by Rachel Wells
Read-alouds are a popular activity in elementary school classrooms for good reason – in fact it’s one of the most important things parents and teachers can do with children.
Listening to read alouds builds tons of foundation skills including expanding vocabulary, strengthening critical thinking abilities, building connections between spoken and written words, and increasing attention span. On top of all this, read alouds provide a model of fluent, expressive reading while helping kids to see reading as a pleasurable activity.
That being said, if you really want to engage your students in a read aloud, you need to do more than just simply read the story – and we’re here to help with six tried and true ways to make your read alouds extra fun and engaging.
Select the Right Book
Be sure to select a book that works with your specific group of students. Ask yourself: Can my students relate to the type of characters in this story? Is this story age appropriate? Do I have enough time to read this book?
Take Pauses and Ask Questions
Before you even begin reading, ask kids what they think the book will be about just by reading the title and seeing the cover. Then be sure to pause throughout the story and ask students comprehension and critical thinking questions.
What do you think will happen next?
How do you think the characters are feeling right now?
How would you feel if you were the character right now?
What would you do next?
Pausing to talk about the story while you read gives students an opportunity to engage with the book while thinking deeper about what exactly is going on.
Make It a Daily Habit
Elementary aged kids should be read to regularly, so make sure to schedule read aloud time on your calendar daily.
Talk About New Vocabulary
You may be surprised how many vocabulary words are in children’s books that your students don’t actually know the meaning of (and for some reason they don’t often stop and ask you what they mean either!) Pause to ask students if they know the meaning of certain words, and when they don’t, use it as an opportunity to teach them something new in an organic way.
Embrace the Character
Be sure to use a strong reading voice, and if you can, help your read alouds come alive even more by making voices for each of the characters.
Add Engaging Follow Up Activities
When time allows, add writing activities, craft projects, or STEM challenges to extend your story time. Adding projects like these give students a hands-on way to interact with the books, and aid in comprehension.
