Join the GBA in celebrating World Read Aloud Day on February 2nd!
A read aloud is a wonderful way to engage with a story and forge a connection with students both inside and outside the classroom. At the community and household level, a read aloud is a simple tool for families to engage with books together and create a culture of reading. All families can read out loud together. For those who are not literate, a book with pictures can be used, and the story can be made up using the pictures. Or an older sibling can read out loud to a younger one. In the classroom, teachers can use the dialogic reading strategy, where a read aloud becomes more of an instructional tool - the teacher asks questions, explains new or challenging words, and asks students for their impressions about characters and the plot.
Teacher reading books to children - Photo by Save the Children
Benefits of Reading Aloud to Children
There are many benefits to reading out loud to children, including:
Children develop an interest in books and reading
Children see how fluent readers read with proper speed and intonation
Children learn grammar and vocabulary
It engages and keeps children’s attention
It improves listening comprehension skills
Read alouds provide an understanding of how stories work-that there is a beginning, middle, and an end to stories, there are characters and a plot, how characters solve problems, etc.
It creates a bond between children and their teacher or caregiver
Teacher in Rwanda smiling holding a book. Photo by Save the Children
Tips for an Enjoyable Read Aloud
To make a read aloud enjoyable, it is important to read with proper intonation, expression, and speed. Read alouds are also a good way to check for comprehension. By asking questions before, during and after the read aloud, teachers and family members can gauge whether their child understood the content in the story, whether they enjoyed the story, who their favorite characters were and why. Questions about the setting or characters or what problem is being faced are good ones to ask children to gauge understanding.
It is important to plan a read aloud carefully to maximize time spent with children and impact on their literacy development. Some important considerations when planning for a read aloud include:
Choose a book that will appeal to the age and interests of the children you are reading out loud to
Read through the story on your own and make some notes about new or unfamiliar vocabulary words, theme, or characters
Think of a few questions to ask before, during and after reading the story. Write these down.
When starting the read aloud, read the title of the story as well as the names of the author and illustrator. Show students the illustration on the front cover and ask them a predictive question like ‘what do you think this story will be about?’
Visit the Global Digital Library to find a collection of free and downloadable books for read alouds!
Title photo courtesy of Save the Children