Reading voices: A project to reconcile young people with reading

The Clin d'œil sur la recherche webinar series of the École en réseau continued on April 20. On this occasion, the project presented was a pedagogical approach to support reading fluency in the first cycle of elementary school. The purpose of the series is to allow teachers who participate in participatory research to present their experience.

To (re)read contextualization of the Research at a Glance series...

The project Les voix de la lecture was presented by Caroline Naud, teacher, Isabelle Paradis, orthopedagogue, Isabelle Desbiens, educational consultant, all three from the Centre de services scolaires du Pays-des-Bleuets, and Loïc Pulido, researcher at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.

The objective of the project is to better integrate students with difficulties by reconciling them with reading and equipping them to continue their learning. To do this, the professionals who developed the project used strategies that call on metacognition, regulation and autonomy. The project also aims to develop students' fluency so that they can free their working memory and better understand the texts they read.

Electronic tablets were used as a tool to accompany the students. Students recorded themselves reading children's literature. They could then listen to the reading they had done, self-assess and draw on the repertoire of strategies suggested by their teacher. Parents also had the opportunity to listen to their child's recordings in order to monitor their progress and be part of the challenge.

What benefits have been observed? 

During the webinar, professionals listed the benefits they have observed throughout the project:

• The motivation of the children in the face of the challenge they had to face;
• The discovery of a literary diversity;
• The development of clear teaching strategies;
• The quick feedback that the recording allowed;
• The recording application used (recording application included by default in digital devices);
• The distribution platform or digital portfolio accessible to the family (Seesaw, Classroom, etc.);
• Increased parental involvement.

Why did you choose to record the readings?

Recording is a lever for developing students' metacognition and motivation. It is also a very good technique for involving parents at home by letting them hear their children's voices.

How do you take ownership of the project and apply it in the classroom?

Professionals have a few questions to ask themselves before implementing a project like theirs in a classroom. First, they recommend assessing the students' reading level. "It is imperative to choose a book that fits the student's reading level." Next, it is important to be able to identify students' difficulties. This can be done through reading records, for example.

We must also ask ourselves:

• When to intervene during the student's reading?
• What is the student able to do?
• What is the most useful challenge for the student?
• What support should be put in place when more complex readings are required?
• How do you use the reading recordings to engage all stakeholders (teachers, parents, etc.)?

In addition : Discover also the Petapan projectThis project was also presented in a webinar of the Networked School's Research at a Glance series.