RAR #97: The Lowdown on Reading Aloud with Teens
Last week we talked about reading aloud to kids who can read on their own, but today we’re taking that a step further and talking about reading aloud with teens.
You know the most important thing about reading aloud with teens, right? Surprise! It’s not their literary value or whether your teen knows how to analyze a story. It’s better than that.
(Much better).
Reading with teens can be pure magic. It’s such a simple way to slow down and enjoy one another’s company. And it’s really important to enjoy our teens’ company!
Read more about this and the importance of treating your teen’s reading life more like a book club (and less like a school assignment) in The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids Through Books.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- what’s so magical about reading aloud with teens?
- why you can think of what you read with teens as adding concentric circles (in other words, we’re not moving up, we’re moving out)
- a few book recommendations to read with your teens, even if you haven’t been reading aloud to him or her lately
Click the play button below:
Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
- 2:34 Reading aloud with teens = magic
- 4:39 What to know about reading with teens
- 6:20 Assignments vs. book clubs
- 8:28 Why continue to read picture books?
- 9:29 Book recommendations for teens
- 12:53 Read-alouds vs. read-alones
- 13:48 3 book ideas
- 18:53 Let the kids speak
Links from this episode:
- Order The Read-Aloud Family now anywhere books are sold
- Get the audio version of The Read-Aloud Family (read by Sarah Mackenzie) right here
- Use the hashtag #readaloudfamily to share photos on social media
- RAR #93: How to Create a Book Club Culture at Home
- RAR #94: The Lowdown on Reading Aloud to 0-3 Year Olds
- RAR #95: The Lowdown on Reading Aloud to 4-7 Year Olds
- RAR #96: The Lowdown on Reading Aloud to 8-12 Year Olds
Quotes to remember:
“Reading is still primarily about connection when we’re reading with our teens. The number one benefit from reading aloud is connection. Never forget that.”
“Conversations with our teens actually matter more than the reading. If you can only read aloud half as many books with your teenager in order to make room to talk- that’s a good trade. The conversations matter a whole lot.”
“We tend to do things for our kids that will help them become better humans, help them become better, functioning adults… but our kids don’t want to be our projects. If they feel like we’re reading to them or sharing books with them because we’re trying to improve them, they will resist. If, however, they feel that reading is something we do for pleasure and because it’s a part of our family culture, that’s different.”
(Download the transcript for more quotes and pull-outs.)
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
Get the rest of Sarah’s recommendations for reading aloud with teens here:
I have a 15 and a 13 year old and we have been homeschooling for the past 4 years and with the exception of last year do to me having to work I have been reading aloud to them some of my favorite books. I have loved sharing them with my kids especially my oldest who hates reading and due to her dyslexic struggles with reading it so doesn’t do it unless its for school.
Yesterday I was talking to them about how I wanted to start reading to them again when school starts back as and I was going to read Where the Read Fern Grows and others. My 15 year old broke my heart when she said she hastes being read to and honestly doesn’t even listen to what I am reading to her and my 13 year old is sitting there agreeing with her.
If they tell you they aren’t even listening to you and they just tune you out is there even any point and reading to them? Are they getting anything out of it at all?
Might you try an audio book to use as a family read aloud instead of you reading each one? What if they read aloud and took turns between them? Maybe they want another “voice” to listen to besides Mom some of the time. If you give a list of books you are going to read aloud for the year and let them choose a couple from a selected list, that may pique their interest and get them involved beyond being a passive listener. If they are in public or private schools, college, they dont get to pick the books assigned unless its extra reading.
Ok.. kinda crazy, but I just finished The Hiding Place with my 16yo son.(It was my second read of it. SO good, and loved sharing it with him this time! ) And just started Fever 1793 with my almost 12yo son! (I have also read that one before). We have read a lot of the same things to our kids. You must be my book sister! Haha..
Sounds like you’re on the right track! ;)
I loved this episode! I have an 11 year old and a 13 year old, so we are just starting out the teen years. Thanks for all your great advice in this episode!
Hi Sarah, as a new mom, I’ve been loving your podcast! I recently stopped working in libraries after 16 years to become a stay-at-home foster mom, and you are helping to fill the bookish hole I feel not being in the library nearly every day!
Thanks for the recommendation of “Echo” on audio. What a great book and listening experience! I have to second your suggestion of “The Hiding Place” for teens. When I was 15, this book actually pulled me from despair with its message that there is no pit so deep that God’s love can’t reach it.
One book for teens I enjoyed on audio recently was “Almost Home” by Joan Bauer. Sugar, the main character is a very plucky sixth grader who ends up homeless and in foster care. I love the authour’s quirky characters, the empathy and hope she weaves into the story, and the thank you notes and poems that add so much to Sugar’s emerging voice. I love finding good teen books to enjoy and share with the teens I tutor, so I’m looking forward to diving into the booklist for teens in your book!
Thanks again for helping me stay connected to the bookworld and giving me more ideas and possibilities for my new little guy!
Thanks so much for sharing your recommendation, Annie!