Abstract

This study investigates explanatory discourse within the setting of shared reading at kindergarten. It reports on a qualitative study of 36 whole-class shared reading sessions at three Dutch kindergartens with children aged between 4 and 6 years. The videotaped shared reading sessions are transcribed and analysed according to the methodology of conversation analysis. It will be shown that explanatory discourse in whole-class shared reading sessions gets established by orientation to an object of attention from a picture book that might need an explanation. Additionally, it will be illustrated that once a first explanation has been given, this might turn into a longer set of explanatory sequences that can be characterised by either an instructional or a discussion framework. Participating in explanatory discourse during shared reading enables pupils to practice providing explanations for events or behaviour that transcend their own experiences.

Citation

Gosen, M.N., Berenst, J. & de Glopper, K. (2013). The interactional structure of explanations during shared reading at kindergarten. International Journal of Educational Research, 62(1), 62-74. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved October 5, 2023 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/203713/.

Keywords

• Classroom Interaction
• Conversation Analysis
• Explanations
• Shared reading
• Young Children