Yesterday, Scholastic, along with literacy experts, authors, and educators Pam Allyn and Donalyn Miller, held a Twitter chat about ways parents and teachers can prepare for World Read Aloud Day (February 24). During the chat Pam and Donalyn shared easy to implement tips for reading aloud. We also received some great ideas from educators and parents who joined the chat! The full recap of the chat can be found here, and below are some of our favorite tips and highlights!
In addition to the Twitter chat, Scholastic, LitWorld and other partnering organizations will be supporting World Read Aloud Day with specially curated resources and opportunities for educators, families and children to experience the joy of reading aloud and to advocate for more access to books and quality literacy learning that will “Open a World of Possible” for children worldwide.
Highlights from the #WRAD16 Twitter chat:
Question: Many adults stop reading aloud to kids once they can read on their own. Why is it important to continue reading aloud?
- Pam: Answer: for older kids, the read aloud is a way to hear text at higher levels than they can read on their own...immersion!
- Donalyn: Answer: Reading aloud helps you focus on comprehension, engagement, and discussing great texts.
- Donalyn: Answer: Reading aloud communicates pleasure messages about reading and the value of reading together.
Question: What are some tips for reading aloud to older kids and/or kids who can already read independently?
- Donalyn: Answer: Ask students what texts they might like to hear read aloud or booktalk some possible choices and pick one as a class.
- Pam: Answer: definitely modeling your own love of text..not being afraid to read "easy" books aloud again! valuing all kinds of reading
- Pam: Answer: for older kids too, the sound of your voice matters a lot..you are accompanying them on a reading journey.
Question: What do kids of all ages gain when their parents or teachers make reading aloud a regular part of their lives?
- Pam: Answer: read aloud from wide variety of sports, recipes, grandmother's letters, etc. see all the ways text comes to life!
- Donalyn: Answer: Read alouds introduce students to authors, genres, styles of writing, perspectives, and topics they might not find on their own. #WRAD16
Question: Now that we know WHY it’s important, how can we help parents read aloud more often? What are your tips/tricks/ideas?
- Donalyn: Answer: Sharing the benefits of reading aloud from @scholastic's Kids and Family Reading Report might help: http://bit.ly/1PIUxat
Question: What if parents or teachers only have a short time available for read aloud? Is it worth it?
- Donalyn: Answer: Squeezing read alouds into daily life models for our kids how to manage & sustain lifelong reading habits.
- Pam: Answer: every single minute is so worthwhile for the read aloud! it's amazing! it's like a little micro vitamin!
Full recap:
