Dialogic reading is an interactive technique designed to enhance the reading experience for young children, particularly those aged 0-8 years. Developed from the research of Grover J. Whitehurst, Ph.D., this strategy encourages adults to engage children in discussions while reading, transforming story time into a rich dialogue. At its core, dialogic reading promotes deeper understanding and a love for books. It is also the beginning of a child’s journey into storytelling and their initiation into creativity while storytelling.
Here in our Britannica EYFS department, we use dialogic reading to involve the children with the story, assess their blossoming language skills, embed new vocabulary, and build confidence. Dialogic reading fosters a love of stories, highlights the components of a story, and teaches how to effectively engage in dialogue about what they are reading, listening to, or learning about.
Dialogic reading involves several prompting activities that enhance interaction:
- Sentence/Line Completion: Adults pause during reading to prompt children to finish a sentence or line, encouraging participation (e.g., "The fox put on his ______.").
- Recall Prompts: These questions ask children to remember details from the story, reinforcing memory and comprehension.
- Open-Ended Prompts: Questions like "Tell me more about that" invite children to express their thoughts, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
- Wh-Questions: These include who, what, where, when, and why questions that help children analyze the text at a basic level.
- Distancing Prompts: These questions encourage children to connect the story to their own experiences, broadening their understanding.
Dialogic reading is interactive and child-centered, incorporating both narrative and expository texts. It can be used with children at various developmental levels or language/speaking abilities, making it a versatile tool for parents, educators, and caregivers. For children who are learning English as a second language or for our younger EYFS children, we can use basic WH questions to focus on content and learning new vocabulary. For children who are a bit more advanced or have a better grasp of English, we can ask open-ended questions to elicit feedback and encourage sharing. We believe that children’s thoughts and opinions are valuable, and this is an outstanding way for them to be heard.
In conclusion, incorporating dialogic reading into early literacy practices is not just about reading words on a page; it’s about creating a dynamic, interactive experience that nurtures a child's love for stories and language. This approach fosters critical thinking, enhances vocabulary, and builds confidence, making reading a collaborative adventure rather than a solitary task. By actively engaging children in discussions and encouraging their input, caregivers and educators lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and creativity.
As children explore the world of stories through dialogic reading, they develop essential skills that will serve them well in their academic journeys and beyond. Embracing this method enriches the reading experience and empowers young minds to express themselves and connect with the narratives they encounter.
This week, Reception immersed themselves in the story "No Kimchi for Me," inspired by a conversation some children were having. It was a wonderful story to introduce to them. They learned about fermented cabbage, got to smell kimchi, and described it. The children sectioned the story into setting, character, problem, and solution, and they managed to retell the story in their own words. We dissected a cabbage and created cabbage leaf art and rice art! We also used the cabbage leaves in an absorption experiment with food coloring, igniting curiosity as the children hypothesized what would happen next. In Maths, we focused on basic addition and introduced the symbols necessary to write number sentences, practicing our teen numbers.
This week, Nursery has been exploring the delightful world of the classic book "We’re Going on a Bear Hunt." The children had great fun discussing and acting out the different environments described in the story and the actions they made to travel through these places. Nursery has also continued their eagerness to explore environments by engaging with the story "Walking Through the Jungle." The children examined different maps of the world and discovered what oceans, deserts, and the Arctic look like; they can now identify where these belong on a map.
Pre-Nursery has continued to enjoy the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This week we have been looking at butterflies, drawing them and painting them using symmetrical patterns by painting one side and folding the paper. This activity has helped develop an interest in shapes, patterns, and colours. We have also explored the life cycle of a butterfly, and the Pre-Nursery children enjoyed watching a video on how this happens. Additionally, we have been learning a new song all about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
