Paired reading with peers and parents

Paired Reading (PR) is a very specific structured technique for enhancing reading accuracy, comprehension and fluency, designed for use by parents, peers, volunteers and other nonprofessional helpers. It has been intensively evaluated and found to be effective with a wide range of age and ability, resulting in social and emotional as well as cognitive gains. However, the term ‘Paired Reading’ has also been applied by some practitioners to almost anything that two people do together with a book, so clarity is needed about nomenclature. More recently, the method has been extended to higher order reading and thinking skills. The structured PR method is increasingly used around the world, and in electronic as well as paper reading environments. There is also increasing interest in deploying PR to promote inclusion.