How do you keep students attention while you are reading aloud?
Today I sat in on a second grade reading classroom at a local Knoxville school. We are all aware that young readers can have such passion for reading, but they can also be squiggly in their seats! I was curious to see how a teacher might keep the students attention as she reads aloud to them. The teachers started by giving each student a vocabulary chart which listed a few words that the students would hear in the reading. The class as a whole then completed the chart which had the definition, a synonym, and an example. The teacher had placed her students in rows, besides three disruptive students who were individually spread out in the very back of the classroom. At one point, a student sitting in the very back got up and threw away her vocabulary chart and the teacher never noticed!
Once they had completed the chart as a class, she asked them to open their books and place their finger on the first word. As they began to read, she walked all around the classroom and was sure to help guide students fingers if they seemed to be struggling. A problem that I continually saw were students looking around, one fixing his shoe laces, and two even standing up away from their desk! The teacher was looking down reading the book aloud and did not even realize these students were not reading along with her.
I was so glad that I got to experience this class reading. It really got me thinking of ways that we can keep young readers focused on the passage. I feel as if it is better to have the class sitting all together so you can closely monitor each student instead of spread out throughout the classroom. What are some tactics that you have in mind to help keep students attention?
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