Research shows that round-robin reading and popcorn reading are ineffective. Students read less, poor readers can feel stigmatized, and these methods slow overall reading progress. Pulling names from popsicle sticks for reading aloud is also outdated.
Instead, teachers can use flexible reading strategies to improve fluency, comprehension, and engagement. These strategies can be combined within a single lesson for maximum impact.
Table of Contents
Whole-Class Reading Strategies
- Shared Reading
- Choral Reading
- Echo Reading
- Independent Silent Reading
- Whisper Reading
- Reader’s Theater
- Teacher Cloze Reading
- Partner Reading
- Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies
Individual Fluency Strategies
- Timed Repeated Reading
- Peer Repeated Reading
- Fluency-Oriented Reading Instruction (FORI)
- Radio Reading
Group and Whole Class Active Reading Strategies
- Reciprocal Teaching
- Reciprocal Teaching Plus
- Crazy Professor Reading Game
- Jigsaw For Content Area Reading
Other
Whole-Class Reading Strategies
Shared Reading
The teacher reads aloud while students follow along in their own text. Pause to model fluency, expression, and comprehension strategies.
Choral Reading
Multiple students read together, with or without teacher support. Teachers can split the class in half. Fluent readers help slower readers, and repetition adds a musical, rhythmic quality that supports learning.
Echo Reading
The teacher reads a section aloud with expression and fluency, and students repeat it. This builds confidence, intonation, and reading accuracy.
Independent Silent Reading
Students read silently to a designated stopping point for a clear purpose. Follow up with a discussion to assess comprehension. Early finishers can write responses in journals. Beginner readers may use whisper phones to reduce distractions.
Whisper Reading
Beginning readers whisper-read while the teacher listens and intervenes as needed.
Reader’s Theater
Students practice assigned roles to perform a text aloud. Resources like Reading A-Z provide scripts across levels, and free Reader’s Theater scripts are available online.
Teacher Cloze Reading
The teacher reads aloud, pausing on key words for students to read. Often used with informational text in intermediate grades.
Partner Reading
Pairs of students read together using reciprocal teaching. Define a clear starting and stopping point, and guide students to check comprehension after each page. Pairing by proficiency reduces gaps between partners.
Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS)
Partners alternate as reader and coach. Activities include partner reading, paragraph shrinking, and prediction relay. Students provide positive feedback while practicing fluency and comprehension.
Individual Fluency Strategies
Timed Repeated Reading
Students read short passages (50–100 words) repeatedly in pairs, tracking errors and expression. Weekly charts track progress and allow teacher review.
Peer Repeated Reading
Students read aloud in pairs three times, self-assessing and giving feedback on improvement.
Fluency-Oriented Reading Instruction (FORI)
Students reread a selected text multiple times over a week. Methods include echo reading, choral reading, and partner reading, with comprehension and content integrated.
Radio Reading
Students practice reading parts aloud like radio announcers. They also create questions for peers, unlike round-robin reading, ensuring confident and prepared delivery.
Group and Whole-Class Active Reading Strategies
Reciprocal Teaching
Groups of four use four roles to internalize strategies of good readers:
- Predictor – makes and revises predictions
- Clarifier – explains difficult vocabulary or concepts
- Questioner – identifies unclear points
- Summarizer – recounts main ideas
Reciprocal Teaching Plus
Extends Reciprocal Teaching to include critical thinking. Students evaluate text, author perspective, and missing viewpoints using prompts like:
- Whose story is being told?
- What perspective is presented or omitted?
- How might another viewpoint interpret this?
Crazy Professor Reading Game
A four-step activity to improve fluency, comprehension, and expression:
- Independent reading with dramatic expression
- Add gestures to reinforce comprehension
- Teach a partner using dramatic questions and responses
- Role-play as “crazy professor” summarizing content, with the partner repeating
Jigsaw for Content Area Reading
Assign reading sections, and have students become experts in small groups. They then teach peers in mixed groups, using graphic organizers to synthesize and share information.
Summary: Stop Round-Robin, Focus on Effective Reading
Round-robin and popcorn reading are outdated. Instead, use strategies like shared reading, choral reading, echo reading, partner reading, and reciprocal teaching.
Mix and match methods to create a dynamic reading environment that supports fluency, comprehension, and student engagement.
- Rotate strategies each lesson to keep students engaged
- Track fluency and comprehension progress regularly
- Pair stronger and weaker readers thoughtfully for maximum benefit
References