A historical narrative review of paired oral reading practices in elementary classrooms

Background

Paired Reading (PR), Neurological Impress Method (NIM), Dyad Reading (DR), and Read Two Impress (R2I) share a fundamental trait – paired synchronous oral reading between a higher-level tutor and a lower-level tutee. Collectively, we refer to these practices as Synchronous Paired Oral Reading Techniques (SPORT). This historical narrative review investigates the origin, development, and current state of SPORT.

Methods

Five academic databases were searched for reports of SPORT from the years 1960–2021. This process yielded 3972 results, from which 456 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Finally, 77 publications were reviewed to inform this historical narrative.

Results

Four distinct waves of SPORT research dating back to 1966 were identified in the review. These waves are characterised by popularity in the United Kingdom and United States, evolving theoretical frameworks, varying configurations and implementations, and concerted focus on reading achievement. Consistently positive outcomes are reported in the SPORT literature, specifically in oral reading fluency and reading comprehension.

Conclusions

The theory and practice of SPORT have evolved significantly throughout its extensive history. We call for a fifth wave of SPORT research to consolidate the findings of the last 60 years, develop new lines of inquiry, and implement novel and varied applications of SPORT.