Shared Reading & Extensions for the EFL Classroom

Shared Reading & Extensions for the EFL Class-

roomProfessional Development for Teachers of English

Presenter: James Hall

Shared Read-ing

Group Learning

What is Shared Read-ing?

Shared Reading is an inter-active

reading experience.

Children join in the reading of

a big book or other en-larged text

as guided by a teacher or other experienced

reader .

Why Shared Read-ing?

• Allows students to enjoy materials that they may not be able to read on their own

• Introduces reading process and analysis process• Provides struggling readers with necessary support• Shared reading of predictable text can build sight

word knowledge and reading fluency• Supports additional skill development• Introduces a variety of author, illustrators, and

types of text• Ensures that all students feel successful by provid-

ing support to the entire group

Source: Brenda Parkes, Read It Again!, 2006

Specification of Texts

• Appropriate reading level

• Cross-curricular and relevant in nature

• Appropriate length• Adequately complex• Have an impact

Shared Reading

She is row-ing a boat.

Process• Teacher (and experienced readers) help to lead the

process • Helps students to READ, LISTEN, and TALK about a

text• Develops their ability to understand words,

sounds, meaning, follow and predict story lines etc.

Types of Reading• Read along with the teacher• Shadow reading• Listen and repeat

Comprehension Development• Teacher asks students about the story

• Content based & sentence by sentence• Who is this character?• What is this?• Where is she going?

• Use picture clues to reinforce content for target vocab-ulary

• How did you know that word?• Teacher reinforces learning with explanations and ges-

tures

Safe, Fun,

Shared!

Shared Reading Process

Source: http://www.awardinteractive.com/professionalD.php

How do you spell plane?

Teacher invites stu-dents to come up and write target language

Students utilize the book to find, speak, and write target language.

Sound out difficult words with the class to support struggling students and re-inforce language to shy students.

Connecting Text• Teacher engages students and with the text

and provides opportunities for them to share their knowledge

• Teacher leads students to make sure each student is engaged and supported

Connecting Text to Reading

Source: http://www.awardinteractive.com/professionalD.php

P…

Specific Skill LearningShared reading provides a springboard for students to learn, develop, and reinforce ad-ditional skills

Phonics: Alphabet letters and soundsVocabulary: High-frequency words, content wordsWriting: Patterns and methods for recogniz-ing structures in writing are developed

Don’t just push PLAY! Shared

Reading allows for additional key skill

development.

Source: http://www.awardinteractive.com/professionalD.php

ExtensionsInteractive and Engaging Learning Activ-

ities

Reading Extension

Teacher moves through groups to assess, support, and reinforce.

Buddy ReadingObjective: Buddy learning allows students support each other as teachers and creates a less intimidating learning environment for shy students.1. Students break into pairs2. Read aloud with their buddy. Paired reading, alternating reading, shadow reading can

be done.

Pro Tip!Strategically pair stu-

dents together.Weaker/stronger

Shy/confident

Source: http://www.awardinteractive.com/professionalD.php

Vocabulary ExtensionWord Wise Book-marksObjective: Students find, record, and discuss vocabulary1. Provide Students with Word Wise

bookmark and student sheet.2. Students read the text, find and

discuss words that are interest-ing (new, different, unusual, funny, strange, hard, and/or im-portant.

3. Students choose a selection of words and record and complete the Word Wise student sheet. Students can explain the word with local language definition, English definition, synonym etc depending on their level.

4. Students record/make sentences using the vocabulary.

Source: The Florida Center for Reading Re-search- 2006

Vocabulary ExtensionQR Code Easter Egg HuntObjective: Engage students by making QR codes of vocabulary and create an interactive lesson that is fun for the digital natives in your class!1. Teacher prepares QR codes for the target vocabulary and expressions.2. A handout can be given or the sentences can be written on the board.3. The students must seek out the QR codes that are hidden/posted around the class-

room.4. Students use the vocabulary in the codes to fill in sentence blanks from the sen-

tences

Fill in the blanks using QR codes hidden around the class!

A bear lived in a _______ on the mountain.Birds made _______ on the rocks.Spiders made _______ in the grass.Bees made _______ in the trees.

Comprehension Ex-tension

Comprehension Targeting ActivityObjective: Reinforce vocabulary, content, reading This is a very flexible activity that can be used in the classroom. 1. Students form teams2. Teacher puts marks a throwing line on the ground and places 3 baskets

with respective point titles at different distances3. Students take turns answering a question or completing a task related to

the target activity (vocabulary, content, reading etc.)4. When students answer the question correctly they get to throw the ball

and earn points for their team.5. The game goes to a specific score or until each student has had a chance

to participate a specific number of times dependent on class schedule

1 Point5

Points

3 Points

Pro Tip!This game engages stu-dents whom may have a lower level but better motor skills and can work well to develop

skills in otherwise reluc-tant learners.

Pro Tip!Adapt this activity to in-

volve movement or team dynamic

Little

wants

his

breakfast.Harry

Little Harry wants his breakfast.

Sentence Structure Ex-tension

Making Sentences ActivityObjective: Reinforce sentence structure and build pattern recognition.1. Teacher prepares some of the sentences on sentence strips.2. Mix up the words and have them recreate the book passage from the words.Movement Adaptation3. Print out each word on A4 sized paper4. Create a course in the classroom where students step from word to word to form the

sentences5. Students read aloud as they progress step by step.Team Adaptation6. Prepare sentence strips of paper and form students into teams7. Provide each team with a different set of sentence strips and have them race to make

the proper sentence.8. The team to complete it fastest can get a point.9. Repeat activity until each team has covered all sentences

Writing Exten-sionPersonal CompositionObjective: Personal writing on story related topics.1. The Teacher provides students with a model

composition related to the theme or subject of the story.

2. Class brainstorms suitable vocabulary and expressions which they can use to write their own related compositions.

3. Teacher provides students with composition paper.

4. Students work independently to compose their work.

5. Teacher moves from student to student and holds independent conferences during writ-ing activity

6. Students can share and celebrate their work during shared learning time. Pro Tip!

Young learners can draw out their story first to help facili-tate and structure

writing.

Writing ExtensionBlackboard CompositionObjective: Adding a memory challenge to an activity can make it much more interesting to do! In this activity the class works together to rewrite the story on the whiteboard.1. Members of the class raise their hands and provide a sentence. If the

sentence is correct it is written on the board if not the class and the teacher correct it and then it is written.

2. When the composition is finished the learners read it aloud.3. The teacher covers/erases words, sections, or the entire composition (de-

pendent on level) and the students rewrite the missing sections from memory.

Source: Paul Nation- What Should Every EFL Teacher Know?- 2013

Wake Up, Mom

The cows want their breakfast.“Moo, moo, moo!”

The sheep want their breakfast.“Baa, baa, baa!”

Pro Tip!Further Extension-

Higher level students can substitute vocabu-

lary to make a more en-tertaining story with

their teacher.

Thank you!

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