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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