What is the focus of shared reading in a classroom?

The focus of shared reading in a classroom is primarily aimed at promoting comprehension through teacher-guided discussion. This instructional strategy involves the teacher reading a text aloud while the students follow along, often with a large book or displayed text. During shared reading sessions, the teacher can pause to ask questions, make predictions, and encourage students to express their thoughts about the text. This interactive dialogue fosters a deeper understanding of the content, enhances critical thinking, and builds engagement with the material.

While other options touch on important aspects of literacy development, they do not capture the essence of shared reading. For instance, while memorization of high-frequency words is important for building reading skills, it typically involves more focused and isolated practice rather than the collaborative and discussion-driven approach of shared reading. Similarly, repeated readings can help develop fluency but are not the primary objective of shared reading, which emphasizes understanding the text as a whole. Lastly, practicing phonics skills in isolation is crucial for decoding but does not align with the cooperative and immersive nature of shared reading aimed at broadening comprehension and fostering a love for literature.