What role does shared reading play in a balanced literacy program?

Shared reading is a vital component of a balanced literacy program because it fosters collaborative literacy experiences among students. During shared reading sessions, teachers and students engage with texts together, promoting not only comprehension and fluency but also encouraging discussion about the text. This collaborative process allows students to build a sense of community and develop their reading skills in a supportive environment where they can express their thoughts and questions.

Additionally, shared reading provides opportunities for modeling strategies, such as predicting and inferring, while also allowing teachers to demonstrate how to navigate a text. This interactive approach enhances students' engagement and understanding of reading, as they learn from both their peers and the teacher. Overall, by encouraging collaborative literacy experiences, shared reading contributes significantly to developing essential reading skills in a balanced literacy framework.