Repeated Interactive Read-Alouds in Preschool and Kindergarten article written by Lea M. Mcgee and Judith A. Shickedanz

         The article explains the importance of a repeated interactive read aloud in pre-k and in kindergarten. Interactive reading helps children to build oral vocabulary and listening comprehension. “Teachers prompt children to engage in analytical thinking by making comments that model such thinking and then asking thoughtful questions.” These prompts help children to predict events, describe characters and make different connections in the story. Interactive reading allows children to use critical thinking skills oppose to a regular read aloud where the children are just listening to a story.

 As an early literacy educator I am responsible to find the best way to provide for my students’ needs. This article highlights the pros of repeated interactive read alouds. “Thus, effective interactive read-alouds include a systematic approach that incorporates teachers’ modeling of higher-level thinking, asking thoughtful questions calling for analytic talk, prompting children to recall a story in some way within a reasonable time frame, reading a single book repeatedly, and reading books related by topic. It also involves a systematic approach to developing children’s understanding of vocabulary, such as inserting short definitions of words and phrases during reading.” These techniques help students to build vocabulary and it gives the students a better chance to comprehend the story. The article suggests the story be read three times. The first read includes:

1. Book Introduction
2. Vocabulary Support Techniques
3. Analytical Comments and Questions
4. Ask "Why Questions" after the first read .


The second read is usually perform two days after the initial read.

1. Enrich Comprehension
2. Define More Words
3. Ask More frequent Questions
4. Ask "Why Questions" after the second read .




The third read is usually a follow up of the story. It happens two days after the second read.

1. Reintroduce the book
2. Remind students of the story.
3. Ask if they remember what happens next.
4. Ask "Why Questions"after the third read. 
           
         
              After reading this article I was able to see how important it is to introduce a book to young children first instead of just reading the story, The introduction allows the children to look at the story from a different perspective, As an educator it is my job to prompt my students  to help them to think analytical. Providing them with vocabulary words allows them to expand their vocabulary and understand how the words are pronounced and used in the story, Repeated read alouds help the children to become familiar with the story and have a better understanding of the wording, characters and events that take place.

References

Repeated Interactive Read-Alouds in Preschool and Kindergarten

by Lea M. Mcgee and Judith A. Shickedanz

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       I enjoyed reading very much as a child. I remember my Kindergarten teacher taking my class to the city library every week. My favorite books were "The Three Billy Goats" and "The Little Red Hen." I loved when the librarian read to us it was magical because she was able to make the characters come alive. I enjoyed the voice changes and physical depiction of the different characters. I enjoyed reading because reading was presented

to me as fun instead of a punishment.  I never had a problem with reading I found learning new sounds to be exciting. When I learned something new I couldn't wait to go home and share it with my mom. For example, I was fascinated that the letter p and h made a f sound when put together. Reading was encouraged at home and at school. I remember when I was in third grade my class was given a reading challenge to see which student could read the most books. The challenge encouraged reading but it was also fun competing against my friends. I don't remember what the incentive was but the goal for the teacher was to get us to read more and it worked.   
      As a teenager reading wasn't as exciting for me as it had been in the past because it was more of a requirement. We weren't allowed to pick our own reading material instead it was already assigned for us. It's different when you have free will because you can read books that excite you. I found some of the books that I was required to read to be boring. I read because I had to and not for enjoyment. When I was younger I was excited to visit the local library but as a teenager I felt the total opposite because visits to the library meant I had to write a book report.
     As an adult I don't read as much as I would like because time doesn't always allow it. There are times when I still try to squeeze a good book in whether its on the weekend, a plane ride or a trip to the beach. I feel a little bit of excitement when I hear a book I already read is being turned it to a movie. I understand the importance of reading and I think we have to continue to encourage children to read read read. There are so many more distractions this day in age than there were when I was growing up. I think the approach that a parent or a teacher uses is very important because if children see reading as a punishment than they aren't going to be excited to read. If reading is made fun and exciting more children will want to read. I think I was given a great foundation because reading was encouraged at home and at school. My mom always reinforced what I learned at school and I think that was a great help.