Dialogic read-alouds are an important tool in StG’s pre-K4 classrooms as we begin to build the foundational skills for reading. They encourage expressive language and vocabulary development and grow executive function skills.

At the simplest level, dialogic read-alouds are a time when we have conversations with students while reading. We engage the children in conversation about the story while we read. We also engage in story retells to practice sequencing, working memory, recall and attention.

During this time, we also teach about the conventions of print, such as reading from left to right and from top to bottom. By doing so, we teach specific concepts and prompt independent thinking. 

Why do we do them? 

By asking questions throughout the story, we encourage their ability to build meaning from text. We introduce new vocabulary and we offer sentence stems to spark independent conversation among the students. These read-alouds help create a love of reading in their audiences. 

How do we do them? 

We use open-ended questions to promote prediction making and reflection, such as:  

• “What do you think is going to happen next?”
• “Why do you think he/she feels that way?”
• “What do you think he/she will do next time this happens?”
   

By asking questions throughout the story, we encourage their ability to build meaning from text.