| Basic Skills for Young Teachers | Never Underestimate Reading Aloud. 5 Ways to Read That Will Bring Your Classroom to Life

There are many ways to read aloud.

And I value the activity of reading aloud quite highly.

This is because using one's voice is fundamental to being human.

When you use your voice, the classroom becomes lively.

The children's posture changes as well.

The atmosphere in the classroom is completely different from the time spent just silently following the textbook with their eyes.

Reading aloud is not just an activity of reading characters.

Using your voice.
Using your breath.
Using your body.
Listening with your ears.
Getting into the rhythm.

Thinking of it this way, reading aloud is like moving your body while studying.

It involves the body much more than just sitting and learning.

Therefore, it is easier for information to enter the mind.

It is easier to remember.

And above all, it makes the lesson a little more fun.

However, there is one problem with reading aloud.

That is, the method tends to become one-patterned.

"Alright, everyone, let's read."

"Three, two, one, go."

It ends up being just this.

Of course, that is not bad either.

But if it is the same every time, the children will get bored.

Reading aloud can inherently be much more fun.

It can be done with a better tempo.

It can also be made more game-like.

This time, I would like to introduce five methods for reading aloud that you can use in the classroom right away.

First, the basic round-robin reading.

The first one is round-robin reading.

I think many teachers already do this.

It is a method where students read in order, one by one.

It is quite a standard practice in Japanese language classes.

The benefit of round-robin reading is that everyone has an opportunity to read.

It is also easy to observe how each individual reads.

Volume of voice.
Reading mistakes.
Awareness of punctuation.
Reading of kanji.
Grouping of sentences.

It is easy for the teacher to grasp the actual status of the children.

However, there are also points to be aware of with round-robin reading.

The waiting time tends to become long.

There are some children who only read when it is their turn and then zone out afterward.

Therefore, instead of just having them read in order,

“Follow the place where the next person is reading with your finger”

“Correct your friend's reading mistakes in your mind”

“Listen while thinking about how you would read it yourself”

Instruction on how to listen is also necessary.

Round-robin reading is fundamental.

However, precisely because it is fundamental, do not do it lazily.

It is best to do it briefly, with good tempo, and with focus.

Use choral reading briefly

The second method is choral reading.

Everyone reads aloud in unison.

This is also a staple of reading aloud.

The benefit of choral reading is that voices fill the entire classroom.

Even during the sleepy morning hours, having everyone speak up wakes the classroom up.

It is also suitable for grasping the rhythm of a text.

Poems, short passages, and impressive scenes from stories go well with choral reading.

However, if choral reading is done for too long, it becomes sluggish.

If you read a long text in unison for a long time, some children will just be making noise without following the content.

Some children are only moving their mouths.

Some children are blending in with those around them and barely reading at all.

Therefore, it is better to use choral reading briefly.

Once for the introduction. Once for an important sentence. Once as a summary.

This amount is just right.

Choral reading is a switch to add momentum to a lesson.

It is not something that should be kept going for a long time.

The 'Bamboo Shoot' reading method works well in classes where confidence has been built.

The third method is the 'Bamboo Shoot' reading.

The 'Bamboo Shoot' reading is a method where students underline the parts they want to read, and when that part comes up, they stand up and read it.

They sit down after reading.

Then another child stands up.

Children stand up from here and there like bamboo shoots.

This is the 'Bamboo Shoot' reading.

This way of reading is quite fun.

This is because the children choose the parts they want to read themselves.

'I want to read this part.'

'I want to say this line.'

'I like this expression.'

Those kinds of feelings emerge.

Reading aloud becomes something they actively seek out, rather than just something that comes around in turn.

However, the 'Bamboo Shoot' reading depends on the state of the class.

They need to be somewhat accustomed to speaking out loud.

A sense of security about reading in front of friends is also necessary.

An atmosphere where they won't be laughed at even if they make a mistake is also required.

If you try this in a class that is suddenly chaotic, it may not go well.

Therefore, first build a foundation with round-robin reading, choral reading, or teacher modeling.

After that, once the children feel comfortable enough to speak up, introduce 'bamboo shoot' reading.

When it clicks, the classroom suddenly comes to life.

High-speed reading increases the amount of practice

The fourth method is high-speed reading.

As the name suggests, this is reading aloud at a fast pace.

Everyone stands up.

Read the assigned section as quickly as possible.

Sit down once you finish reading.

That is all there is to it.

The benefit of high-speed reading is that it increases the amount of practice.

Reading aloud improves with repetition.

However, if you just say 'let's read it one more time,' the children won't be very enthusiastic.

That is where you introduce high-speed reading.

Just by having the goal of reading quickly, the children feel like they are playing a game.

Since they sit down as soon as they finish, it is easy for them to see their own progress.

However, there are points to watch out for with high-speed reading.

Some children will focus only on speed and read sloppily.

Some children will try to cheat while reading.

There are also children who barely make a sound and just pretend to read before sitting down.

That is why the teacher's example is important.

"Read at about this speed"

"But do not skip any words"

"Read accurately and quickly, not so fast that you cannot read it"

These are the standards to demonstrate.

High-speed reading is not an activity for reading sloppily.

It is an activity to improve the ability to read accurately.

If you grasp this point, it becomes a very good exercise.

The "Stumble and You're Out" reading method, enjoying mistakes

The fifth method is reading aloud with a game-like element.

I call it the "Stumble and You're Out" reading method.

The way to do it is simple.

Read in turns, like round-robin reading.

However, if you stumble, you start over from the beginning.

That is all there is to it.

This is surprisingly exciting.

The children concentrate so they do not stumble.

They also listen carefully to their friends' reading.

When it is their turn, they get a little nervous.

If they read it well, the classroom gets excited.

However, this way of reading depends heavily on the atmosphere of the classroom.

It is better not to do this in a classroom where there is an atmosphere of blaming children who make mistakes.

If there is an atmosphere where children who stumble over their words are made fun of, it is still too early.

This way of reading can only be done in a classroom where children can enjoy failure.

"So close."

"One more time."

"It's okay."

"Let's move on."

If it is a class that can say things like that, it will be a very fun activity.

In fact, it can also be practice for enjoying failure.

Through reading aloud, create an atmosphere where it is okay to make mistakes.

In that sense, it is not just a game.

It also becomes a part of classroom management.

Reading aloud becomes fun when you combine methods

You don't have to do reading aloud using only one method.

Round-robin reading.
Choral reading.
Bamboo shoot reading.
Speed reading.
Stumble and you're out reading.

If you combine these, you can read the same text many times.

First, the teacher provides a model reading.

Next, grasp the rhythm of the whole class through choral reading.

Observe each student's progress through round-robin reading.

Have them read their favorite expressions using 'bamboo shoot' reading.

Finally, increase the amount of practice with high-speed reading.

Sometimes, liven things up with 'stumble and you're out' reading.

By doing this, reading aloud becomes more than just a chore.

Reading the same text over and over gains meaning.

Children are less likely to get bored, too.

Just by changing the method, reading aloud can significantly change the atmosphere of a class.

A classroom where voices are heard is a lively one.

The benefits of reading aloud go beyond just the ability to read text.

It is about having voices heard in the classroom.

A classroom where voices are heard is a lively one.

Of course, this does not mean it is just noisy.

It is a classroom where voices are raised for the purpose of learning.

Read aloud in Japanese class.

Read social studies materials.

Read science explanatory texts.

Read math problem statements.

Reading aloud is not a technique limited to Japanese class.

It can be used in any subject.

Reading aloud makes it easier to grasp the meaning of the text.

Some children understand by listening.

Some children understand by reading.

Some children deepen their understanding by learning with their bodies.

That is why reading aloud should be valued more.

Using reading aloud as a switch for your lesson

There are times when a lesson feels heavy.

There are times when children look sleepy.

There are times when the atmosphere in the classroom is sluggish.

At such times, reading aloud can act as a switch.

Have everyone speak out.

Read for a short time.

Read with a good tempo.

Read while standing.

Read like a game.

Just by doing that, the atmosphere in the classroom will shift a little.

Time for silent reading is also important.

Silent reading is also necessary.

But learning by speaking out has its own unique benefits.

Reading aloud is not an outdated activity.

On the contrary, it is an activity that is needed in today's classrooms more than ever.

It is a waste to just have them read.

Change the way you read.

Change the tempo.

Add a game element.

Make children want to read on their own.

Reading aloud is a technique to bring vitality to your class.

Isn't now the perfect time to take another look at reading aloud?