How to Read with Children: 4 Simple Ways to Support Literacy Skills with Young Readers

Reading with children doesn’t have to feel complicated! It can actually be one of the most fun and meaningful parts of your day. 💛

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or SLP, the way you read a book together can make a big difference in how kids build fluency, confidence, and a love for reading.

In this post, I’m sharing four simple reading strategies you can try right away.

They don’t require extra prep or special materials. Just you, a book, and a little creativity!

Each strategy gives kids a chance to participate in the reading process while practicing important literacy skills.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Read Aloud – model fluent reading and bring the story to life

• Echo Reading – invite kids to “echo” after you for extra practice

• Choral Reading – read together in unison to build confidence and fluency

• Finish the Sentence – let kids jump in and complete parts of the text to stay engaged

By mixing up how you read together, you’ll keep things fresh and fun, while giving children repeated opportunities to practice the skills that matter most.

Before You Read the Story

• Take a peek at the pictures in the book before reading the story

• Talk about or predict what you think might happen

Strategy #1: Read Aloud

Reading aloud is the simplest way to model fluent reading. Children get to sit back, listen, and absorb what fluent reading sounds like.

Tips for reading aloud:

• Read the story out loud

• As you read the story, track or point to the words as you read

• Use your voice to show expression, pause for punctuation, and bring the characters to life

• Share your own reactions or make little comments as you read

• Ask a variety of questions (e.g., Why do you think…? Who is…? How are they going to…?)

• Point out details in the illustrations and pictures to connect text with visuals

Strategy #2: Echo Read

Echo reading is a supportive way to help children practice new words and phrasing. You read a line first, and then the child “echoes” it back to you. This keeps the pressure low while giving them a chance to hear and try out fluent reading.

Tips for using echo reading:

• Read one sentence (or short section) aloud first

• Invite the child to repeat the same sentence back to you

• Keep your sentences short so the child can easily echo them

• Model smooth phrasing and expression so they have a clear example

• Celebrate their efforts, even if it’s not perfect

Strategy #3: Choral Read

Choral reading means reading out loud together, in unison. It takes the pressure off reading alone and makes kids feel like part of a team. This strategy is great for building fluency, confidence, and rhythm.

Tips for using choral reading:

• Choose a short or familiar text so it feels easy to join in

• Sit side by side and read the words aloud together at the same pace

• Exaggerate your expression to make the reading lively

• Repeat the same section a few times to help build fluency

• Emphasize that it’s about reading together, not perfection

Strategy #4: Finish the Sentence

This is a playful way to keep children engaged while strengthening comprehension and word retrieval. You begin a sentence and pause, then let them jump in and finish it.

Tips for finishing the sentence:

• Pause at the end of a line and let the child fill in the last word or phrase

• Use books with rhymes or repetitive patterns so kids can easily predict what comes next

• Prompt the children to track or point to the words as they read them

• Start with familiar books so they’ll feel more confident jumping in

• Mix it up by pausing in different places to keep it fun and surprising

Each of these strategies gives kids a slightly different way to participate in reading, and together, they can make story time feel fresh, interactive, and fun!

I hope this has been helpful! 🫶🏽