It doesn't matter that they can all read for themselves. It doesn't matter that Fifi can devour 500 pages in the 5 minute ride from the library to our home. Reading aloud together--sharing a story, laughing at the funny parts, or...uh...laughing at Mommy voicing the funny parts--it's time well
Children who listen to skillful oration of well-crafted literature speak better than they would otherwise, think better than they did before, and learn better than their neglected peers. I'm not a researcher; I'm just right.
I have a blog about it, you know. "It" being a running list of the books we have read, and why we will or won't read them again when the youngest of us comes around to the next level of learning.
There are a few recent additions over there since the last time I mentioned it. Just today, we finished one of my favorites. I'd love to hear your reading recommendations here, or your own opinions about the books listed over there.
13 comments:
I like the idea of reading aloud to older kids. I read every night with my first son. We read the entire Chronicles of Narnia several times before he was in first grade.
But my second son would never sit for it and never seemed interested. But now he is having some trouble in school (first grade) with his reading. Perhaps I should check out your list and start reading aloud to him. Tell me more about the benefits of this. Have you observed them yourself?
Thanks!
As a matter of fact, I didn't know that you have a blog about it, so thanks for the heads up. I'll be checking it out very soon!
I had no idea about your other blog! I can't wait to go digging around over there. Princess and I love reading together, too.
Amen to reading out loud together!
Reading out loud to my kids has always been a favorite thing for me to do. They think they are way too old and busy for it now.
I have one that cares nothing for books and reading. Read a louds were always met with the eye rolling and sigh. For that reason I would take special pains to choose something that child would enjoy. This in turn caused the other child to huff. (They are opposite sexes) However, the one would never leave once the reading started. The second child who felt sure THAT book would never be interesting would always be the first to get hooked.
Reading aloud to my kids during one part of my life was actually more for me than them. I only wish I had spent more time choosing Bible passages and Bible founded books to read to them.
I love the picture of you reading aloud to all of the girls. The book sounds wonderful.
Care Bear, the 5 year old grandchild, loves to be read to. The almost 4 has never been one to sit still as long as Care Bear. But we get lots of library books!
Regarding your previous post, how sad that they had to blast "praise" music during the egg hunt. Crazy.
Have you heard of the prodigy named Ethan, who is 6 years old and amazing on the piano. Go to You Tube and look him up. He was on Jay Leno, who asked him how he liked the Arrowsmith concert in Vegas. He said, "I had to run out of there back to my hotel room!" Reminded me of your very well trained girls.
I think reading out loud is so special and I love it.
I used to be a high school Sunday School teacher. I remember asking the kids one day, what they wished their parents still did for them that they don;t anymore. I was sure that most it not all would have said some type of chore.
ALL of them, without shame or apology, said they wished that their parents still read out loud to them. It shocked me so much, I never forgot it.
I mentioned this to the parents, and needless to say, they, also were quite shocked.
Then I realized it is an intimate experience that involves a close bonding and connection. John & I read to each other. I love reading to him & he loves to hear me read. It is our time without the children, (though they get read to also)
:)
For their sake, and yours never stop.
I love to read aloud to my kids, and when I read at or near lunchtime, I think of you. :)
Thank you so much for including the age appropriateness for each book. My little guy is still, well, little, but he comes close to some of the books you mentioned. I know my daughter will love a lot of them!
When I had my own classroom I always made sure to read to my students every day. With all the busyness, and schedule confilcts, and having to cut certain things in order to fit in other things, reading aloud to them was one thing I made sure to always include.
And now that I'm a daddy, I get to read to Lily. She LOVES her books. She's not too interested in the words yet. She likes to turn pages. And she loves to answer questions about the pictures. But she's already learned where books begin and which way to turn pages. Genius child in the making!
We LOVE reading out loud. It is one of my favorite times, as well as the girls'.
And thanks for the book review blog! I will definitely keep it in my bookmarks!
Robin! You're so right that material matters...I'm always grateful for your candor. You have such a sweet heart to sincerely want others to learn from your (perceived) mistakes.
I pray I'm as generous when this portion of the journey is done and I look back at my mistakes.
Just stopping by as I take a break in the last minute packing...(we head on the road tomorrow for a California vacation!)...but I so agree with everything you just said.
And I'm going to check out your reading blog!
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