Reading Aloud

The Investment of Reading Aloud

One of my favorite activities in teaching is reading to the students or having students read aloud to each other. Reading provides imagination, creativity, and promotes oral fluency, reading comprehension and word recognition.

 

Here are two articles that support the advantages of reading aloud according to evidence-based, peer-reviewed research:

"Reading to children is one of the best ways to promote positive attitudes toward reading and to give children the sounds and words of literacy and reading. Beginning at birth, all children should be read to with regularity and enthusiasm." (Southern Early Childhood Association (2002) Early Literacy and Beginning to Read: A Position Statement of the Southern Early Childhood Association. Southern Early Childhood Association: Dimensions of Early Childhood, 30(4), 28-31.)

"In a study conducted of kindergartners, those who were read to at least three times a week as they entered kindergarten were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent of literacy tests than children who were read to less than three times a week." (National Institute for Literacy (2006). The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Available online. http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/ECLS.html).

In order for students to become successful in their studies, educators need to promote reading by encouraging students to read to each other or the teacher so they can increase their reading skills.


While checking out the Jim Trelease's website, (http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/) there are valuable resources regarding the benefit of adults reading to their children.  There are CD's, book sites, and author information. 


When I read about Beverly Cleary who started in the first grade as a struggling reader, I was very upset this teacher punished her!    Educators need to  be supportive of students who cannot recognize words for reading comprehension and they could also work with parents to promote reading aloud to their children.


It was during the third grade that Ms. Cleary took an interest to read because the pictures were interesting and soon the words began to make sense.  If the book has an interesting story, the students will read it and become fully engaged in their assignments.


Reading aloud to students brings the class together to create imagination, predicting the what will happen next in the story plot, develops student connection and relating to the main character. 


Students also enjoy reading with a buddy especially when a part of the classroom has a comfortable environment.  One teacher had a section of her room look like a beach scene with a chaise lounge chair, throw pillows and a couple of bean bag chairs. 


If the school has a microphone, this can be passed around so that each student will have the opportunity to read a paragraph.  I like have this part of reading done when students come back from recess play or a P.E. class when they can sit in a round circle and relax.  Technology may be a good tool for class instruction but connection during this time is what forges the bond between the teacher nad students.