What is the read-aloud?

Teachers read-aloud as students follow along in their own copy of the text. The teacher models strategies and skills and students engage with the text.

In the Read Side by Side Reading Program, the read-aloud is foundational as it builds students' knowledge and increases their comprehension skill.

Benefits of reading aloud to older students:

• ALL students participate in the reading of grade-level text.
• The teacher models fluent reading and comprehension skill.
• Students follow along in their own copy of the text.
• Students engage with the text through turn and talk discussion, note-taking, and writing in response to reading.
• Students receive explicit vocabulary instruction and are given the opportunity to use the words in their speaking and writing.

Read-aloud lessons are fully scripted for the teacher in the teacher's manual.

*Find Look Inside pages for other units on each Grade Level Resource page.

Read-aloud lesson format:

1. Connect what students learned yesterday to what they are learning today.
2. Teach a comprehension skill.
3. Model how to apply the skill in the text.
4. Guide students to practice the skill as they discuss and take notes.
5. Link what students have learned to their independent reading.

"After finishing Poppy, my students were so eager to start another read-aloud I had to have The War with Grandpa overnighted to my school!" 

~Third Grade Teacher, WA