Loud And Clear
Posted on January 26, 2010 by Mindi@B.A. Bookworm in Uncategorized.
When was the last time you had your child read aloud to you? With our schedules being so busy these days its hard to find time to just sit and listen to your child read, especially if your child is already an independent reader.
Having your child read aloud to you is extremely important since it allows you to be in touch with how their reading is progressing. Many children can read well enough to get by, but when made to read aloud might stumble on their words or possibly read each word as a single entity instead of a flowing sentence. Also, many children read with a robotic tone. Learning to use inflection in your voice when you read is an important skill that will only improve with practice.
A child usually wont have many chances to read aloud in school so it is up to you to make time for it. It’s not as difficult as you might think however. The trick is to listen to your child read while you are doing something else.
Do you travel around a lot? Listen to your child read while you are driving. Are you often on the computer? That would also be a great time to have your child read aloud to you. Think about it like this, any time you feel comfortable having the radio or television going on in the background would be the perfect opportunity to have your child read to you for a while instead.
Do you prepare dinner? Try having your child read to you as you cook. This has worked very well for my daughter and me. Many nights as I start to prepare dinner my daughter will sit at the kitchen table and read to me as I work. I really enjoy this special time we spend together.
Remember, for the most part you only need to listen to your child read to gain confidence in his/her reading ability. This also allows you to be aware of how your child’s reading ability is progressing. It isn’t necessary for you to be reading over his/her shoulder. Just listen and only help if help is needed. If your child gets stuck on a word have him/her sound out the word & if that doesn’t work have your child spell the word so you can help decipher it.
After your child has finished reading to you it is a great time to give out hugs and kisses and praise your child. This also gives you the perfect opportunity to give him/her feedback on what can be done to improve. Use the Kisses and Wishes method to critique your child’s reading. If you notice that your child needs to use more expression when reading aloud, then lead your child by example. Read a few pages from the book your child just read to you and show him/her what a huge difference it makes to alter your voice from high to low, or convey sadness or excitement in your voice as you read.
With practice your child will become an expert at reading aloud, and that is an important skill your child will utilize for the rest of his/her life.
The proud mother of four children with voracious appetites for reading, Mindi Flowers is a work-at-home mom with a passion for promoting literacy. Mindi is the author of several children’s books, including the imaginative and interactive Super Hero Joe series. She is also the creator of an innovative system designed to teach reading skills to toddlers and adolescents using sound, successful practices with repetitive and fun activities. Mindi Flowers is also the force behind Bailey A. Bookworm, a.k.a. B.A. Bookworm, a website and blog that offers innovative tips and interactive activities geared towards nurturing the reader in your child. Visit her site http://babookworm.wordpress.com to view more of her work.
Good tips, and a good reminder to also find time to listen to your child read – not just time to read to your child. It really is a great way to keep in touch with your child’s progress with reading.