DEFINITION

• Choral reading is reading or chanting a passage aloud in unison by groups and individual readers. 
• Choral reading is suitable for ECE to high school level. 
• It can be done with the entire class or a group of students. 
• The teacher provides a model for the appropriate pace and expression.

VIDEOS
Instructional steps to implement choral reading

You read to me, I'll read to you
Two groups of students from two countries come together for a choral reading. Teachers may wish to try this between classes, schools, etc. A perfect opportunity, for example, to hear the voices of students in Israel reading in Hebrew! 

"Sick" Choral Reading
This choral reading of Shel Silverstein’s poem, “Sick” Illustrates a well- rehearsed choral reading and reflects the fact that the benefits of choral reading affect all age groups 

PURPOSE AND BENEFITS
ECE–GRADE 1

• Choral reading promotes oral language skills (diction, pronunciation, volume, rate, pitch). 
• It assists students in identifying language patterns. 
• It aids in fluency, as students chunk groups of words that should be read together without pauses. 
• It develops vocabulary knowledge. 
• It develops an enjoyment of literature. 
• It establishes a sense of community in the classroom.

GRADES 2 AND UP

• Choral reading provides practice and support for students struggling with reading. 
• It improves reading and speaking skills.

PROCEDURE

• Teacher selects or scripts appropriate passages for choral reading. 
  
  • Almost any text can convert to a choral reading script. 
• Choose or create text that is short and has a rhythm. (For example, nursery rhymes have rhyme and rhythm, which aids in memorization.) 
• Read the passage to the children and discuss the meaning of words and content. 
  
  • For grades 2 and up, students should have a copy of the passage. 
• Have children practice reading the selection orally. 
• Help students “feel” the rhythm of the section through tapping or clapping. 
• To begin, the teacher will chant most of the selection and have children chime in on repeated sections. 
• Through repetition and practice, students learn their reading parts. 

EXAMPLE OF A CHORAL READING SCRIPT
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Everyone Panda Bear, Panda Bear, what do you see?
Leader I see a bald eagle soaring by me.
Everyone Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle, what do you see?
Leader I see a water buffalo charging by me.
Everyone Water Buffalo, Water Buffalo what do you see?

Useful Material for Choral Reading
Begin with short nursery rhymes that have strong rhythm

Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadene Wescott
Baby-O by Nancy Carlstom
The Umbrella Brigade by Laura Richards
You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You series by Mary Ann Hoberman
Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHORAL READING
Using Poetry to Teach Reading (includes teaching and management tips, plus a nice collection of poetry-related links):
http://teachersmentor.com/readingk3/using_poetry.html
Reading Rockets: Classroom Strategies, Choral Reading:
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/choral_reading/
Choral Reading: Learn What Works: http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/english-language-arts/reading/fluency/choral-reading/
Read-Write-Think: Strategy Guide, Choral Reading: http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/choral-reading-30704.html
http://www.aea267.k12.ia.us/english-language-arts/reading/fluency/choral-reading/