Interactive Read Aloud Guidelines
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Teaching Resources
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Interactive Read Aloud
This Read Aloud differs from the traditional model because students take a more prominent role by sharing what they are thinking. The reader models comprehension strategies in a “think-aloud” technique. Students are introduced to what good readers do when they are reading and are given the opportunity to do the same. Interactive Read Aloud allows educators to share the love of reading with students.
Procedure:
1. Choose a story that will stimulate discussion.
2. Be prepared-read through the text before reading to students. Determine voice of
characters, be familiar with story and illustrations.
3. Have students sit in a position that faces the reader.
4. Present the book as in a traditional read aloud.
5. Activate background knowledge by allowing students to discuss what they already know
about the topic or have them make predictions about what the story might be about based on title and cover illustration.
6. Determine a few good comprehension questions to ask (i.e. infer, visualize, summarize,
main idea, etc.--see “Sample Questions below” ) .
7. As you read aloud, stop at certain places to focus on these questions. Model your own
thinking about a question in a way students will understand.
8. Encourage students to comment on the story and/or illustrations.
Tips:
• Try to avoid yes/no questions.
• Give students at LEAST 5-10 seconds to respond.
• Encourage students to expand on a response as appropriate.
Benefits:
• Engages students and promotes interest and curiosity
• Introduces new vocabulary
• Provides an opportunity to teach problem-solving strategies that effective readers
employ (inferences, predictions, etc)
Sample Questions:
• What do you think will happen next?
• What are you thinking about the story right now?
• This story reminds me of … What does it remind you of?
• What picture do you see in your mind right now?
• What does this story make you wonder about?
• How is this story like other stories we have read in class or you have read on your own?