Ace the RICA Readiness Challenge 2025 – Amp Up Your Teaching Skills!

The Shared Book Experience is an effective method that involves using big books to teach concepts about print. This approach allows teachers to engage students in reading and discussing a story together. Big books are especially beneficial because they provide a visual aid that enhances comprehension and interaction among students, enabling them to see words and illustrations clearly.

During a Shared Book Experience, the teacher emphasizes various concepts of print such as the directionality of text (reading from left to right), the identification of letters and words, and the distinction between pictures and text. This collaborative approach encourages participation and fosters a sense of community in the learning environment, where students are more likely to ask questions, make predictions, and express their thoughts about what they’re reading.

This method stands out in its interactive and visual nature, making it an essential strategy for teaching young learners about the fundamentals of print. Other options like direct explicit teaching and interactive read-alouds may also include elements of instruction in reading, but they do not focus specifically on the collective experience of utilizing big books as a primary tool for teaching print concepts.