Engaging and Effective Virtual Read Alouds
Lesson plans, tips, and tricks for virtual read alouds that hold children’s attention and build the language foundations they need.
Reading together on the carpet is the anchor of an early elementary classroom community. How can you continue to connect with students and develop social and emotional learning while your classroom is virtual?
Virtual Read Aloud Tips and Tricks
Virtual Read Aloud Walkthrough
Rollins Facilitator Cheryl Kirksey walks us through a virtual read aloud by Jasmine Williams of Drew Charter School in Atlanta, explaining how she makes the magic (and the science!) of read alouds come alive… even virtually.
Sulwe: Virtual Read Alouds
Watch along as Ms. Williams does three read alouds of Sulwe, one of our favorite books for young readers! Notice how during each story read, she focuses on a different aspect of the characters or story.
START Guide
Read Aloud Lesson Plans
START guide read aloud lesson plans include everything you need for an engaging and effective read aloud: think alouds, open-ended questions, vocabulary, extension activities, and DLL visual aids for three repeated reads.
Downloadable Teaching Resources
for Virtual Read Alouds

START Read Aloud Lesson Plan Template
Use this lesson plan template to plan a read aloud for any book of your choosing.

Tips for an Engaging K-3 START Read
This tip sheet has creative ideas to implement during your next virtual read aloud.
Join the Discussion
Join us on the Cox Campus community board to seek advice and share ideas with literacy experts and fellow teachers.
What engagement strategies do you plan to use when doing a virtual read-aloud?
More Virtual Teaching Resource Bundles
for Early Elementary Educators

How to use the National Reading Panel's Big 5 to inform virtual instruction, identify areas in which your students are proficient and where they may need more help, individualize teaching and monitor student progress.
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Create a culture of trust, safety and learning – even without walls. Learn how with our demonstration video, tips and resources.
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Small group instruction approaches that have proven effective in classroom settings are adapted here for virtual application so you can help each child reach grade level reading and beyond.
View BundleRoadmap to Reading for K-3 Teachers
Chart the course for every student with relevant, helpful reading instruction content for K-3rd teachers.