Sounds Sensible Review Lesson
Read-Aloud Tips and Techniques*
Here are some practical tips and techniques to make reading aloud more enjoyable:
• First discuss story or rhyme with students. Ask them to listen for certain things. Build an
interest in the story by discussing a familiar experience they may have that relates to
the story. For example, you might ask, “Does anyone have a pet? This story is about a
boy who wants to enter a pet in a pet show.”
• Choose short storybooks that have new vocabulary or interesting words.
• Choose a story you and the students think is fun.
• Choose a story you and the students are interested in.
• Hold the book so the children can see the text and pictures.
• Use your finger to follow the text.
• Read with expression.
• Reread books the students like.
• Leave off a word and see if the students can supply it.
• Stop occasionally to discuss something especially interesting or funny.
• Express excitement when reading.
• Read rhymes from a book or recite favorite rhymes of your own.
• Discuss unfamiliar vocabulary before reading and ask the students to listen for the
word(s).
• Take several days to read a short story.
• Reread a favorite story two or three times so the students can eventually retell it.
• Talk about the title page, author, and illustrator. Have students define the purpose of
the title page and tell what the author and illustrator do.
• Before reading, ask:
o “What do you think this story will be about?”
o “What do you think will happen in this story?”
o “Do you think there will be a problem in the story?”
• After reading, ask:
o “Have you heard any stories like this before?”
o “Does this story make you think about anything that ever happened to you?”
• Talk about the characters and the setting. Use descriptive words whenever possible.
• Have students retell parts of the story.
• Reread a sentence and ask students to tell you who the sentence is about and what is
happening.
• Reread a sentence and ask students to listen for words that begin with a target sound
or for words that rhyme.