What is an effective way to encourage students to be active participants during a reading lesson?

Having students summarize in pairs is an effective method to encourage active participation during a reading lesson. This approach fosters collaboration and allows students to articulate their understanding of the material. When students discuss and summarize what they've read with a partner, they have the opportunity to clarify their thoughts, ask questions, and deepen their comprehension through dialogue. This interactive format also enhances communication skills and allows them to learn from one another, making the reading experience richer and more engaging.

In contrast, while choosing their own reading material can promote student interest, it may not directly facilitate engagement with the current lesson content. Group skits can be fun and creative, but they might not focus enough on the reading material itself, leading to varying levels of understanding among students. Providing snacks, although enjoyable, does not contribute to the learning process in a meaningful way and may distract from the lesson’s goals. Thus, summarizing in pairs stands out as a method that directly supports student interaction and understanding in relation to the reading content.