This document discusses the importance of reading aloud to children daily. It summarizes research that shows reading aloud helps build vocabulary and background knowledge. The document recommends choosing books for different age groups that develop vocabulary, storytelling skills, and phonemic awareness. It provides tips for making reading an enjoyable experience and engaging children's thinking through questions. Lists of award-winning books, series, and authors are presented as quality options for read-alouds.

1. BOOKS EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO
HEAR: THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
DAILY READ-ALOUD
Dr. Mary Martin
Director of Christian School Education, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL
Member North Wake Church, Raleigh, NC
mmartin87@gmail.com
slideshare.net

2. My read-aloud journey

3. Read aloud research
• Twenty-six percent of pre-school children who were read
to three or four times in a week by a family member
recognized all letters of the alphabet. This is compared to
14 percent of children who were read to less frequently.
(NCES, 2000)

4. Nagy & Herman, 1987
Which children have a stronger vocabulary?
Which children have greater background knowledge?

5. Research
◦ Reading aloud is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for
eventual success in reading. (Reach Out and Read, Reading Across the Nation: A Chartbook, 2007)
◦ In Wake County, 56.1% of students in grades 3-8 scored on track for being ready for college
reading. 66.5% met proficiency standards in reading for grades 3-8.
(2016-17 NC State EOG scores)
◦ Among those who reach adulthood with the lowest level of literacy proficiency, 43% live in
poverty. Among those who have strong literacy skills, only 4% live in poverty. (Literacy in the Labor Force:
Results from the National Adult Literacy Survey. National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational
Research and Improvement, 1999.)

6. What does reading out loud to children
provide?
◦ builds vocabulary
◦ associates reading with pleasure
◦ creates background knowledge for
learning for the future
◦ provides a reading role model
◦ plants the desire to read to learn
◦ models language for writing
Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook
Steven Layne, In Defense of Read-Aloud

7. 5 Habits of Wild Readers
◦ Dedicate time to reading
◦ Successfully self-select books
◦ Share books with others
◦ Have reading plans
◦ Validate choice/expand exposure
◦ Donalyn Miller, Reading in the Wild, 2013

8. What do we look for in beginner books?
(ages 1-3)
◦ Board books for vocabulary development
◦ Board books for story development
◦ Board books for phonemic awareness (rhyming and rhythm)
◦ Lots of blank space or “white space”

9. Northeast Regional Library
14401 Green Elm Lane, Raleigh (7 mins from North Wake Church)

10. Geisel Award
(picture books for young readers)

11. Multicultural titles provide windows and mirrors into the
world, into other people, and into history
◦ The World Through Picture Books (2013) – www.ifla.org – free catalogue – librarians’ favorite
books from their country

12. Early Chapter Book Series
◦ https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-book-series-for-early-readers

13. Schneider Family Book Award

14. Author Highlight for Young Child Read-
Aloud
◦ Dr. Steven Layne

15. Author Highlight for Middle
Elementary/High School Read Aloud
Candace Fleming

16. Author Highlight for Middle School/High
School Read-aloud
◦ Joan Bauer

17. Thinking and learning…..
◦ Home Word Walls - Especially ages 4 – 10
◦ 5 key questions:
-If you could give the book another title,
what would it be and why?
-Which characters would you like to meet in
real life and why?
-What do you wish was different in the ending
-What would you like to ask the author?
-What do you think the author wants readers
to remember most from this book?
◦ 3 Cs: Correlate, Conflict, Continue to study

18. Animal novels for upper elementary/middle school
readers and family discussion
(commonsensemedia.org)

19. Series Read Aloud

20. Sources
◦ Mwfbooks.com
◦ Readaloudamerica.org (grade level and specialty lists – military families)
◦ Goodreads.com – listopia – best read-aloud chapter books
◦ Commonsensemedia.org
◦ Clifonline.org (Children’s Literacy Foundation – see their booklist)

21. Homeschooling coop workshops
available:
◦ All literacy practices (vocabulary, spelling, reading, writing)
◦ Reading assessment
◦ Teaching math methods
◦ Building your curriculum
◦ Contact Mary Martin for a full list of workshops: mmartin87@gmail.com or
mary.martin2@moody.edu