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October 3, 2011

The Power of Reading Aloud

Don’t read aloud because you have to… do it because you want to. Your goal is to create an environment in which children feel they have an active role in reading, even if they do not have the strong enough skills to do so. Introduce the story as you would a treasured friend. The more interest you have in the story, as will your children.

When selecting a story, choose it because of all it has to offer. Do not just choose it because it “fits the theme”. Children will stay engaged if stories move quickly and/or have a strong sequence they can follow. Look for powerful illustrations as well, to capture the children’s attention and encourage them to explore the book after you are done.

 

What do you do when choosing a story for read aloud? What factors do you think contribute to an effective read aloud?