What is Dialogic Reading?
Dialogic reading is an interactive reading strategy that involves a back-and-forth conversation between a reader (often an adult) and a listener (often a child) during shared book reading. The goal of dialogic reading is to promote language development and reading comprehension by engaging the listener in an active, participatory role.
Dialogic reading has been widely adopted by educators, parents, and caregivers as a powerful tool for promoting early literacy skills in young children. It has been used in a variety of settings, including preschools, Head Start programs, and home visiting programs, and has been shown to be effective for children from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of language ability.
History of Dialogic Reading
Dialogic reading was developed by Dr. Grover J. “Russ” Whitehurst and his colleagues at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in the 1980s. Their research focused on the importance of interactive book reading for promoting language and literacy development in young children.
How do we use Dialogic Reading?
During a dialogic reading session, the reader encourages the listener to actively participate by asking open-ended questions, making comments, and expanding on the child’s responses. The reader may also use prompts such as “what do you think will happen next?” or “can you tell me more about that?” to encourage the child to think more deeply about the story.
Dialogic reading can also involve using story grammar elements, such as characters and plot, to help children understand the story and make connections between different parts of the text.
Conclusion
Research has shown that dialogic reading can be an effective strategy for improving children’s language and literacy skills, particularly for children from low-income families or with language delays. By engaging in conversation during shared book reading, children can develop their vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.