I will always champion reading aloud to children because I know, first hand, what a huge difference it makes. Some people need to hear all the reasons. I have written plenty of stories about those. Some people need to read statistics.
Words of wisdom from research:
I read to children in my classroom all the time. They have full access to books that are front facing and readily available.
Children copy what they see, and if they see reading, they are far more likely to get books from the bookshelf and read.
Whether it is group reading or independent reading does not matter.
As children become comfortable with books, they take it to the next level, incorporating books into their play.
Often, Gloria is the beneficiary.
The most important thing I do for children is read aloud.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Good to see that confirmed in print. But we already knew you were right! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
I can never say this enough, Pete, whether through stories or hard facts. Best to you, and many thanks.
I also think if forms a bond, like touch. I was read to as a child. With a last name of ‘Read’ it was inevitable.
Yes, it certainly forms a bond. “There is no app to replace your lap.” I didn’t know your last name was Read. It’s definitely appropriate. 🙂 Thanks, Pam.
“Not flashcards, not workbooks, not fancy preschools, not blinking toys or computers.” It really is that simple.
Yes, it is!
I often read to my preschool yoga kids and we both love it. It’s a great way to gather their attention and still their bodies. ❤
It definitely is, Alethea. 😍
🙂
Reblogged this on The Light Behind the Story.
Thank you, Alethea!
I agree with you Jennie – reading aloud is so very important!
Thanks, Opher! 🙂
100% behind you on this one, Jennie!
I knew you would be, Ritu! 😍
I also totally agree with you and was read to as I grew up and have read to my two children
and their friends. Wonderful way to connect and encourage imagination.
Miriam
You are so right, Miriam. I’m glad you had those reading experiences as a child and as a parent. Thank you. 🙂
How did something so intuitive, cosy, loving and simple get shuffled out of the radar of everyday 21st century family life? Soooo glad my folks read to us kids and we in turn got to enjoy their side of it by reading to our kids (back in the day).
Keep on with it, teacher!
Well, didn’t you just ask the million dollar question! Technology and over scheduling children’s lives, plus parents having busy lives, has brushed away that lovely, important, everyday experience. I will be the voice, the champion of reading to children. Thanks, Laura! 🙂
I love reading aloud. I read my children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” and children and adults enjoy the story. 🙂 Voice changes and gestures help make the story come alive. 🙂
You are absolutely right! It’s also how you read what you read. Thank you, Mimi. 🙂
Jennie, you hit the nail in the head with this one. We read aloud to our children from 6 months on and they did well at school, at all levels, and are excellent communicators today. A lot of money is spent in the education systems when, in many cases, it just takes someone to read aloud, as you do.
You said it well, Steve. In most cases, it really does just take someone to read aloud. I’m not surprised that you read aloud to your children, or that they did well in school and beyond. Thank you! 🙂
This was important enough to post to Twitter…which I did. 👍
Wonderful!
What a wonderful sight to see all the children reading the books.
It always makes my day, Deborah. Thank you!
Perfect. It’s what we have said all around.
It is, Darlene. Many thanks!
Amen, Jenny!
Thank you, John!
I don’t read aloud to my children any more, Jennie. Michael and I both love being read to though so we buy loads of audio books.
That’s wonderful, Robbie. I must do more audio books.
Reading aloud to kids is the most important thing a parent can do for mental development. Nice one Jenny.
Very true, John. Thank you!
With you all the way, Jennie… Sharing the good news! 🙂 xo
Terrific!
I read with our son through 8th grade. Not only was it quality father/son time, I think it helped him develop a love for books/reading. When he was still a little guy, I used to love to tell him bedtime stories after I was done reading to him. Some of these were based on my own experiences, while others were from my imagination. The problem was he remembered every detail, and he’d call me out if I didn’t get it right the second time.😎
Bravo to you, Pete! I’m glad to know that you included telling stories, too. Like you, I tell “Once Upon a Time” stories and “It Happened Like This” stories. When they remember everything, like you son did, that’s a high complement. 🙂
I can’t think of anything as important as reading.
I can’t either!
Indeed!
The proof is in the pudding. I read to mine and then when they were old enough, I had them read to me. We would go back and forth as their vocabularies increased. They are so much smarter than I am with this wealth of information they are always digging into. Kids that are read to ask more questions and know how to learn on their own better, I think.
I couldn’t have said it any better, Marlene. Thank you! The proof is definitely in the pudding. I like how you had your children read to you when they were a little older, and go back and forth.
I used the same technique on my stepdaughter when I found out she had reached Jr. High functionally illiterate. A private church school had failed to notice she couldn’t read basic words. She is quite the reader now as are her children.
Way to go, Marlene! Just think where she might be now, had it not been for you.
Jennie, thank you! This is excellent!
You are welcome, Charles!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Here is an important, indeed, crucial post from the excellent teacher, Jennie!
Thank you, Charles!
As I was reading your post about teaching children to love reading about bringing magic to their lives, I reminded me of the wonderful description of books by Carl Sagan that I think you’ll appreciate: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”
I love that quote by Carl Sagan. It’s filled with the joy of discovery and understanding, and the love of books, through the eyes of one of the greatest scientists. Thank you!
Yes! Yes! Yes!! I can’t agree more and isn’t it great that its importance is now officially recognised … for those who need the proof. Most of us already knew this. Your classroom instills the love of reading from the start and it’s heartwarming to see the children on the floor, books scattered around them, reading intently … then sharing about the story! Inspiring, Jennie! 😀
Thank you so much for your kind words, and your insight, Annika. When the children take it upon themselves to read, I am thrilled.
From my own experience – my parents started reading out aloud to me when I was a toddler still – I can only agree. “Lesen bildet” [reading educates], as we say in German.
I love that phrase. Thank you for reading and your comments.
You’re welcome, Jennie. Let me add aquote from Harry S Truman: “Readers of good books, particularly books of biography and history are preparing themselves for leadership. Not all readers become leaders, but all leaders must be readers.”
Wonderful!!
🙂
Yes!
😀
Very important!!!!!!
Thank you, Anneli. Yes, it is!
You should all come to Bavaria and revolutionize the curriculum for preschool (which we still don’t have here). We usually only have church kindergartens, as a kind of “detention institutions”.
Michael, this is a powerful comment. I think you can be the one to start the ball rolling. Really. And we are your back up. If church kindergartens are more like a detention institution, then children are ‘doomed’ from the start. That is so sad.
Thank you Jennie! Thank you Jenny! Unfortunately, this is the truth. The education of young children has been outsourced to the so-called Christian large churches. It has been here since 1933!!! a concordat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichskonkordat) . ;-( Michael
Yikes!
Like the article states, there is no substitution for reading to a child. Lovely Jennie 🙂 ❤
And that’s the truth! Thank you, Debby. 🙂
🙂
AMEN!!!!
Indeed!
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
Thank you!
Was honored to share this great info with followers, My Dear!!
xoxo
🙂
Truer words were never spoken. Yay for all you do in reading aloud to children!
I know that you know this, Marcia. I feel like I need to keep telling the world. Many thanks!
I love this post. My parents always read chapter books to me like Ella Enchanted and Harry Potter. I love that they read challenging books to me, even if I didn’t understand everything at the time.
Thank you, Kristen. It’s good to know you were brought up with parents who read aloud to you. It makes a big impact. And yes, even if a child doesn’t fully understand, they’re still getting a big dose of vocabulary and bonding.
Lovely article! I have written a blog on the importance of reading for pleasure and have started reviewing picture books with ideas for teaching etc…I think reading aloud is so important for children…reading can take you anywhere…we need to show children how.
Thank you for being a champion of reading aloud. It makes the greatest difference in children, from academic success to finding passion and wings. The real guru in reading aloud is Jim Trelease. Look him up. He is my hero. Yes, we need to show children how reading can take them anywhere.
Loved this and I stand by it too!
Wonderful!
These pictures bring me such joy!! I loved Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus as a kid. Great point about children and their “monkey see, monkey do” habits. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!