There’s a common mistake that most of us make while reading aloud. The good news is that it’s actually pretty easy to fix!

There’s one very simple thing you can do right away that will make your read-alouds better. Not only will it help your kids understand books better, it will also make you enjoy the reading more.

Don’t believe me? Give a listen and see what you think!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • The quickest, simplest way to improve your read-alouds
  • Why this tip is so powerful – I’m sharing an example so you can hear it for yourself
  • A little bit about why so many of us fall into this mistake trap and how we can dodge it from now on

So take a deep breath and listen in …

Click the play button below:

Listener Guide

Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:

  • 1:48 Building mental pictures
  • 4:04 Vocal expression
  • 6:18 Listen to some examples …
  • 11:07 A little more slowly
  • 14:12 How pauses help you
  • 16:22 Why do we read so fast?
  • 22:46 Let the kids speak
  • Get our list of picture books for December, the FREE booklist and more – go to readaloudrevial.com or text BOOKS to 345345

Quotes to remember:

“When we decide that reading a lot is more important than the richness of the actual read-aloud experience, we forget that the experience itself is the meaningful part, not getting through the book.” -Sarah Mackenzie

“Read slowly enough for the child to build mental pictures of what s/he just heard you read. Slow down enough for the child to see the pictures in the book without feeling hurried.” – Jim Trelease, The Read-Aloud Handbook

You need a little white space, you need some margin. You need it on the page when you’re reading with your eyes, and your kids need it when they listen, as well. We give our kids that orally when we read aloud slower.” – Sarah Mackenzie

“I believe that most people read quickly because they want not to read but to have read.” – Alan Jacobs, The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction

Books from this episode:

(All links are affiliate links.)

The Read-Aloud Handbook: Seventh Edition
The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction
Okay for Now
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

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