Read Aloud Do's & Don'ts

Here are some tips from the book 'The Read-Aloud Handbook' by Jim Trelease along with my comments:

The art of listening is an acquired one. It must be taught and cultivated gradually - it doesn't happen overnight!

Very true. It takes time.

Remember that reading aloud comes naturally to very few people. To do it successfully and with ease you must practice.

Yes consistency!

The most common mistake in reading aloud is reading too fast. Read slowly enough for the child to build mental pictures.

I'm guilty of it sometimes trying to finish the story quickly especially when we have read that story lots of times already. You know how kids love to read the same book over and over again. :)

In choosing novels for reading aloud, avoid books that are heavy with dialogue; they are difficult for reading aloud and listening. All those indented paragraphs and quotations make for easy silent reading.

Don't be fooled by awards. Just because a book won an award doesn't guarantee that it will make a good read-aloud.

Don't get too comfortable while reading. A reclining or slouching position is most apt to bring on drowsiness.

hmm....but we like to sit on the couch comfortably when we read aloud. What about you?