Mem Fox! “Member” Her? Ode to the Read Aloud
While thrifting, I picked, Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their LIves Forever by Mem Fox.
I am familiar with Mem’s books, reading Koala Lou to my first group of grade ones back in ‘99. Though I have read many reading resources, never this one.
It got me thinking, we need to save the Read Aloud.
As a consultant, working with teachers in their classrooms, I’ve noticed a drop in Read Alouds. This power instructional strategy is often replaced with book videos.
Book videos are books read to students via YouTube. Book videos became more common during pandemic teaching. Students needed access to the books, and teachers were often using book videos as a way of adjusting to asynchronous delivery.
Yet, book videos are not Read Alouds. Book videos are akin to storytime which is reading a book from cover to cover, no stopping for instructional purposes.
A Read Aloud is at the core of literacy instruction. The instructional move that enhances access to reading and supports teachers with infusing the curricular demands.
Most ELA curriculum can be delivered through a Read Aloud, whether its comprehension, vocabulary, phonics, phonological awareness, text forms and structures, oral language, writing, conventions and fluency. Carefully chosen Read Alouds also support the other content area curriculums.
I plan to deliver a series on Read Alouds because I think it needs attention.
That’s it for today, but before I go, I will leave you with a tip.
Mem Fox suggests three stories a day in her advice to parents but I think it’s an amazing starting point in the classroom too.
One favourite.
One familiar.
One new.
Until next time, from your friendly neighbourhood language arts consultant,
Brandi
