Starting Read-alouds

by Karen Edmisten | More from this Blogger

20 Jan 2007 07:01 AM

I read to my children. I read to them a lot.

Before we started homeschooling, I thought I read a lot. There were the usual bedtime stories, the books we cuddled up with on frosty, frigid mornings, and the love of library day.

But after we began homeschooling, I realized how little I had actually read to my kids. Because prior to that first year, I hadn't gotten sore throats or dry mouth from read-aloud times. When my voice got tired, I stopped.

As we immersed ourselves in all things "Little House" that first year, however, we found that we enjoyed reading for long periods of time. And, to make our way through substantial chapter books together, we needed that extra reading time. But my voice wasn't used to it. I got tired, I ran out of breath and I felt like a homeschooling wimp.

"How do other moms do this all the time?" I asked myself.

The answer, as with most things about homeschooling, is practice. I may have panted through the first of those many read-alouds, but it wasn't long before my wimpy voice improved. The daily vocal workout was like doing strength and conditioning exercises for my body. It's hard and hateful at first, but after awhile, you realize that you're sailing through something that used to be torture.

Not that reading aloud was ever torture. I've loved reading to my kids since our firstborn locked her eyes on a black-and-white baby book. I've adored watching their reactions since, at five months old, she cooed over a Jemima Puddleduck board book that I showed her as she sat in her stroller at a bookstore. I've relished their reactions to classics and beloved books from my childhood, such as "Charlotte's Web" (one of our favorites.)

But, for all my love of the activity, it was initially hard to increase the amount of time I spent doing it. The rewards of my early workouts, though, have paid off and continue to do so. We've successfully instilled a love of reading in all of our girls. Recently, when my two oldest girls headed to their room for some "reading in bed time" before lights-out, I asked what books they each planned to read that night.

"Oh, I'm reading out loud to her tonight," said my oldest.

Bingo. We all win.

Up next: More benefits of regular read-alouds

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Learn more about Karen Edmisten

Karen is the homeschooling, chocolate-loving mom of three daughters, whom she has been homeschooling since their birth.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 21 Jan 2007 06:18 PM

You have just explained one reason why I chose the curriculum I did. My kids LOVE, having everything read aloud to them.

Andrea Hermitt (5512) 21 Jan 2007 06:25 PM

awesome... I read a few Little House books outloud last year. I would read while we ate dinner. A few chapters really took out my voice. Now when we do read together, at their age, we don't do it too much, we share the work.

Karen Edmisten (310) 21 Jan 2007 09:19 PM

Mine love it, too. If we skip reading out loud, my children will act as if I'm depriving them of food and water. :-)

Andrea -- "sharing the work" is a great idea, too. Reading aloud is a skill, and it's a great one for kids to acquire.