Read It Again!: Revisiting Shared Reading

This book has been a huge help in making my shared reading more engaging. As a first year kindergarten teacher, I wasn't sure what to do with the book after Tuesday. This book has given so many opportunities to engage my children. It was recommended to me by my literacy coach. I'm so glad I bought it.

As a reading specialist, I am always looking for new ways to address balanced literacy. Brenda Parkes writes this easy to follow book for teachers in grades K-3 to help them understand the foundations of shared reading and incorporating it into their classrooms. The reference guide in the back of the book is great! It presents lists of both narrative and nonfiction books along with strategies and skills that can be taught with that title. This book is a must for any primary classroom attempting to incorporate balanced literacy.

Brenda Parkes pushes our thinking about the practice of shared reading. Using poetry, traditional tales, contemporary fiction and non-fiction texts are just the beginning to a language-rich classroom supporting young readers and writers. Do you ever find yourself stuck in the 5 day cycle of shared reading? You have to read Chapter 4 to learn about the "3 text model." Brenda's questioning is brilliant as she gently guides children as they become strategic readers. She also guides us as we become strategic teachers! The "Author's Perspective" pages support our understanding of how her big books were developed. This is a must have resource. You will change your thinking about shared reading - guaranteed!