Choral Reading
Choral reading is a strategy used for struggling readers. When using choral reading in the classroom, a group of students or the whole class, practices reading out loud together. If using this strategy with groups, each group could read a different part of the story so they can perform it. According to Jennings, Caldwell, & Lerner, 2014, “Low-achieving readers enjoy this activity because it gives them the satisfaction of delivering a well-rehearsed, expressive rendition.” (Jennings, Caldwell, Lerner, pg. 213) Struggling readers have the support from the group or whole class before having to read the selection on their own. It also helps students with the ability to read site words. Choral reading helps students to develop their fluency.
This strategy also helps build students self-confidence and motivation to read. To use choral reading in the classroom, first make sure all students have a copy of the book. Then the teacher should model reading and have the students follow along in their books. When the teacher reads, they can point out anything in the text that may be important for the students to know or pay attention to. The teacher should pay attention to the pacing, expression, and fluency of each student. Many texts can be read together. Shorter texts with rhythm and individual parts usually will work best.
This strategy also helps build students self-confidence and motivation to read. To use choral reading in the classroom, first make sure all students have a copy of the book. Then the teacher should model reading and have the students follow along in their books. When the teacher reads, they can point out anything in the text that may be important for the students to know or pay attention to. The teacher should pay attention to the pacing, expression, and fluency of each student. Many texts can be read together. Shorter texts with rhythm and individual parts usually will work best.
Different types of choral reading:
This strategy is mainly used in the content area of reading. You can integrate science and social studies into it as well. One way you could integrate these content areas into choral reading would be to pick a book or passage that has to do with what you are learning about in that content area. If you are doing a unit on planets for science, you could pick a book to do choral reading with that has to do with planets. If you are learning about a certain war in social studies, you can pick a book that talks about that war.
- Antiphonal: Divide the class into smaller groups and give each group a different part of the text. Give the students an opportunity to practice their part and how they want to read before having them come back together.
- Dialogue: Choose a passage that has different speaking parts to it.Assign one group as narrator, and the other groups the different characters.
- Cumulative Choral Reading: The number of students that are reading builds as the text is being read.One individual or small group will read the first line or section and then another small group begins reading with them. By the end, the whole group is reading together.
- Impromptu Choral Reading: As a text is being read, students will join in or fade out whenever they choose. Students will choose before reading what section(s) they will read.
This strategy is mainly used in the content area of reading. You can integrate science and social studies into it as well. One way you could integrate these content areas into choral reading would be to pick a book or passage that has to do with what you are learning about in that content area. If you are doing a unit on planets for science, you could pick a book to do choral reading with that has to do with planets. If you are learning about a certain war in social studies, you can pick a book that talks about that war.