• If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

Reading Aloud

Page history last edited by Keith Schoch 12 years, 10 months ago

Reading aloud to children is a very effective way to develop a love of books. It also lets children hear how literature should “sound.” I would recommend that parents read aloud to children as often as possible. Reading aloud each night as your child goes to bed is an excellent way to end the day; I still have fond memories of that from my own childhood.

 

Many parents ask, however, “Should I require that my child read aloud to me?”  For your information, I share the following information with you from The Gifted Child Today magazine:

 

  • Children should not be required to regularly read aloud to parents at home. Parents’ anxieties convey themselves to children. Most parents feel tense when poor readers read aloud to them. Children should read aloud only if they choose to do so. As adult readers, they will rarely find oral reading important.
  • Parents should read aloud to their children as long as their children enjoy it.  (Eighth grade is not too old). This should not be seen as dependence, but only a form of real family enjoyment.
  • Permit children to stay up half an hour later at night if they’re in bed reading to themselves.
  • Encourage children to read whatever they like during that prebedtime period.  Don’t insist that they read grade level material. Comics, cartoons, sports magazines, easy materials and books read multiple times are all good for building confidence. If they love reading, they will expand their interests as their reading improves.
  • Model reading by keeping a book around you which your children see you enjoying.

 

If you do feel strongly that you want your child to read aloud to you (in order to be certain he/she can do it), here is the best way:

 

1.     Let children read an entire page (if it’s an easy reader) or a paragraph (if it’s more difficult literature) to themselves.

2.     During this time, if there are any words they don’t know, children should ask for help.

3.     After reading to themselves, then children can read aloud.  They will have greater understanding, and will read with more feeling.

 

This method is actually one that we employ in class before reading aloud. In addition to the reading going more rapidly, students read with greater confidence and expression.

 

Return to Main Page

 

Go to Site Index

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.