No Big Books? No Problem!
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
01/21/26
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In this reel clip, we discuss the essential components of shared reading and why it needs to be updated. Many classrooms lack traditional materials, impacting effective teaching strategies. Maria Walther also shares reading tips for creating a more engaging and impactful literacy experience for students.
Shared reading doesn't have to disappear from your classroom just because big books are hard to find! Maria Walther even reveals why shared reading is slipping away in classrooms and shares a game-changing solution that uses materials you already have on your shelf.
Discover how to transform your existing picture books into powerful shared reading tools, boosting student engagement, student participation, and active learning without spending a dime on new materials. This innovative teaching approach brings fresh life to effective teaching practices and proves that the best instructional strategies often come from reimagining what's already in your classroom.
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Why shared reading has been disappearing from classrooms
• How to use picture books for shared reading instead of big books
• Practical strategies for student motivation and attention in class
• Cost-effective solutions for inspiring students through literacy
🚀📚 Watch the full Part One & Part Two of our @schoolutionspodcast S5E21 interview.
0:00 - Why Shared Reading Needs Shaking Up
0:08 - The Real Problem with Shared Reading
0:18 - Big Books Are Disappearing from Classrooms
0:28 - Shared Reading Started Slipping Away
0:38 - The Picture Book Solution
0:48 - Using Read Aloud Books for Shared Reading
0:58 - It's the Materials, Not the Method
📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
Don't forget to 👍LIKE this video if it helped you, 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!
#SharedReading #TeachingTips #LiteracyInstruction #ElementaryTeachers #EducationStrategies #StudentEngagement #ClassroomStrategies #ProfessionalDevelopment #InstructionalCoaching #TeacherLife
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
In Part One of my S5E21 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Maria Walther breaks down the critical difference between read aloud and shared reading, and shares why those short, focused bursts of instruction are the bridge your students need between teacher-led learning and independence. We discuss how to make this work alongside published curriculum, effective teaching, instructional strategies, and lesson planning that honors what kids need.
Key Topics Discussed in Part One:
✅ The difference between read aloud and shared reading
✅ Why brevity matters for student engagement, active learning, and attention in class
✅ How to connect phonics instruction to authentic reading experiences
✅ Planning short burst shared reading sessions that boost student participation
✅ Using picture books you already have for innovative teaching and inclusive teaching
✅ Supporting student motivation and inspiring students through focused literacy instruction
Some resources mentioned:
- 📚 Shake Up Shared Reading by Maria Walther
- 📚 Choice Words by Peter Johnston
Other Books by Maria:
- 📚 The Ramped-Up Read Aloud
- 📚 More Ramped-Up Read Alouds
- 📚 A Year for the Books
- 📚 The Literacy Workshop
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction to Maria Walther
01:00 - The Problem: Shared Reading is Disappearing
02:00 - Episode Structure & What's Coming
03:00 - Meet Maria Walther: Literacy Expert
04:00 - Essential Research: Peter Johnston's "Choice Words"
05:00 - Why Shake Up Shared Reading?
06:30 - Read Aloud vs. Shared Reading: Key Differences
08:00 - Connecting Phonics to Shared Reading
09:00 - The Power of Short Bursts
10:00 - Planning a Shared Reading Session
12:00 - Text Accessibility & Student Support
13:00 - Lightning Round Begins
13:30 - Advice for First-Year Teachers
14:00 - Biggest Misconception About Shared Reading
14:15 - Most Important Literacy Skill: Inferring
14:45 - What Surprises About First Graders
15:00 - Go-To Questions During Read Aloud
16:00 - This Week's Challenge
17:00 - Wrap-Up & Preview of Part 2
📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
🔗 Part Two drops this week - 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and
💬SHARE with fellow educators!
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
In Part Two of my S5E21 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, literacy expert Maria Walther focuses on the power of the read aloud. This episode offers more teaching strategies for educators and builds on our Part One conversation. Discover how incorporating read aloud stories and read aloud books can enhance reading instruction and foster a love for storytime in your classroom.
What You'll Learn:
✅ The Monday-Friday Sandwich Strategy for integrating picture books with curriculum
✅ How to plan strategic read-alouds (before, during, after reading)
✅ Why real books create bonds that videos cannot replicate
✅ How to select and teach tier-two vocabulary for active learning
✅ Planning 3-5 strategic questions instead of interrupting every page
✅ Reading books across multiple days for deeper student participation and attention in class
✅ Connecting read-aloud to writing workshop and oral language
✅ How caregivers can support education at home through read-aloud
💫Check out Part One (https://youtu.be/q-E19vZ1XCk) if you missed it on Monday
Some Resources Mentioned:
📚 The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
📚 Isabel Beck's work on tier-two vocabulary
📚 Maria Walther's website with book lists and PD protocols
Chapters
0:00 - Welcome to Part 2: The Power of Read Aloud
01:00 - Why Read Aloud Is NOT a Luxury
02:00 - Recap of Part 1 & Today's Focus
03:00 - The Monday-Friday Sandwich Strategy
05:00 - Where to Find Picture Books: Library & Resources
06:00 - Grade-Level Planning & Joyful Book Selection PD
07:00 - Strategic Read Aloud Planning: Before, During, After
09:00 - When to Pause: Reading Student Readiness
10:00 - Why Real Books Beat Video Read-Alouds
11:00 - Building Connection Through Read Aloud
12:00 - Selecting Tier-Two Vocabulary Words
13:00 - Connecting Read Aloud to Writing Workshop
14:00 - Reading 3-5 Books Daily: Making Time for What Matters
15:00 - Strategically Savoring: Pre-Planning vs. Pure Joy Reading
16:00 - Leading vs. Facilitating Conversations
17:00 - Maria's Dream: Read Aloud in Every Classroom Daily
18:00 - This Week's Challenge: Try the Strategies
19:00 - Next Week Preview: Writer's Play Shop with Katie Kier
20:00 - Wrap-Up & Resources
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.
🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content.
📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
Don't forget to 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!
Next Episode Preview: Kindergarten teacher Katie Kier on Writer's Play Shop - transforming 5-year-olds into confident authors!
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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