Why is Reading Aloud so Important and what is Lynndale doing to foster reading aloud?

Most parents are aware of the need for their students to practice their reading every night. Reading is a learned skill. Research shows that those who read the most read the best. But do you know the importance of reading aloud to your child? A lot of parents stop reading aloud to their children once their children are able to read themselves. Some parents find they don't have time to read aloud once they have the nightly assignment of listening to their children read.   Other parents don't think that a child can get better at reading if the adult is doing the reading (not true!).   Studies show that the single most important activity for building knowledge required for eventual success in reading and writing is reading with your child.   It also shows that the average minutes per day reading books is the best predictor of comprehension gains in reading achievement between 2 nd and 5 th grades.

"We read to children for all the same reasons you talk with children: to reassure, to entertain, to bond; to inform or explain, to arouse curiosity, to inspire." (Jim Trelease)

The following are just some of the benefits of reading aloud to your child.

             *Provides a reading role model

             *Creates background knowledge

             *Awakens their imaginations

             *Improves their vocabulary

             *Improves language skills

             *Shows them you value reading

             *Chance for you to spend quality time together

             *Chance for your child to enjoy literature without having to worry about decoding, main idea, tests, reports, etc.

             *Opportunity to associate reading with pleasure ("Humans only return again and again to that which they enjoy."(Jim Trelease))

Children's listening level is 2-3 grade levels above their reading level. If your 3 rd grader is reading at a 4.0 reading level, you can read him books that are at a 6.0-7.0 reading level. The website listed below has great book ideas that have been tested and tried on students. Make sure you read slowly and with lots of expression. If you spend lots of time in the car you can find many books on tape or CD (available at the public library, bookstores, or downloads from the internet).   The books on CD/tape are also good if you don't feel comfortable reading to your student but want to share a book.   Let the CD do the reading for you while you and your child follow along in the book.

We are building a collection of audio books in the Lynndale library to help families and students have access to listening to good literature.   One of the most important reasons for increasing interest in audio books for young people is the research demonstrating that listening to audio books fosters reading comprehension, fluency, language acquisition, vocabulary development and improved achievement; the same results that we get when we read aloud to our students.

"The more you read, the better you get at it; the better you get at it, the more you like it; and the more you like it, the more you do it. The more you read, the more you know; the more you know, the smarter you grow." (Jim Trelease)

Most of the above information is taken from resources shared by Jim Trelease author of , The Read Aloud Handbook . He also has a great website packed with useful information, www.trelease-on-reading.com .   This website has a list of great read-a-louds with grade level suggestions.   We also have a copy of his read-a-loud handbook in the library available for checkout.