Interactive read-alouds, where adults read text to children and facilitate discussion of the text, are an incredibly effective method for supporting children's literacy learning. In this article, Tanya Wright, an associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University, describes some of the knowledge and skills that…

In response to calls to resituate teacher preparation in clinical settings, teacher educators are increasingly repositioning their work in PK-12 contexts. In this article, we describe our efforts to connect theory and practice through site-based course instruction and explore how such experiences informed teacher candidates' perceptions of their…

This article shares an oral reading practice that develops children's fluency skills, with a particular emphasis on performance reading and prosody. The authors share their experiences with Fluency Idol! as a way to engage young children by tapping into pop culture. The practice emphasizes repeated readings, feedback, practice, and…

In this article the authors recount the history and challenges of implementing coaching in 153 Georgia elementary schools over the 6-year period of Reading First funding. After outlining the expectations of Reading First, they describe the particular demands of coaching in a reform setting and detail the formative lessons that allowed the program…

The purpose of this study was to examine what read-aloud style and delivery of an elementary school teacher looked like, as well as how style and delivery varied from teacher to teacher. Both fiction and nonfiction texts were considered. The reading styles utilized by the teacher participants during two fiction and two nonfiction read-aloud events…

Reading disability is the most common disability. At least one in five children has significant challenges learning to read. This study focused on the oral reading performance of 30 Year-Three students. The students were identified as less proficient readers from two randomly selected primary schools in Brunei Darussalam. The oral reading…

This study investigates the discourse of elementary school reading coaches and teachers during coaching interactions in four Alabama schools. Coach/teacher dyads recorded naturally occurring coaching dialogue over periods of 3 to 6 weeks. Each participant shared her views on coaching and commented on the recorded discourse during post-interviews…

"Contemporary Debates in Childhood Education and Development" is a unique resource and reference work that brings together leading international researchers and thinkers, with divergent points of view, to discuss contemporary problems and questions in childhood education and developmental psychology. Through an innovative format whereby leading…

An observational study of reading instruction was conducted in general education, resource, and self-contained classrooms, grades 1-4, in public schools. Participants included students who were deaf or hard of hearing and their reading teachers. Results indicated that time engaged in reading and/or academically responding varied significantly by…

New research shows that certain conditions surrounding read-alouds will ensure the greatest benefits. Suggestions for getting the most out of reading aloud include: engage students' interests; make sure the books are at the right difficulty level; spend an appropriate amount of time on reading aloud; offer a range of materials to read aloud; and…

Describes several shared reading activities that pair up older and younger elementary level students. (MM)

Reading aloud is an essential part of the classroom instructional program, along with direct instruction and sustained silent reading or book contact, and should not be slighted despite the numerous time demands from other sources. Reading aloud to children provides opportunities for introducing children to good literature and encourages language…

Presents a summary of practical experiences with oral reading in a format that gives insights into why listening to children read empathetically is important. Offers guidelines on how to organize and use such a process. (FL)

Suggests an activity which encourages students to read with expression while reading aloud. (MG)

Describes ELVES (Excite, Listen, Visualize, Extend, Savor), a read-aloud strategy designed to develop listening comprehension and maintain elementary school students' initial excitement about reading. (MM)