Reading Aloud

I do it too.  I read from the prompt.  I read from the Anteater's Guide to Writing and Rhetoric.  I have them read from the prompt; I have them read from the AGWR, or from my single author text.

But there has to be a better way than this pour knowledge into their heads model.  Have them write about the prompt, and ask them to then explain to the rest of the class what they have understood.  Have them write down questions about the assignment and take a sample of those questions.  This lets you know what they actually know and how they understand what the task is that is before them.