Reading Aloud Inspires and Engages Students

Books are being read aloud in all classrooms throughout Lower School. Teachers select read-aloud books for a variety of reasons. Some books are targeted to delight, surprise, engage or inspire. Students might interact while listening to a book read aloud by repeating phrases, acting out emotions, turning and talking to a partner about a query, sharing their thinking with the larger group, or by envisioning (imagining) a section of the story.  At a later point, they may write about their thinking.

At the beginning of reading workshop in first through fourth grade, the book read aloud is targeted for the reading strategy that we are focusing on during that reading session. In the fall, first grade students are learning how to talk and write about a part of the book they want to remember. They also focus on making connections between the story and their own lives or to other books they have read and think deeply about the characters in the text.
Second through fourth graders are immediately making connections and thinking about the character traits that are reflected in the actions and thoughts of the characters in the book and are sharing their ideas with other students and their teachers. Students are able to apply these strategies to their own reading. This is all in the first weeks of school!

The power of reading aloud can be felt at home also as your children listen to books that are your favorite ones to read and reread. This shared reading deepens thinking skills, increases vocabulary and shows the importance and connection of reading at home and at school.

Below are a few of the books that are being read aloud this month in Lower School.