Reading Aloud to children, even after they know how to read, is such a valuable experience for many reasons! Here are a few:
- Reading aloud promotes a positive attitude toward reading and books.
- Reading aloud helps to promote a longer attention span.
- Reading aloud exposes children to complex language, which will help the children in all areas of their development, especially their reading development.
- Reading aloud to children enhances a child's oral vocabulary. A strong oral vocabulary is essential to reading comprehension.
- Reading aloud teaches children about the world. It promotes lots of conversations about what is like in different parts of the world, for people who are different from themselves. They learn about the elderly, the rich, the disadvantaged. They travel to faraway lands and they travel through time.
- Reading aloud models reading fluency and good reading habits.
- Reading aloud models good reading strategies. Most teachers "think aloud" while reading, modeling the types of thoughts readers have. ("I wonder what happens next." or "I think he's going to..." are great conversation starters with children!)
- Reading aloud helps children learn how stories are structured. They learn how stories typically begin by introducing the characters and setting, then things develop, a conflict arises, then a solution.
- Reading aloud helps children recognize and explore feelings through the characters in the stories read to them. They develop empathy and compassion.
- Read alouds encourage thinking.
- Read alouds encourage imagination!
- Read alouds encourage children to express themselves more clearly and more confidently.
- Reading to children is fun for all involved. What could be better than that?