Reading Aloud to Kids: A Great Tool to Building Reading Fluency
Story Time
It's 12:30 in the afternoon. Recess time is over. My students will be returning soon. I feel the excitement begin to build inside of me. The sluggish fatigue of morning is being replaced by the anticipation of my favorite part of the day-story time! I eagerly pick up the worn and tattered book, find my comfy chair and wait for my little charges to rush through the door. Tired bodies and happy faces quickly sit in the story corner eagerly waiting for me to begin. I open the book and suddenly we are transformed to a place filled with wonder and adventure. The words flow from me soothingly, quietly, eagerly. Twenty pairs of little eyes sit transfixed to my voice as I read each word with careful consideration, letting the story unfold like a precious gift carefully being unwrapped.
The Benefits
Read alouds are essential to any classroom and home. As a teacher, I can attest to the enriching experience read alouds offer. Children learn vital reading strategies through read alouds. They learn how to read with expression and fluency. They are exposed to story elements, character, and setting details. They learn to listen with intent and develop critical thinking skills through discussions about the book. Reading aloud offers children an array of opportunities to express their ideas and feelings about the story, ask thought provoking questions and listen to alternative ideas. Also, read alouds help children develop and improve literacy skills such as reading, writing, and speaking. According to Jim Trelease, in The Read-Aloud Handbook, "Since children listen on a higher level than they read, listening to other readers stimulates growth and understanding of vocabulary and language patterns." Without a doubt, reading aloud to kids is an enriching experience for both reader and child.
The Excuses
Unfortunately, the only read alouds many children get are through their teachers. It's a sad state when parents do not have the time or inclination to read at home. From a teacher's perspective, I can attest to the advantages of reading aloud to your children. In my classroom, the students who comprehend better, read more fluently, and have a greater vocabulary are those who are read to regularly at home. Again it is unfortunate to say that in the urban poor district I work in, the kids who are read to by parents are not the norm. Now I've heard it all from parents. We have no books at home. We have no way to get to the library. I work nights. I'm so tired at the end of the day. These are valid concerns parents raise. So it's time to be resourceful. Let's examine some of the parental concerns. First, not having books at home is sad, but nonetheless it's not a deterrent to reading to your child. Children can check out books at their school library and bring them home to read. Also many teachers, including myself, gladly let children borrow our classroom library books. Plus every year, teachers give books as gifts to their students. So I bet somewhere in your house there's a book lurking around. Second, you say you have no transportation to the library? No problem, try public transportation. Still can't get to the there? Remember, kids can bring their school library books home! Next parents are under the impression that reading aloud only happens at bedtime. Who said that reading aloud to your child had to be at bedtime? Why not turn off the television, unplug the video games and grab a book? Finally you say you're too tired. Well join the club. We are all tired, but that does not mean you should forego a wonderful bonding experience with your child. Although it may be tough at the start, try and establish a reading routine. Once you get into the swing of things, it'll be easier and you might find yourself looking forward to reading aloud to your child!
Literacy begins at home
Teachers only have children a few hours a day. They can only spend a small portion of the school day reading aloud. Therefore, literacy begins at home. Parents have numerous hours and opportunities to read with their children. Reading is all around us. It is not relegated to just story time. Reading aloud happens all the time and in all situations. Reading recipes, street signs, music lyrics, advertisements, and menus in grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping malls are great ways to read aloud to your child. Through these enriching experiences, parents are teaching children the value of reading.
Treasured Time
Reading aloud is a treasured time by parents and children alike. As a mom myself, I read nightly to my child. Since toddlerhood reading aloud has been a ritual. It signals the time in which the phone calls can wait, television is turned off, and for the next thirty minutes my child has my undivided attention. What child doesn't want quality time with mom and dad? We jump into our PJ's, snuggle under the covers and reach for a book. We are excited and eager to jump into the pages of our latest story, whether it be about a duck on a farm or a young girl living in a small town. When my child was little, we read picture books. We looked at the pictures, talked about them, and imagined we were the characters ourselves. As my child grew up, so did our books. We progressed through the silly stories of fiction, poems, songs, chapter books, and classical literature. Although the stories change, the purpose of reading aloud has not.
Bonding and Modeling
Reading aloud has helped my child become a strong reader and develop her comprehension skills. She regards books with a sense of awe. They are a portal for new adventures and ideas. Besides giving my child strong reading skills, reading aloud has cultivated a bond between us. That's what reading aloud will do for any family. Reading aloud provides quiet time where child and parent can experience an adventure together. Story time provides children with a safe non-threatening place to ask questions develop and express ideas. It is also a time for parents to model the essentials of reading: visual acuity, self correction, questioning skills, and fluent reading. Reading aloud, or story time, is a great way to end the day.
Reading Dates
Make a date with your kid to go to the library! There is nothing more exciting than going to the public library and stocking up on books. It is a great way to bond with your child and establish a reading routine. Spend hours perusing book titles, seek out your favorite books, find new ones. Collect your borrowed treasures, check them out, and take them home. Now you're ready to read, read, and read!
Reading aloud to children is an enriching experience. Yes, it takes time and fore thought. But it's worth it. Make time every day to read to your child. Turn off the television, put down the video games and read together. Spending time reading to your child not only enriches their reading skills, it also creates stronger family bonds and who doesn't want that!