What is Echo Reading?
According to Jennings, Caldwell, and Lerner (2014), "in echo reading, teachers help students match the spoken word with the printed word" (p. 165). These authors also suggest steps in implementing the echo reading strategy in the classroom.
These steps include:
According to Jennings, Caldwell, and Lerner (2014), the echo reading strategy can be used to evaluate concepts about print and also to teach about these concepts. Research has shown that matching speech to print is an underlying skill for specific word learning (p. 165). Reading Rockets (n.d.) suggests echo reading is an effective way to help students develop fluency as well as confidence in reading.
These steps include:
- Select a predictable book with limited print.
- Read the entire book to students.
- Read one sentence, pointing to each word.
- To echo read, students reread what you have read as they point to the words.
- As students become more familiar with echo reading, the length students repeat may be increased.
- Monitor students' pointing carefully, ensuring they are pointing to each word rather than each syllable
According to Jennings, Caldwell, and Lerner (2014), the echo reading strategy can be used to evaluate concepts about print and also to teach about these concepts. Research has shown that matching speech to print is an underlying skill for specific word learning (p. 165). Reading Rockets (n.d.) suggests echo reading is an effective way to help students develop fluency as well as confidence in reading.
Visual Representations
In the video above, Mrs. King from Helke Elementary leads an echo reading activity with a student, Jake. Mrs. King reads a sentence from Baby Lambs First Drink out loud while Jake follows along. She then asks the student to read that same sentence out loud, while sounding like her. Mrs. King also offers positive feedback as Jake points to each word as he says it. By modeling the sentence and asking students to repeat it in this way, what students see and what they have heard is reinforced.
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The image above shows an example of an anchor chart that could be used in the classroom as students learn about the echo reading strategy. Students might refer to this anchor chart if they choose to echo read with a partner. The picture on the chart shows what it might look like when a pair of students or a student and teacher echo read. One person reads a page, then the other person echoes by reading the same page.
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In the video above, the teacher briefly reminds the student how the echo reading strategy works. This teacher reads the first page in Za-Za's Baby Brother as the student echoes each page. The story features short and simple sentences. Depending on the book used and the student's reading ability, echo reading can involve whole sentences, a paragraph, or an entire page. This strategy helps lessen stress and anxiety because it involves reading together.
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Content Area Examples
Reading- The echo reading is often used in reading. During small group guided reading, the echo reading strategy can be used as students begin a new story. Because this strategy is effective in building reading fluency and confidence in reading, students who are struggling with reading may benefit from echoing what they hear. Teachers can also use echo reading during whole group instruction. During whole group reading, teachers can have students echo read targeted vocabulary in a story or key details of a new text. If students are working on an activity after reading, students might echo read the directions so teachers know students are understanding the learning task.
Math- In math, the echo reading strategy can be used in a similar way to that of whole group reading instruction. Teachers can have students echo read particular steps and procedures in solving a math problem. Students might echo read the problem itself, to ensure they are comprehending what the problem is asking. Using echo reading in this way would be especially beneficial while solving story problems, as a high degree of reading is involved in order to solve the problem. As students echo the teacher as a problem is read aloud, they are better able to break down each part of the problem into smaller steps, making it easier to solve.
Science- Echo reading can be used in science in order to support student understanding of new concepts. As teachers introduce new topics in science, read alouds might often be used. During these read alouds, teachers can choose specific lines that contain key details for students to echo read. Students who benefit from repetition while learning about new concepts will benefit from using echo reading in this way. Another way to implement this strategy in science is to have students echo read short, numbered exit directions before performing an activity.
Social Studies- In social studies, the echo reading strategy can be used to engage students in historical fiction text. Students might work with an elbow partner and echo read this text. One student would begin reading the first line or page as the other student echoes the same reading with similar expression. As students learn about famous speeches, such as "I Have A Dream" by Martin Luther King, Jr., students might echo read each line to gain a deeper understanding of the main idea and key details. Because these texts might involve a great deal of new and challenging vocabulary, it is helpful for students to follow a fluent model.
Math- In math, the echo reading strategy can be used in a similar way to that of whole group reading instruction. Teachers can have students echo read particular steps and procedures in solving a math problem. Students might echo read the problem itself, to ensure they are comprehending what the problem is asking. Using echo reading in this way would be especially beneficial while solving story problems, as a high degree of reading is involved in order to solve the problem. As students echo the teacher as a problem is read aloud, they are better able to break down each part of the problem into smaller steps, making it easier to solve.
Science- Echo reading can be used in science in order to support student understanding of new concepts. As teachers introduce new topics in science, read alouds might often be used. During these read alouds, teachers can choose specific lines that contain key details for students to echo read. Students who benefit from repetition while learning about new concepts will benefit from using echo reading in this way. Another way to implement this strategy in science is to have students echo read short, numbered exit directions before performing an activity.
Social Studies- In social studies, the echo reading strategy can be used to engage students in historical fiction text. Students might work with an elbow partner and echo read this text. One student would begin reading the first line or page as the other student echoes the same reading with similar expression. As students learn about famous speeches, such as "I Have A Dream" by Martin Luther King, Jr., students might echo read each line to gain a deeper understanding of the main idea and key details. Because these texts might involve a great deal of new and challenging vocabulary, it is helpful for students to follow a fluent model.