s recap what has been said so far. What else can we say about that?
- Let’s look back into the text and find evidence that supports that idea.
- Let’s stop for a moment and jot down the ideas you have about this theory.
- How would you compare that to what you were thinking earlier?
2. Interpret and use each other’s statements and ideas. Listen and build upon other people’s ideas.
- _______ presented a theory. Who can talk off of that?
- Does anyone have something to add to _______’s ideas?
- So you are agreeing with _______. Look at him/her and tell him/her.
- So you are adding on to what _______ had to say with additional thoughts. Does anyone else have something to add to what _______ had to say?
3. Recognize and challenge other people’s ideas.
- You have a different theory than _______. Look at _______ and tell him/her what you are thinking.
- We have two theories on the table. Does anyone have evidence that supports either theory?
- Does anyone have a different idea?
- So you disagree with _______. Let’s look back in the text and find evidence that supports the differing ideas presented here.
- Where are you going with that idea? How does it connect to what we are thinking?
4. Ask the speaker to clarify, justify, explain, and provide evidence to support ideas.
- I don’t understand what you mean. Could you explain?
- Say more about what you’re thinking.
- Why do you think that?
- I had a different idea about that. Could you show us evidence in the text that supports your ideas?
- Can you say it again in a different way?
If we expect young readers to take on this language and hold themselves accountable for deep talk about their reading, then we must use these phrases consistently, in supportive and enthusiastic ways!
Planning an Interactive Read Aloud
Text Choice
The text you read for Interactive Read Aloud may be grade-level text or something a bit more complex because you will be reading it and guiding the students’ thinking. What’s most essential is that you choose a text that is well-written and compelling to students—a text that has one or more of the following qualities:
- High level of tension, such as tension between characters and/or fast-paced plot
- Touching story
- Factual text that is fascinating to students
- Emotionally-evocative situation
- Engaging character or story
- Complex plot, characters, or other elements
- A piece that elicited a strong reaction when you read it
Before Reading
- Read the text at least once yourself so that your oral reading will be fluent, expressive, and clear.
- Choose your stopping points carefully! Think about places in the text where the students will want to respond or share a feeling, question, or idea.
- Plan only a few stopping points. Stop 2–4 times for a 20-minute read aloud, and only 2 times for a 10-minute read aloud.
- Think about how you will build excitement and engagement.
During Reading
- Pause at strategic stopping points and listen to encourage student response.
- Let the students talk. If necessary, pass the book to the speaker so s/he can support ideas with evidence from the text.
- Model and name comprehension strategies and ways of thinking about books by thinking aloud and commenting on student thinking.
- Model and name positive discussion behaviors.
- Coach the conversation, but back out of it, guiding students’ talk “across the circle” to one another.
- Provide opportunities for students to turn and talk with partners.
- Engage students in thinking and growing theories about characters, themes, author’s purpose, and deeper structures of text.
- Reread or go back into the text to support the students’ conversation.
After Reading
- Invite students to use their new learning in book clubs, partnerships, and during Independent Reading.
- Sometimes (but not always), ask students to share their new learning by writing a response to the read aloud.
Recommended Books for Interactive Read Aloud
Title
Author
Genre (theme)
Suggested Grades
The Babe and I
D. Adler
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (family, hard times)
K–3
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
R. Atwater
Fantasy Chapter Book
3-4
Poppy
Avi
Fantasy Chapter Book
2-5
Tuck Everlasting
J. Babbitt
Fantasy Chapter Book
4-5
I’m in Charge of Celebrations; The Other Way to Listen
B. Baylor
Poetry Picture Books
1–4
Double Fudge; Freckle Juice; The Pain and the Great One; Superfudge; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
J. Blume
Realistic Fiction Chapter Books
3–5
Flat Stanley
J. Brown
Fantasy Easy Chapter Book
1–3
Cheyenne Again; Fly Away Home; A Picnic in October; Smoky Night
E. Bunting
Realistic/Historical Fiction Picture Books
K–2
Ruby’s Wish
S. Y. Bridges
Historical Fiction or Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book (determination; breaking gender stereotypes)
K–3
The Principal’s New Clothes
S. Calmenson
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (school, humor)
K–3
The Stories Julian Tells; More Stories Julian Tells; The Stories Huey Tells; More Stories Huey Tells
A. Cameron
Realistic Fiction Short Stories (brothers, humor)
K–3
The Most Beautiful Place in the World
A. Cameron
Realistic Fiction Short Chapter Book (family, poverty)
3–5
Hairs/Pelitos
S. Cisneros
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (family, diversity)
K-3
Woman Hollering Creek; The House on Mango Street
S. Cisneros
Realistic Short Stories (family, Hispanic culture)
3–5
Ramona [series]; Dear Mr. Henshaw; Socks; Ralph S. Mouse
B. Cleary
Realistic Fiction and Fantasy Chapter Books (family, friendship)
2–5
Frindle; The Landry News; The Janitor’s Boy; The School Story; A Walk in the Woods; The Jacket
A. Clements
Realistic Fiction Chapter Books (school, social issues, family, friendship)
3–5
Big Al
A. Clements & Yoshi
Fantasy Picture Book (friendship, acceptance)
K–3
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes
E. Coerr
Realistic Fiction or Narrative Nonfiction Chapter Book (illness, determination)
3–5
Molly’s Pilgrim
M. Cohen
Historical Fiction Short Chapter Book (immigration; acceptance)
2–5
Miss Rumphius
B. Cooney
Picture Book (breaking gender stereotypes; giving back to the community)
K–3
Love That Dog
S. Creech
Poetry
3–5
Walk Two Moons
S. Creech
Chapter Book (family; friendship)
3–5
Bud, Not Buddy; The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963
C.P. Curtis
Historical Fiction Chapter Books (determination; fighting racism)
3–5
Matilda; The BFG; The Witches; James and the Giant Peach; Flying Solo
R. Dahl
Fantasy Chapter Books (humor, family; friendship)
2–5
Because of Winn Dixie; The Tiger Rising
K. DiCamillo
Realistic Fiction Chapter Books (family; friendship)
3–5
Abuela
A. Dorros
Fantasy Picture Book (family; culture)
K–2
Yolanda’s Genius
C. Fenner
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book (determination; family)
3–5
Seedfolks; The Whipping Boy
S. Fleishman
Realistic and Historical Fiction Short Chapter Books (unity; determination; friendship)
3–5
My Side of the Mountain
J.C. George
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book (finding oneself; survival)
3–5
My Mama Had a Dancing Heart
L.M. Gray
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (family; seasons)
K–2
Childtimes
E. Greenfield
Memoir Chapter Book (culture; racism; growing up)
4–5
For the Love of the Game; Grandpa’s Face; Honey, I Love
E. Greenfield
Poetry Picture Books (family; culture)
K–3
Just Juice; Out of the Dust
K. Hesse
Realistic Fiction and Historical Fiction Poetry Chapter Books (determination; survival; family)
3–5
Red Scarf Girl
J.L. Jiang
Memoir Chapter Book (determination; family; culture)
5+
The Phantom Tollbooth
Juster
Fantasy Chapter Book
3–5
Peach and Blue
S. Kilbrone
Fantasy Picture Book (friendship)
K–2
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler; The View from Saturday
E.L. Konigsburg
Chapter Books (friendship)
3–5
Throwing Shadows
E.L. Konigsburg
Short Stories (relationships)
3–5
Wilma Unlimited
K. Krull
Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book (determination; women and African-American firsts)
K–3
A Wrinkle in Time
M. L’Engle
Fantasy Chapter Book (determination; good vs evil)
4–5
The Chronicles of Narnia [series]
C.S. Lewis
Fantasy Chapter Books (good vs. evil)
3–5
Hey World, Here I Am!
J. Little
Short Stories, Poems (noticings on life)
3–5
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
B. Loro
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book (immigration, friendship, family)
4–5
The Giver; Gathering Blue; Son
L. Lowry
Science Fiction Chapter Books (dystopia)
5+
Number the Stars
L. Lowry
Historical Fiction Chapter Book (Holocaust; defending others and truth)
4–5
Arthur for the Very First Time; Baby; Journey; Sarah Plain and Tall; Skylark
P. MacLachlan
Historical Fiction Chapter Books
2–5
Knots on a Counting Rope
B. Martin Jr.
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (family; Native American; overcoming challenges)
K–3
The Honest to Goodness Truth
P.C. McKissack
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (truth; standing up)
K–3
Roxaboxen
A. McLerran
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (power of imagination)
K–3
Baseball Saved Us
K. Mochizuki
Picture Book (Japanese internment; determination; fighting racism)
K–3
The Three Questions
J. Muth
Picture Book (life questions; helping others)
K–3
Black Cat; Wings
C. Myers
Poetry; Picture book
K–3
Shiloh [series]
P.R. Naylor
Realistic Fiction Chapter Books (standing up; growing up)
3–5
Mick Harte Was Here
B. Park
Short Chapter Book (death; coping with loss; family)
3–5
Bridge to Terabithia; Flip-Flop Girl; The Great Gilly Hopkins
K. Paterson
Realistic Fiction Chapter Books (death; coping with loss overcoming challenges)
5+
Hatchet; Brian’s Winter; The Cookcamp; The Monument
G. Paulsen
Realistic Fiction Chapter Books (survival; growing up)
5+
The Rainbow Fish
M. Phister
Fantasy Picture Book (friendship)
K–3
Babushka’s Doll; The Bee Tree; Chicken Sunday; Just Plain Fancy; The Keeping Quilt; My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother; My Ol’ Man; Thank You Mr. Falker; Thunder Cake; Tikvah Means Hope
P. Polacco
Historical Fiction Picture Books (culture; friendship; overcoming challenges)
K–3
Tar Beach
F. Ringgold
Historical Fiction and Autobiographical Picture Book (culture; growing up)
K–3
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
B. Robinson
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book (humor, family)
3–5
Earthdance
J. Ryder
Poetry Picture Book (unity; conservation)
K–2
An Angel for Solomon Singer; Appalachia; The Bookshop Dog; Dog Heaven; Miss Maggie; The Relatives Came; Scarecrow; The Whales; The Wonderful Happens
C. Rylant
Realistic Fiction Picture Books (perspective; life)
K–3
Every Living Thing
C. Rylant
Short Stories (family; friendship; animals)
3–5
Missing May
C. Rylant
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book (family, loss)
3–5
Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes; Holes; There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom; Sideways Stories from Wayside School
L. Sachar
Fiction (school; humor; friendship; bullying; determination)
3–5
Abiyoyo
P. Seeger
Folktale Picture Book (culture; acceptance)
1–2
The Cricket in Times Square
G. Seldon
Fantasy Chapter Book (friendship; family)
3–4
A Bad Case of Stripes; How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball; The Rain Came Down
D. Shannon
Fiction Picture Books
K–2
A Taste of Blackberries
D. Smith
Short Chapter Book (friendship; loss)
4–5
The War with Grandpa
R.K. Smith
Realistic Fiction Chapter Book (humor; family)
3–5
Baseball in April and Other Stories
G. Soto
Short Stories (family; Hispanic culture)
2–5
Sign of the Beaver
E.G. Speare
Historical Fiction (fighting racism; overcoming challenges; culture)
5+
Crash; Maniac Magee; Wringer; The Library Card
J. Spinelli
Chapter Books; Short Stories
3–5
Stevie
J. Steptoe
Picture Book (family; overcoming challenges)
K–3
Angel Child, Dragon Child
M. M. Surat
Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book (family; immigration; overcoming challenges)
K–3
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
J. Viorst
Realistic Fiction Picture book (pets; loss)
3–5
The Other Side
J. Woodson
Realistic Fiction Picture Book (friendship; fighting racism; overcoming challenges)
K–3
Always my Dad; Something Beautiful
S.D. Wyeth
Realistic Fiction Picture Books (overcoming challenges)
1–3
The Devil’s Arithmetic
J. Yolen
Historical Fiction Chapter Book (Holocaust)
5+
Welcome to the Green House
J. Yolen
Poetry Picture Book
K–3