Approaches to Reading Instruction/Reading Aloud

Reading aloud means a person reads a reading material to another person. Many researches shows reading aloud really has significant influences on children. Parents/teachers should read reading materials to children.

Children and Parents are Learning Together

Even parents who have doctoral degrees cannot understand all knowledge from around the world. When parents/teachers read reading materials to children, not only they are passing knowledge on to children but also they are absorbing knowledge themselves and transmitting "love" to children. In other words, they are helping children building "knowledge" and "attachment" simultaneously.

Children Solve Their Problems on Their Own

Even adults,sometimes we don't know how to solve a new problem.When a child is facing a new problem,he can learn how the main character of a children picture book solve on his own.When parents can not offer children answers,children will go to a library to find answers for themselves.Trelease(2006) stated“They identified reading that provided answers or information relating to problems in their lives.”

Expanding Even Good Readers’ Horizons

If parents take their children to a book store,children always find books they like.In other words,children never pick up the topic of the books which they do not like.Thus,parents has resposibilities to choose those kind of books and read aloud to their children.This action will expand their children's horizons(Lin-Chieh,Huang,2008)

Helping Children Becoming Independent Life-Long Readers

After parents read aloud to their children several times,children will try to read themselves.Calkins and Bellino(1997)stated,"If we read aloud to our kids,we'll turn them into good readers." "Many educators believe that reading aloud does create life-long readers(Hurst & Otis,1996；“Read alouds”,2007).

Helping Children Building Background Knowledge

Hildreth(2006)stated,"The experiences in books should be connected in some way to children's lives"

Helping Children Learn From Rhythm, Rhyme

Young children love sounds that is the reason why a lot of children books are written with rhyme.Partridge(2004) stated, “Many books for young children utilize rhymes and begining sounds to help children develop phonological awareness in a fun and naturak manner.”

Helping Children Build Pleasure Sense about Book

"Children will remember these feelings long into their adulthood,and although the actual stories may be forgotten,reading has become an enjoyable,lifelong habit(Why Read Aloud,2000).Honig(2007) stated,"Babies love it when adults changevoice tones from one page to the next."

Helping Children Understand Themselves More

Parents ask children questions during reading aloud time will provide children opportunities to understand themselves more.

Impacting on Children Vocabulary Growth Substantially

When children read more books,they learn more vocabulary.According to Doman(1964),"By having children's book read to them by parents who are attempting only to amuse them,these children have attained astonishing reading vocabularies."

Improve Children’s Listening and Reading Comprehension

Trelease(2006) stated, "Listening comprehension feeds reading comprehension."

Providing Children Reading Readiness to Success Later In School

McElmeel(1994,p.xi)stated,"Many believe as I do that the single most important thing a teacher or parent can do to ensure the success of a child in school and life is to read aloud to that child."

References

Calkins,L, and Bellino,L.(1997).Raising lifelong learners:A parent's guide.Reading,MS:Addison-Wesley

Doman,G(1964).How to teach your baby to read.New York:Random House

Hildreth,E.(2006).Creating a home literacy environment.Idaho Commission for Libraries.

Honig,A.S.(2007).Choosing great books for babies.Early Childhood Today,21(4),24-25.

Hurst,C.O.,& Otis,R.(2007).Recommended titles for reading aloud.

Lin-Chieh,Huang.(2008).Influence of parents reading aloud to children later on attitudes towards recreational and academic reading.Ashland University

McElmeel,S.L.(1994).The latest and greatest read-alouds.Englewood,Co:Libraries Unlimited.

Partridge,H.A.(2004).Helping parents make the most of shared book reading.Early Childhood Education Journal,32(1),25-30.

Trelease,J.(2006).The read aloud handbook.New York:Penguin Group.

Why Read aloud?(2000)Early Childhood Today,15(2),12-13