We wrote a blog back in July of 2021 about the importance of read alouds in your classroom, but it always amazes me when talking to my colleagues about reading to their students, they would answer, I do not have enough time during my day. Reading aloud daily in my classroom is a non-negotiated item of my day. One of my goals each fall is to be able to read at least one book to my students everyday. That is how the push for a #abookaday started. Even during the pandemic, when schools were shut down, I made youtube videos for my students to hear a story each weekday while teaching kindergarten.
A Book A Day
Just a few reasons why educators of young learners should read a story a day that has the science of reading standing behind the importance of read alouds.
Read Alouds is the foundation for literacy development.
Reading aloud helps students learn how to use language to make sense of the world.
Regular practice on active listening skills requires patience and attention. Which are two skills that are necessary to become a strong independent reader.
Reading aloud makes the invisible act of reading visible
Modeling fluency, expression, and tone will provide students with a framework for finding success in their own reading.
Reading to students has the potential to broaden their own individual vocabulary, which then enhances their own writing and verbal expression.
When reading books higher or beyond their personal reading level will expose them to words they will not encounter in their independent reading.
When listening to a read aloud text, students can focus on metacognition, which is the awareness of understanding of one’s own thought process, without the added stress of decoding all the words. Metacognition plays a key role in students’ ability to comprehend.
A Question
A question I get asked often is, when do I find time to have a read aloud opportunity in my day. I have evaluated my schedule to find time and look for opportunities. Maybe one of these ideas can help teachers find a time to read at least one book or one chapter of a book daily.
We have a healthy snack of fresh fruit or vegetables everyday in my classroom that is provided by the school through a grant. While they are eating, I am reading.
Reading to your class can be a simple tool to help self regulate after lunch. For a few minutes each day.
During transition time. Like after your ELA skills block going into your math block.
Daily Classroom Meetings are always a good time to incorporate a book to help with a classroom topic.
When teaching from your social and emotional curriculum ( Second Steps is ours), add a read aloud that would go with the skill being taught.
Finishing your day or starting your day with a read aloud.
Instead having a handy worksheet or activity for a filler if needed, have a stack of your favorite read alouds books that you can pull from anytime to read aloud.
When technology fails or goes down, which is often in my district, grab a book from the ready to read stack.
Promoting the Love of Books with
Read Alouds
I always tell my students that the book that I am going to read is one of my favorite books. Yes, Mrs. Straka loves books. So if it was one of my favorites it had to be one of their favorites too. I am truly a book pusher for younger beginning readers.
A few years back, when I was teaching kindergarten, I would complete a read aloud in my room and instantly the kids would ask if they could look at the book, maybe put it in their book box, or take it home for the evening. Of course they could not read the book, they were no near that level in their reading skills. I was always wondering why a student wanted to have the book right away when I was done reading it to the class. It was all about how I talked the book up before I even opened the cover. I felt I had accomplished my goal of promoting the love of books, if they wanted to borrow the book. If you as a teacher are excited about a book, they will be too.
"Research has shown that teachers who read aloud motivate students to read."
"Taking the time to make sure you as the educator take time to choose books carefully with a purpose. Maybe the purposes can be for just enjoyment, their interest, or connects to what they are learning about in school."
Happy Reading To Your Students,
Heidi and Michelle
HookedonBooksabc
References
The Ramped - Up Read Aloud by Maria Walters
Know Better, Do Better -Teaching the Foundations So Every Child Can Read by David Liben & Meredith Liben
Reading in the Wild - The Book Whisperer's Key to Cultivation Lifelong Reading Habits by Donalyn Miller with Susan Kelley
Instructional Interactions: Supporting Students’ Reading Development Through Interactive Read-Alouds of Informational Texts by Erin L. McClure, Susan King Fullerton, The Reading Teacher
Effective Read-Alouds for Early Literacy by Katerine A. Beauchat, Katrin L. Blamey, and Zoi A. Philippakos
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