The Reading, The Magic

THE READING, THE MAGIC:  READING ALOUD


With all of the demands of the curriculum, standards, testing, and the state's "Reading Framework", teachers are talking about feeling like they have little or no time remaining in their day to read aloud to students.

We know that all language acquisition begins with hearing the spoken language, first-hand (not on TV or other electronic devices).  Reading begins with hearing the written word read aloud from the earliest days of life.

Revisiting the significance of reading aloud, I have been reading Mem Fox's READING MAGIC:  WHY READING ALOUD TO OUR CHILDREN WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER.

While much of this book discusses the how-tos of reading aloud for meaning and joy, Mem does revisit some key reasons for reading aloud (as she does on her marvelous website, www.memfox.com).

Mem reminds us that children need to hear a thousand stories read aloud before they being to learn to read for themselves.  Daunting?  Consider this:  reading just three stories a day for one year will yield over 1,000 stories!

This segues into Mem's premise, which is a promise of hope for literacy:  read aloud to children at least three books per day--and this can mean the same book three times, if the child desires.

Mem says, "...[children] who are read to for ten minutes a day in their first five years usuallyl learn to read quickly, happily, and easily."

She goes on to say, "...if every adult caring for a child read a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within one generation."  How powerful is that to imagine!?!  

As she encourages "mums and dads" to read for the sheer pleasure of it (not because it's the "right thing to do"), I would encourage teachers to bring the same joy to the read-aloud.  Yes, we are conscious of things that we might need to talk about with the students, such as unfamiliar words or confusing moments... maybe even "the standards," but given opportunities to talk and interact with and  about the text, students will bring forth the discussions that need to happen.  This type of reading aloud and talking about texts will build lifelong readers. 

From a plethora of sources (and my own thinking), here are reasons to read aloud at home AND at school:

1. Reading aloud builds stronger relationships between the reader and listener.
2. Reading aloud provides a model for thoughtful, expressive reading for pleasure.
3. Reading aloud provides opportunities to deeply comprehend text through discussions and visualization.
4. Reading aloud builds students with better aptitudes for learning--leading to greater success in life.
5. Reading aloud allows children to hear and discuss characters as role models.
6. Reading aloud allows children to ponder social situations and ways to handle them.
7. Reading aloud helps children to become better writers.
8. Reading aloud improves children's vocabulary
9. Reading aloud builds schema for things we do not normally see/hear in our own world--it makes kids smarter!
10. Reading aloud builds creativity and imagination as children visualize.
11. Reading aloud demands attention and fosters stamina for work as children build ability to concentrate/focus.
12. Reading aloud exposes children to language for articulating and speaking clearly--basic speech skills.
13. Reading aloud helps children connect the spoken word to the written word--and the written word to their OWN written words.
14. Reading aloud fosters more reading, leading to lifelong literacy.
15. Reading aloud at bedtime builds routines and helps children relax and sleep well--serving to calm the body and relax the mind.
16. Reading aloud helps children understand text layout and features.
17. Reading aloud fosters better communication skills and it develops receptive and expressive language--which equals more sophisticated language structures.
18. Reading aloud develops logic and problem-solving skills
19. Reading aloud introduces children to different genres and writing styles.
20. Reading aloud builds compassionate world citizens by providing rich, aesthetic experiences requiring emotional and intellectual responses.

What would you add to this list?