SDAIE+Strategies

=Choral Reading= =by Alyssa Wiebe=



Choral Reading Defined:
"Choral reading actively involves students as they read aloud in unison, as a whole class or small group, along with a teacher or more-capable reader. It can be used instead of traditional round-robin reading." (//Teaching Reading Sourcebook)//

The main instructional focus of this strategy is on accuracy and prosody. Students are receiving assistance from their peers and from the teacher.


 * This activity may be used during class times when students are reading aloud. It can be an alternative to the teacher reading the entire selection or to popcorn reading with one student reading at a time. Also, students could participate in choral reading with a text the teacher has already read to them and that they are familiar with. The teacher can help the students to create actions for different parts of the text and the students can practice and then perform. Therefore, teachers can combine drama with reading instruction OR they can simply use the strategy as a reading activity.

Choral reading:

 * is important for fluency
 * takes pressure and anxiety off students
 * reduces the "tune-out" and keeps them on "their toes"
 * reduces boredom
 * can use different groupings of students
 * can be used with all types of literature such as poems, song lyrics, picture books, excerpts from other pieces of literature, etc.

The teacher needs to make sure:

 * the text is age appropriate
 * the text is within the student's level of proximal development

Benefits of Choral Reading for EL students:

 * This strategy scaffolds English learners' reading in a classroom by allowing the student to say a word they may not know a split second after everyone else has say it.
 * It will help generate enthusiasm and confidence in EL students who are just beginning to read.
 * It is a great way for students to increase their vocabulary.
 * Proper intonation is modeled by the student's peers.
 * Fosters a sense of community in the classroom, making the EL students feel a part of the class.[[image:images-1.jpeg width="309" height="232" align="right"]]