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How do you find and choose texts for shared reading? These resources can make a critical difference in the success of any shared reading. In the intervention classroom, the idea of reading an entire novel independently can be overwhelming. These students especially need a shared reading experience. While many novels lend themselves to oral reading, I always try to choose books with rich dialogue, interesting characters, and intriguing conflicts as the focus for any shared reading experience. 

Choosing these books can be most important thing that you do for your developing readers.

In order to choose good shared reading books, you need two good knowledge bases: 

Know your students.

Know your resources.

You can get to know your students through surveys and questionnaires. Here are some possible items to include in a reading questionnaire:

What books, plays, or other texts have you read in other reading classes that you liked?

What texts have you read in other reading classes that you disliked?

When you have to choose a book, what type of book do you choose?

What books did you read last year?

Do you have a favorite author?

If you do, who is it?

What are your favorite magazines?

What are your favorite movies and television shows?

What do you like to do when you're not in school?

What subject in school do you like the most?

What subject in school do you like the least?