Here are some tips to help you and your school-age child have the most enjoyable read-aloud experience.
· Start by discussing what you read the day before. This reminds your child of what happened and gets them interested in today’s reading.
· Use expression when reading. Change your voice for the different characters. This helps the listener know who’s speaking.
· Reading aloud is an art, you might need to practice. You could listen to a book on tape to help you improve your skills.
· Don’t read too quickly; give your child a chance to picture the images the words create in his/her head.
· Adjust your pace to fit the story, slow down at a suspenseful part, raise your voice and speed up during high action scenes.
· Copy characters’ actions, like laughing, sneezing, or coughing. This makes the characters seem more alive.
· Stop reading occasionally and have your child predict what will happen next.
· Talk about what you have read. Share your reactions and encourage your child to do the same.
· Stop reading at the end of a chapter, or a suspenseful point, so your child will want to read again tomorrow.
· Relate the book you are reading, to one you read in the past.
· Have your child put themselves in a character’s position and share what they would do.
· When a book is finished discuss whether or not you liked it. Don’t give your child the impression that their answers are wrong.
· As a father it’s important you read to your sons. Since most teachers are women, boys tend to associate reading with women and schoolwork. A father reading provides a positive role model and encourages boys to read.
I know that reading to our children takes time that many of us don’t feel like we have. But it’s worth it. Reading is the number one indicator of how successful your child will be in school. You can read about why reading aloud is so important in my blog Reading aloud to grade school children.
I have been reading novels to my first grader for the last year. We have read “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, “The Boxcar Children”, as well as others. We both look forward to story time. I know your child will too.
For ideas on how to choose a read-aloud book and a list of age appropriate novels see my blog: Choosing a read-aloud book.