What is an interactive read-aloud?

An interactive read-aloud is a teaching method where the teacher reads a text aloud to students while actively engaging them in the process. This engagement includes asking questions, encouraging predictions, prompting discussions about the story, and connecting the material to students' prior knowledge and experiences. This interactive approach not only builds fluency but also enhances comprehension, critical thinking, and listening skills. It encourages a love of reading and allows students to delve deeper into the text through dialogue and participation, creating a shared reading experience that is more collaborative than solitary.

In contrast, a private reading session lacks the interactive component, making it more of a solitary experience without active engagement. Test preparation strategies focus on specific skills needed to perform well in assessments, while techniques for silent reading emphasize individual reading without the teacher's input or interaction, contrasting sharply with the collaborative nature of interactive read-alouds.