The Magic of Reading Aloud

at Every Age

The Magic of Reading-Aloud is for every age, every family, nationality, and background, especially in this age of intrusive tech devices.

Magic Distraction – Family Life Distractions

The children are in a commotion. Or they’re deap-pan staring while scrolling on their digital screens. You have fussed at them – to no avail.

So. Pick up a classic book. Sit on the couch. Yes. Alone. Start reading aloud.

You won’t be alone for very long. One by one the children will peek in. They’ll move a little closer. Sit beside you. Snuggle in. Drape themselves over your arm. Stare at the words… the illustrations. Sigh-h-h-h… when the chapter is at an end. Beg for more-more-more!

Magic!

My First Time Reading Aloud

The first time I did this, I was in high school, babysitting for five children ranging in age from 6 -12. True to form, one-by-one, they stopped the hullabaloo of whatever they were shouting about and joined me on the couch. I think I was as surprised as the children!

A Magical Read-Aloud

I was reading the chapter in Charlotte’s Web, in which Wilbur, the lonely, bored, little pig, had escaped from his pen. The animals that were still stuck in the pen were bellowing with cheers and warnings, as well as yawping out directions of which way to run. The goofy goose, the wise old horse, the grumbling sheep – I used a different voice for each. Giggles and gasps erupted – and truthfully, I was enjoying it as much as they were.

Benefits in Reading Aloud

The simple act of reading aloud to children of every age – every class, nationality, or family background – is a power-source for the brain, heart, and imagination. In addition, it confers countless social, emotional, and cultural benefits, as it commiserates, comforts, inspires, refreshes, and energizes everyone – child, teen, adult.

Cognitive Development

Reading aloud is one of the most effective and structured ways to promote cognitive development. Children who have been read to since birth are at a distinct advantage upon entering Kindergarten: they are over a year ahead in language development and pre-reading skills.

Deep, Rich Language

The act of listening immerses a child in more – and further advanced – vocabulary. Unwittingly, they also acquire proper grammar, and a knowledge of how words and phrases are arranged to create well-formed sentences in a language. In addition, these children have a much broader base of general knowledge.

Future Success

The more that children are read to, the more robust and extensive their language power and potential becomes. So effective is reading aloud that it supports later success in most subjects, such as English, Math, History and Science.

Benefits in Reading Aloud for Teens

The wonderful surprise about reading aloud is that it works for older children, too. The very best part is that – even if a teen has never been read to before – it works like a charm in adolescence.

A Voice of Experience

Meghan Cox Gurdon, the Children’s Book columnist for the Wall Street Journal, authored “The Enchanted Hour: the Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction.”

Her read-aloud research and examples clearly show that poor-to-average teenage students who struggle while reading even short passages or chapters, have a complete turn-around when the same text is read aloud to them, using a vocal tone for enjoyment, rather than strictly instructive. The results are amazing!

Read-Aloud Results

The students could not wait to get to class to find out what would happen next.
Test results shot up, as these usually poor-performing students surpassed the average students by almost nine months progress.
Morale took flight, for the teens were more buoyant, more engaged and stimulated, and more competent academically. After the read-aloud sessions they showed a new interest and delight in English lessons.
Teachers were overjoyed to find that challenging or complex literature could be tackled simply by reading aloud in an engaging, nuanced voice and meter. They witnessed the results of poor readers becoming engaged and competent readers.

Saving the Magic of Childhood

Those of you who have been reading my Light Lessons Blog and are familiar with my website, already know that my books, my writing, and my speaking engagements focus on Saving the Magic of Childhood. Whether in the arenas of social, or emotional or tech device intrusions, helping our children remember their inner Light – and then helping them to shine it out all over – is paramount for a happy-healthy child. Of course, in turn, it makes for happy-healthy families.

This is the Magic!

As I have written in my recent blogs, Reading Aloud is, hands-down, a premier activity parents and grandparents can undertake to retrieve and instill the Magic in your child. The traditional family classics of fine literature are always the best place to begin, and here is a Good Reads list of 100 of them from which to choose. And my books, Becoming Jesse and The Secrets of Windy Hill fit this category to a ‘T’!

As Mrs. Gurdon writes: this is the “Enchanted Hour.”

Read Aloud!

Don’t leave it up to the schools. You have the magic in your own hands, your own voice, your own home.

It is never too late to begin. Read-aloud! It is your magic wand to transform a recalcitrant learner into a happier, more motivated, and more capable student… you know… with their…

LIGHT ON!