Choral Reading
Definition and Purpose
Choral reading is a group reading activity used to orally share poems and other brief texts. Choral reading provides children, especially struggling readers with valuable oral reading practice in which they learn to read more expressively and increase reading fluency. It is also a great activity for English learners because it provides them opportunity to practice reading aloud with English peaking classmates. They hear and practice English pronunciation, phrasing of words in sentences and intonation patterns.
Choral reading can be arranged many ways. Children can read the text as a whole class or divide it and read sections in small groups. Or, individual children read particular lines or phrases while the class reads the rest of the text. Four arrangements of choral reading include: echo reading, leader and chorus reading, small group reading, and cumulative reading.
Steps
1. Teachers select a text, poem or other short text and copy it onto a chart or make multiple copies for children to read.
2. Teachers work with children to decide how to arrange the text. Teachers add marks to the chart, or have children mark in their individual copies so that they can follow along with the arrangement.
3. Children practice reading the text several times, ensuring that they are pronouncing words correctly.
4. Children read the text aloud, reading with expression and pronouncing words clearly.
Application and Examples
A second grade teacher begins each day with a poem and a song. Mrs. Garrett introduces a new poem and song each Monday, and her students’ love rereading and singing the songs throughout the week. She often coordinates poems or songs with science, social studies or author study units.
Choral reading is a group reading activity used to orally share poems and other brief texts. Choral reading provides children, especially struggling readers with valuable oral reading practice in which they learn to read more expressively and increase reading fluency. It is also a great activity for English learners because it provides them opportunity to practice reading aloud with English peaking classmates. They hear and practice English pronunciation, phrasing of words in sentences and intonation patterns.
Choral reading can be arranged many ways. Children can read the text as a whole class or divide it and read sections in small groups. Or, individual children read particular lines or phrases while the class reads the rest of the text. Four arrangements of choral reading include: echo reading, leader and chorus reading, small group reading, and cumulative reading.
Steps
1. Teachers select a text, poem or other short text and copy it onto a chart or make multiple copies for children to read.
2. Teachers work with children to decide how to arrange the text. Teachers add marks to the chart, or have children mark in their individual copies so that they can follow along with the arrangement.
3. Children practice reading the text several times, ensuring that they are pronouncing words correctly.
4. Children read the text aloud, reading with expression and pronouncing words clearly.
Application and Examples
A second grade teacher begins each day with a poem and a song. Mrs. Garrett introduces a new poem and song each Monday, and her students’ love rereading and singing the songs throughout the week. She often coordinates poems or songs with science, social studies or author study units.