Hi friend!
This post is all about the second step in the literacy-based therapy framework: Shared Reading! You may also see it referred to as shared storybook reading.
During this phase the clinician reads the story aloud to students in an interactive and engaging way using prompts, pointing to pictures, and props/visuals.
Here are some quick and easy ways to make reading interactive:
Use a variety of prompts to discuss story content (read this blog post for more info and ideas)
Answer/respond to students’ questions
Link student’s comments to the story (e.g. Student: “Bears are so cool!” SLP: “Bears are cool. They live in the forest and you might see one when you are camping.”)
💡More Ideas to Increase Engagement
If you are looking to shake things up and have some prep time, try incorporating some of these ideas:
Use felt story pieces
Use story visuals with velcro or tacky glue
Use story grammar and wh question visuals
Create a language mat with characters, actions, and items that link to the story
Use puppets
Use a green screen (virtual therapy)
Use sticky notes to cover up pictures in the story and pull them off as you read (TIP: you can also use this to ask prediction questions)
Have students stand and act out actions from the story
Use big books with a pointer
Use different voices for characters
Pair the story with real objects that can be manipulated
Have students choral read repetitive lines or phrases in the story (e.g. Going on a Bear Hunt, Old Lady Who Swallowed books)
I hope this was helpful! 💛
p.s. If you want even MORE ideas for making shared reading more engaging, read 10 Ways to Make Shared Book Reading More Fun!
Reference:
Ukrainetz, T. A. (2006). Contextualized Language Intervention: Scaffolding Prek-12 Literacy Achievement (1st ed.). Pro Ed.