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Read It Out LoudApr 20 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Reading to children is the beginning step to getting them interested in books. Choose what you read carefully, and then read with enthusiasm and interest.
I love to read out loud to children. I am lucky to have the opportunity to do what I love each and every day of my working life. There is so much more than simply speaking the words on the page aloud... you want to see a sparkle in the eye of the listener, and to hear the responses that flow uncontrollably from the children sharing your story. It helps to read in advance the story you plan to present to your listeners. Each story has its own message, and its own rhythm for reading. I really love reading stories that have a lilt and a rhyme to carry the theme. I have learned through experience to slow down and savor each word or phrase. As a new teacher and mother, I used to rush through each book in order to get to the message (or to get a child to sleep). I know now that it is the story itself that teaches, and that the importance lies in the presentation. Children love stories that have interesting language... words that bring images to mind, or that have interesting sounds. How else could Dr. Seuss have been so successful? And such wonderful rhythms and rhymes! Take time to find the natural cadence in the text. Read with emotion, and with inflection. You will be able to hold your child's interest on voice intonation, even if the language is above their level of understanding. I teach two classes each day, and so am able to read the same story twice. I have found that the second reading is always much better than the first. I know exactly where the story is going, and am able to adjust my timing and tone accordingly. I have found that taking the time to read a story in advance allows me to make the most of the message and the language. Most importantly, read aloud books that you enjoy reading. I have poems by Shel Silverstein that my students request over and over. I love reading them, and so my students love hearing them. And most wonderful of all... they ask me eventually if they can borrow my book and read them themselves. Isn't this the reason we read to children in the first place? You can put that sparkle in the eye of your listener, and turn it into a love of reading that will be lasting. Be particular about what you read... how you read... and you'll find you've got an enthusiastic reader on your hands. Good luck, and happy reading!  |
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