Reading Together as a Class
A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on joining in with a shared story and following it, which is a group skill as well as a reading one.
Reading Together as a Class is a free 30-minute Kindergarten English lesson plan for Common Core standard RL.K.10 — join in when the class reads together, and follow what is going on. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 30 minutes
- Standard:
- RL.K.10
Kindergarten · Reading: Literature
RL.K.10
Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
Objective
Students will be able to join in with a shared reading and answer questions about what was read.
Students are successful when they can
- Joins in with the repeated parts.
- Follows the text with their eyes while it is read.
- Answers a question about what was just read.
What you need
- A big book with a repeated refrain
- A pointer
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — the bit you say
4 min- Teach the refrain before opening the book. Say it three times together.
- Tell them their job is to say it every time it comes.
Teach — reading with a purpose
10 min- Before reading, give one thing to listen for: 'find out where the fox goes'.
- Read, tracking with the pointer. Pause at the refrain and let them carry it.
- Stop twice and ask what has happened so far.
- At the end, come back to the listening job. Did they find out?
- Name the difference: reading to find something out, rather than reading to get to the end.
“Before we start, here is what we are reading for.”
Guided practice — read it again, together
8 min- Read the whole book again, faster, with the class joining in more of it.
- Give a second purpose for this reading: 'this time, notice what the weather does'.
- Ask about the second purpose at the end.
Independent practice
6 min- Students complete the shared-reading page.
- Read the passage aloud twice, as in the lesson.
Close
2 min- Say the refrain together one more time.
- Ask one question about what the book was about.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Joins in loudly with the refrain and takes in nothing else.
Why: The refrain is the participation, and participation is what was asked for.
Fix: Ask a question about the pages between the refrains, every time. What happens in between is where the story is.
Looks at the pictures throughout and never at the words.
Why: The pictures are more rewarding and nobody has said the words are where to look.
Fix: Track with the pointer and occasionally stop and ask which word you are on. It requires having been watching.
Cannot answer at the end because they were not reading for anything.
Why: Without a purpose, listening is passive and nothing is retained.
Fix: Always give the purpose before reading, not after. A question asked afterwards tests memory; one asked before directs attention.
If they are not there yet
- Give a shorter refrain, or just the last word of it.
- Sit them where they can see the pointer clearly.
If they finish early
- Give them the pointer and let them track for the class.
- Ask them to predict the refrain before it comes.
- Ask what they would want to find out on a third reading.
Exit ticket
What were we reading to find out? Did we find it out?
What to look for: Both parts. A child who can say the refrain but not the purpose was joining in rather than reading.
Printable practice for RL.K.10
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Reading Together — StoriesRead the story, then answer the questions.
Questions about Reading Together as a Class
How long does the Reading Together as a Class lesson take?
30 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 4 min, teach 10 min, guided practice 8 min, independent practice 6 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Reading Together as a Class teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.10 — RL.K.10, Reading: Literature for Kindergarten: “Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.” In plain terms, join in when the class reads together, and follow what is going on.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A big book with a repeated refrain, a pointer and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: joins in loudly with the refrain and takes in nothing else; looks at the pictures throughout and never at the words and cannot answer at the end because they were not reading for anything. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “What were we reading to find out? Did we find it out?.” Both parts. A child who can say the refrain but not the purpose was joining in rather than reading. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Reading Together as a Class?
Yes — 1 printable RL.K.10 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Reading Together as a Class free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RL.K.10 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.