Read-aloud activities are the backbone to literacy like, baseball is the backbone of American sports. Ok, so that may not be entirely accurate, but the point still stands.
A book read aloud, then discussed and manipulated with engaging activities, students can deepen their learning. The book that was at first read just for the pure joy of reading it over and over. With each reading, students interact with the words, the pictures, and the message taking on a new skill.
We will discuss each read-aloud activity here. If you happen to want my completed read-aloud materials, you can pick them up here as a bundle or check them out individually in my store.
Although I sell the read-aloud activities, you can complete each without a purchase. (If you’re anything like me, you just want the ready-to-use, completed lesson now. I’ve got your back.)
Vocabulary Read-Aloud Activities
I like to start my read-aloud reading with a little pre-teaching of vocabulary. I choose a few words that are quick and simple to define and also do not need context to explain. It usually takes two or three minutes to expose the students to the new vocabulary.
The rest of the vocabulary I attack during the reading when I read the word in the book. Once again, this is quick and simple. I don’t want to interrupt the flow of the text.
Try out my vocabulary routine to see for yourself how easy yet successful this routine works.
I have a FREE Vocabulary Routine Handbook & Printable for you!
Vocabulary Routine
- read the word as you point to the word in bold text, the students repeat the word
- define the word- give a simple kid-friendly definition
- Word usage- a sample sentence is then supplied from the text
- Ask a question- next; I allow students the opportunity to use the word in a sentence with partners or whole class
High-Frequency Words
I put together a list of high-frequency words found in the text. As a group, we read the list of words. To make this read-aloud activity more individualized, I create a video with the list of words set to a timer. The words flash for 3 seconds and then move to the next high-frequency word. A second video moves students from 3 seconds between words to1 second.
Extended Learning Opportunities
Students may also locate the high-frequency words in the book with partners during literacy centers.
Grammar Activities
Each text will lend itself differently to a mini-grammar lesson. The read-aloud activities could range from teaching contractions to plural nouns. The grammar from the text serves as a model. After a mini-lesson on the skill, student independently practices using of printable or digital task cards.
Read-Aloud Activites for Reading Skills
Once the students have enjoyed the reading, we start to analyze the story structure and other essential reading skills. Each book will dictate the reading skill. A few reading skills are retelling, sequencing, problem and solution, theme, and character analysis.
The reading skills discussed include graphic organizers to aid in whole-class discussions. As the teacher, I can jot down notes from the class. The students refer to the notes during partner discussions and writing.
Writing Prompts for Read-Aloud Activities
I believe all reading should then have writing attached. Ok, maybe it’s not always possible, but most often this is where you can get more bang for your buck.
Students naturally want to discuss the text. So let them talk! Then, provide a writing prompt that allows the students to take it one step further. Allow students to share their connections to the text.
When the students have read and discussed the read-aloud in complete detail, students are eager to write. It’s as if the students are saying, “Finally, it’s my turn!”
In each of my read-aloud activity resources, I provide a narrative, informative, and opinion writing prompt, but it’s unnecessary to use them all. As you discuss the read-loud activities with your students, they will lead you toward one prompt over the others. (Just know, they are all available to you.)
No matter what your next book is, these easy-to-apply read-aloud activities will take the joy of reading to the next level. Here’s another post to get a closer look at the writing prompts.
Grab the set of 15 Read-Aloud Activities here. Each in printable and digital form.
- Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
- The Perfect Pet
- The Smallest Gift of Christmas
- Turkey Trouble
- I Need My Monster
- The Bad Seed
- The Good Egg
- The Cool Bean
- We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
- We Will Rock Our Classmates
- Be You!
- Johnny Appleseed
- Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato
- The Great Eggscape
- Say Something
Are your students struggling and making very little progress in writing? Or maybe they’re unmotivated or a reluctant writer? If so, I’ve got your back.
Yes…I…Do!
Let me share my secret sauce when it comes to teaching writing to elementary students.
It’s the Sentences, Paragraphs, and Essays: OH, MY! E-book.
Click this link to learn more about how the E-Book can transform your students’ chicken scratch, hap-hazard writing into strong, effective, glorious writing!
–Melissa
