Want to set your student up for success? Read aloud together!

It’s no secret that reading to your child at home is one of the best ways to prepare them for academic success later on. In our Literacy Lab pre-K program, we start engaging with books through interactive readalouds at an early age. Indeed, most parents may think that reading books aloud is just for younger students. But did you know that reading aloud to older students can be just as important?

Here are just a few benefits of reading aloud to students young and old:

• Reading aloud exposes children to vocabulary, language, an story structures that they may not otherwise hear.
  
• Having a rich vocabulary is increasingly recognized as an indicator of academic success- reading aloud is a sure sure-fire way to build vocabulary!
  
• Promotes bonding time and routine. Reading aloud before bedtime, for example, can be a positive, relationship-building time after a busy day.
  
• Reading in one language boosts ability in a second language. The more your child learns about how language works in one language, the easier she/he will learn another!
  

Feeling inspired? Try these tips to make your readalouds super fun for everyone:

• Ham it up! In Literacy Lab, we love to create funny voices for characters and make puppets that go with the story so we can act it out and boost our comprehension.
  
• Pause regularly to ask questions that get your child thinking. A simple, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Has this ever happened to you? What did it feel like?” can spark a conversation that extends beyond the text.
  
• Pick books that are an appropriate level for your child- too easy will be boring and too hard will be frustrating.
  
• Reading aloud is a great chance to read books that are a little beyond what your child could read themselves. This exposes them to rich vocabulary and engaging story line that will entice them to challenge themselves when they pick their next book!
  

Curious about the benefits of reading aloud? Check out this interview with Jim Trelease, the author of The Readaloud Handbook. We love using his strategies in the classroom!