Introducing a new story, book, or unit is vital to the students' success with the material. This is an opportunity to draw out prior knowledge, make predictions, preview the story, book, or unit, and introduce or review challenging vocabulary. Introducing new material does not mean that the teacher will "give away " too much, nor does it mean that the teacher will read aloud to the students because the goal is to produce independent readers. Introductions are the teacher's method of encouraging the students to read. 

Introductions:

• Draw on students' experience and knowledge.
  
• Explain important or new ideas and concepts.
  
• Suggest ideas about the meaning of the whole story.
  
• Incorporate some of the new and challenging vocabulary.
  
• Connect selection to students' lives.
  

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