Choral reading in the classroom is a beneficial teaching strategy that allows students to develop confidence, improve reading, speaking, and listening skills, and allows them to become engaged with the literature and become more enthusiastic readers. Choral reading involves reading passages from works of literature or entire pieces such as short poems. The teacher directs the class to read in
. unison, and skills such as projecting one's voice and articulating clearly are emphasized.When choosing a simple script for choral reading you one should choose a poem or poems that students will find enjoyable. Teachers should model reading it with expression and should emphasize particular lines/phrases/words by using a range of voices, eg. one or two voices. Different sections can be assigned to different speakers. It is also useful to vary pace, voices, volume, and gestures or actions.Students tend to enjoy the choral reading strategy because they can have fun while reading. Students tend to like to speak (and often loudly), and choral reading allows them the opportunity to do this in a classroom setting. Teachers find that this reading strategy has the ability to transform reluctant readers into lovers of literature and enthusiastic readers.There are many websites online that offer simple scripts to use to teach choral reading. Some popular choices are short poems such as those written by Shel Silverstein. These are fun and interesting to students, especially young elementary aged students. Instructors should start with short pieces and direct students as much as possible when beginning this technique. It takes a little time for students to become comfortable reading in unison, and this is a method that ought to be modeled and taught. Students can sometimes feel apprehensive, as they may not know when it is their turn to speak or to listen. With practice, students will become enthusiastic readers and listeners of the literature studied. More reference links: www.scriptsforschools.com www.readingrockets.org
