Shared reading and science of reading– do these terms go together? Let’s dig in! Shared Reading may be a new phrase to you if you are a new teacher within the last five years. But some of us know exactly what that phrase means. It may even bring back fond memories of reading with our kids as we gathered close on the carpet.
Shared reading is a method of teaching and practicing literacy skills that is rooted in the whole language approach to reading. It then transferred to the balanced literacy approach, which if you have been around here for a while, you know I was heavily trained in and taught with for many, many years. But now that we know better, it’s time to continue to do better, friends. Let’s begin by looking at shared reading and science of reading research.
The short answer is yes and no. I know that’s not what you want to read, but for a fast and furious answer, that is it.
I say “yes” because there are strands from Scarborough’s Reading Rope that shared reading plays into. Kids need to know concepts about print, need to have a growing vocabulary, and need to continue to develop background knowledge as they are learning to become skilled readers. Every strand matters, and shared reading can help make those strands stronger. Shared reading and science of reading instruction can work together.
I say “no” because its origin is from a whole language approach to reading. If you aren’t familiar with whole language, it’s the (false) idea that kids will learn to read by being exposed to words. It’s the idea that we can simply read aloud to them, and they can listen, and then they will learn how to read.
We know this is silly and not true because we now know that learning to read requires explicit, systematic instruction built on a solid foundation of letters and sounds. This is an approach to reading that I heard about, but never taught. There is very little, if any, explicit instruction happening with this approach. Again, this approach is where shared reading began.
Many of you may be familiar with shared reading because it was also part of the balanced literacy model of teaching reading. This is where I learned about shared reading. (If you want to know more about these methods of teaching reading, then be sure to join me the next time I do a live class on reading small groups. I chat about how we got to where we are today.)
So, does shared reading have a place in reading instruction? I believe so.
But friends, don’t miss this–shared reading alone is NOT a solid instructional practice for teaching kids to learn how to read.
We know that making the shift to Science of Reading aligned instruction is not just about the resources we use, but also about the way we use them. We can still use shared reading materials, and there are many benefits! But we need to be careful about HOW we are using this time of instruction. We need to be mindful of how shared reading and science of reading instruction really fit together and can support our growing readers.
For example, I wouldn’t put an emphasis on having shared reading daily as we used to when we followed the balanced literacy model of teaching reading. Kids need MORE than shared reading, and while it never stood alone, it doesn’t quite bring the value we thought it did now that we know what we know about how the brain learns to read.
If you are looking to implement shared reading and science of reading in your classroom a few times a week, these sets of science-themed poems will be perfect for you!
You can write them on chart paper for everyone to see together, then read them together as you build vocabulary, build background knowledge for science concepts coming up, and practice fluency. Don’t forget the joy and fun they bring to your classroom!
Each poem also has phonics activities you can use as extensions in centers or as a whole group to review phonics skills already explicitly taught. This is a great way to integrate shared reading and science of reading research!
Are you using shared reading and science of reading aligned instruction as a time to enrich your literacy instruction in your classroom? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Want to use the latest research to boost your readers during small groups? This FREE guide is packed with engaging ideas to help them grow!
I’m a K-1 teacher who is passionate about making lessons your students love and that are easy to implement for teachers. Helping teachers like you navigate their way through their literacy block brings me great joy. I am a lifelong learner who loves staying on top of current literacy learning and practices. Here, you’ll find the tools you need to move your K-2 students forward!
