•It has been tried and tested since the 80’s.
•Research shows that paired reading can
encourage students to read more
independently and become more positive
about reading.
•Having a reading partner ensures that the
student has a good role model of fluency and
understanding of what is being read.
• It is fun and relaxing and gives opportunities
to practise reading skills without the fear of
‘getting it wrong’.
Before you read...
 Ensure you are both sitting comfortably side
by side so that you can read at the same
time.
 If it is a new book, discuss the illustrations on
the cover, the title, the author or anything
else to give the book some context.
 Agree a signal for independent reading.
This may be a tap on your arm or hand, a
knock on the table or quietly tapping the
book twice.
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Read at the same time and pace as each
other. The ‘tutor’ is to encourage the student to
mirror their pace if reading is going too slowly
or quickly. It may feel awkward to start with but
a good ‘reading rhythm’ will soon develop.
Follow the words with your finger to guide the
flow of the reading.
If the student makes a mistake, give them
about 4 seconds to self correct. If they do, offer
praise, if not, correct them, they repeat the
word that was incorrect and you continue to
read together.
Every so often, pause to discuss
vocabulary or illustrations. Discuss the
text so far and ask open questions using
‘who’ ‘what’ and ‘why’ to prevent
answers from being too short.
 At some point the student may wish to
read alone. They must use your agreed
signal (usually a tap on the arm) and
read independently. If a mistake is
made, use the 4 second rule for self
correction and if they still don’t self
correct, join back in with reading until
they use the signal to read alone again.

Praise is encouraged at any time
throughout the process. Don’t dwell on
mistakes, correct them and move on.
 Keep sessions short and fun.
 Use the 4 second rule for correcting.
 Ask questions before, during and after
reading.
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