In Defense of Round Robin Reading

It seems that Round Robin Reading has become a favorite target for many educators who are intent on making fundamental changes to the way students are taught in school.  As most of you know, RRR is an activity in which one student reads aloud while the others in the class or small group listen and read along silently.  A quick Google search of RRR will reveal a strong bias that has only recently developed against a popular practice which has been around for at least two centuries if not more.  Do you think the ancient Egyptians and Chinese scholars practiced a form of RRR thousands of years ago?  If you were to read any of the online articles, you would be told that there is no research that supports the use of RRR and therefore it should be disregarded as a useful reading activity.   The vast majority of these authors seem to believe that it not only does nothing to improve reading fluency and comprehension, but may also have a deleterious effect on children's delicate self-esteem as they nervously await their turn to read.  Their mantra is that it must be abolished as soon as possible for the sake of children!

In sharp contrast, I would argue that the popular practice of taking turns to read aloud in class, if done properly, can actually benefit students in several ways.  Firstly, students must learn to assume personal responsibility for participating in the group activity; it doesn't work unless everyone is will to cooperate.  Secondly, students need to learn that it is OK to make mistakes in public.  Teasing, giggling or laughing by other students in response to reading errors should not be tolerated.  Instead, children should be taught to be patient, compassionate and understanding of others who may not be as proficient as themselves.  These are virtuous character traits that are often sorely lacking in many of today's youths.  Thirdly, RRR can actually be a rewarding experience for students who have mastered their reading lessons.

Effective teachers can use RRR as a fun activity that the entire class can enjoy to celebrate their success in learning to read.  Like many other classroom activities, it is a practice that should be used with discretion and should not be hastily discarded in the absence of research studies that definitively prove its worthiness.  Let's not forget that unlike many other current trends in education, Round Robin Reading is a practice that not only holds universal appeal, but has passed the test of time!

Please visit again soon.  I'm working on inserting a video clip that shows how some of my younger students practice RRR, as they read off of a teleprompter on an iPad.  This was one of their favorite activities developed for a learning station.

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