Gallman Blog #6

Chapter 9: Emphasize Shared Reading

I definitely had to stop and read this chapter on shared reading. I love in the chapter where it states that shared reading is something that is missing in grade levels above second grade. We are currently reading our second novel study in my ELA class, and I may be enjoying it more than my students. I have found that the students really enjoy reading novels together and are learning a lot with each other. Each student has their own copy of the novel, and we are able to read together and really dissect the the book as a whole. Students are given the chance to read a paragraph aloud to the class which gives them a chance to practice reading with meaning and expression. As we read we stop and make predictions about what we think is going to happen next, we look for examples of figurative language, take annotations, and discuss anything crazy and exciting that happens. I teach the middle level ELA group, and I think shared reading with our novel study is helping my class to really understand what we are reading and is teaching them how to take annotations for future knowledge when they are reading a novel that they will be tested on. I am looking forward to next year to have more opportunities for shared reading in my classroom.