Partner Reading for SEL

| By: Committee for Children

Partner reading is great time to reinforce the Second Step skill of following directions, including when to listen and when to speak, two very important social and emotional skills for every day use and academic success.

What is partner reading?

• Students are matched in ability partnerships and meet with their partners almost every day.

• Partners get to read and talk about the books they’ve read during private reading time.

• Students can use partner time to support each other with decoding, comprehension, fluency, stamina, and so on.

• The teacher confers with partnerships to support and extend the work they’re doing together.

In my classroom, when I first introduce partner reading, one of my first mini-lessons is always about the roles of a listener and that of the speaker. I continue to model this in my instruction, and we practice again and again.

In the beginning, for half the partners, I prepare sticky notes with an ear drawn on them. For the other half I have sticky notes with a mouth drawn on them. Depending on the age of the students, they can decide who is to be the speaker (mouth) first and who is to be the listener (ear) first. During partner reading, there should be time allowed for both students to experience being the speaker (mouth) and the listener (ear).

Using the pictures in the beginning is a great way to start off partner reading. Re-using this lesson again and again to reteach these important respectful listening and speaking skills anytime throughout the year can also increase their social-emotional development.

Over time as a teacher you will observe your students’ listening skills increase, which in turn will create a more respectful learning environment for all to succeed.