Shake Up Shared Reading: Expanding on Read Alouds to Encourage Student Independence (Corwin Literacy)

Review
Dr. Maria Walther speaks and write from the lens of a practitioner with deep knowledge and respect for the classroom. This power-packed instructional resource spotlights enticing examples of high-quality children’s literature, provides engaging read aloud experiences, and offers one hundred aligned "bursts" of shared reading. There is a consistent emphasis on supporting students through human-centered lessons that balance social-emotional learning alongside literacy learning. Moreover, this invaluable resource seamlessly integrates phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and oral language with reading and writing. I have no doubt that this professional text will guide educators in all settings as they build community, cultivate classroom conversation, and support learners in a variety of joyful literacy learning experiences. -- Pamela Koutrakos ― Instructional Coach and Author of Word Study That Sticks, The Word Study That Sticks Companion, and Mentor Texts That Multitask
Shake Up Shared Reading is truly a multipurpose literacy resource and a gift to the teaching community. With tremendous respect for limited instructional minutes and competing priorities, Maria Walther shares her wisdom, knowledge, and commitment to learning, combining research and authentic experiences with practicality, flexibility, and responsiveness. Walther is an incredible curator of important picture books, and you are guaranteed to find the book and the lesson you need right now; you will also build your own capacity to tap into the power of books for students’ development of empathy, citizenship, and literacy. -- Melanie Meehan ― Author of Every Child Can Write and co-author of The Responsive Writing Teacher
Shake Up Shared Reading is the professional book we keep on our shelves and reach for as a forever reminder for what matters in the elementary classroom: purposeful and joyful reading experiences. Maria brings that joy to life in practical application with clear learning targets connected to 100 shared reading texts and connected lessons that grow student learning, in addition to blueprints for how to do it ourselves. Perhaps more than anything, I respect Maria′s exaltation of varied voices in children′s literature in order to ensure for students a more accurate, robust and truthful understanding of the world. This is a cornerstone text for now. -- Nawal Qarooni Casiano ― Educator, Author, Literacy coach and Staff developer
Maria Walther has done it again in her new book, Shake Up Shared Reading! In it, she takes a familiar and often underutilized strategy and shows us how to implement it in new and important ways. It is a much-needed update of how the practice of shared reading can be used to invite active participation, support multilingual learners, and playfully teach foundational skills. From the first page to the last, this book is packed with practical and simple ways to shake up shared reading using a variety of thoughtfully curated books that will create and nurture communities of readers. -- April Larremore, Ed.D. ― Instructional Strategy Coordinator, Dallas Independent School District
This book is a gift to early literacy educators yearning to infuse more joyful and engaging learning experiences into our classrooms. By introducing us to 50 of the latest and greatest picture books, Dr. Maria Walther provides the tools and structure needed to bridge read aloud and shared reading interactions. -- Dr. Jill Culmo ― Instructional Strategy Coordinator, Early Learning Dept. Dallas ISD
Maria has done it again! Shake Up! Shared Reading is exactly the book I needed at exactly the right time. Teaching in a pandemic has been tough, but one saving grace has been our read-aloud time. Maria makes Shared Reading easy, engaging, and more importantly, exciting! -- Vera Ahiyya ― Kindergarten Teacher
Shake Up Shared Reading is an absolute must-read for anyone who finds themselves having the honor of reading to and with children…. In this pos