ES Literacy Introductory Guide Read Aloud

Read Aloud, Read and Discuss the Book, Grade 4

We build scholars’ critical thinking skills and passion for reading by reading engaging books aloud to scholars. These books are rich, challenging, and more sophisticated than what scholars can currently read on their own. Through powerful discussions we guide scholars to understand these books at the deepest level. Our goal is for scholars to apply these same critical thinking skills to understand books they read independently.

Introduce the Book — 1 minute

• Build excitement about the book.
• Introduce any background knowledge needed to understand the book.

Read the Book — 14–20 minutes (Depending on grade level)

• Stop in key places to think aloud, making your thinking explicit to scholars.
• Have scholars turn and talk in response to questions about key moments that build towards the main idea.

Discuss the Book as a Class — 15 –20 minutes (Depending on grade level)

• At least twice a week, scholars will engage in a rich discussion of a Read Aloud.
• Scholars move into a large circle to discuss and debate questions that unpack the meaning of the book.
• Throughout the year, scholars build toward a scholar-led discussion that requires little to no teacher moderation.

• Kindergarten Read Aloud Book List
• Grade 1 Read Aloud Book List
• Grade 2 Read Aloud Book List
• Grade 3 Read Aloud Book List
• Grade 4 Read Aloud Book List
• Read Aloud Planning Template