RAR #04: Tips and Tricks for Reading Aloud, a Conversation with Jim Weiss
You very likely know and love him already, so listen in while I chat with Jim Weiss about tips and tricks for reading aloud.
This was such an awesome conversation that I split it into two episodes!
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- gives the scoop on creating great character voices to engage your kids
- shares how to keep your voice strong when you read aloud a LOT!
- even tells us what to do when we’re feeling drowsy (not that parents ever get drowsy while reading aloud, right?)
Links from this Episode:
- Jim Weiss
- Stories for drifting off at night: Good Night and Sweet Dreams
- Jim’s video interviews with Rebecca Keliher from HEDUA
My conversation with Pam-
- Traveling Through the Pages Summer Reading Program
- Better World Books (good deals on used books)
- Book Sale Finder (find a library book sale near you!)
- Pam’s Summer Reading Pinterest boards (lots of ideas for creative book displays)
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
Bookmarking this immediately
I do love the idea of thrifting for books, but if the study only found a difference between kids who have easy access to books at home versus those who don’t, then that doesn’t say the books have to be owned. Library books can meet that need. And while it’s true that spending money on books could convey that books are important, enthusiasm for frequent outings to the library, report with kind librarians, and the feeling that a library is a second home can do that (I would say even more so, but I’m living overseas; we couldn’t bring all our books and use the library a few times a week, so I’m biased).
We love Jim’s work! Can’t get enough. ;-) Thanks for this!!
"Na diskusnÃm foru PF UK byla asi pÅ™ed rokem o tom, zda by se mohl stát šéfem NÄ›meckého ústavnÃhou soudu stal bývalý nacista tak jako u nás." A mohl by?Letmý internetový průzkum prozradÃ, že mezi soudci BVerfG jmenovanými roku 1951 byli bývalà Älenové NSDAP , , , i SED . Co se týÄe pÅ™edsedů, tak zrovna ten prvnà spravoval zabavený polský a židovský majetek , tÅ™età zase byl förderndes Mitglied der SS . PÅ™itom jsou to tak rozmanité osudy, že asi nemá význam vyvozovat z nich jednoznaÄný závÄ›r.
OMG!Ik en een vriendin hebben de datum dat deze collectie uitkwam in onze agenda's staan!Hoe gaaf zou het zijn om dit te winnen!xoxoValeryv.a.l.e.r.y@live.nl
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When I see dead forests, I see wildfires. Some coniferous trees need fire to reproduce. I am afraid that when you do not look after forests, they die. The forests will burn until we get a little more proactive.
That’s a well-thought-out answer to a challenging question
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Liker best Paider – svart og hvitt blir aldri feil! Vil bruke de til mine nye hvite jeans, t-skjorte og skinnjakke. Enkelt, klassisk og fint.Str 38pinnen@gmail.com
I just found your podcasts and am working my way through them. I was interested in the Jim Weiss video’s on HEDUA but the first link is broken and when I did a search on HEDUA’s blog I couldn’t come up with them either. I would really like to watch these, as I really enjoyed this interview.
Really sorry about that! It looks like HEDUA may have taken them down- I’m unable to find them, as well. :(
Can you not buy Jim Weiss items off his website? His website is down, with no forwarding web site.
Falling asleep while reading aloud is my nemesis!! Growing up, my siblings and I had a code name for mom falling asleep while reading. It came from a read-aloud time when mom began dozing off reading Adam of the Road: “sear…ching…for…Rog..er…” The phrase stuck. I find myself “Searching for Roger” all too frequently when reading to my tots. Maybe I should go to bed earlier…
THANKS for the podcast!!
I am just starting to listen to this great poscasts one by one. As an FYI, I tried the above link for Greathall Productions but it is not working. Thank your for bringing all this information to all of us!!
Thank you! Jim’s company was acquired by Peace Hill Press, so I needed to update that link. I appreciate you letting me know, Rocio!
I FINALLY know how to pronounce “Bowditch” — lol!
Thanks for a great podcast. I learned so much.
Great podcast, I’m really looking forward to putting some of the tips to use -specifically considering voice lessons and just thinking out voices before we all delve into a new read aloud. Looking forward to listening to more podcasts!
We love Jim Weiss and have so many of his CD’s.
We know some parts word for word. :)
Thank you for this interview.
I am looking into voice lessons to learn how to properly breathe because of his advice!
I love the tips for the different voices and how it doesn’t have to be complicated to change the voices up!
Great advice from Jim on voices during reading aloud.
Every episode is my favorite! I look everyday to see if a new one is added!
These podcasts have been fantastic! I have shared them on facebook with my book loving friends. Can’t wait to listen to more! Keep up the good work!!
This was a great episode – the tips for different voices was so helpful. I tried it this afternoon with a Flat Stanley book and it was so much easier to do different voices, and to keep them consistent. I have always been scared of trying different voices, because I am not very good at accents, but simply changing pitch, speed and volume – even I can do that.
This was a great podcast! I really appreciated Jim’s advice to do your best but not expect perfection. The best I can do (in the read-alouds department) is to read. Thats it. I try to read well, but thats all I’ve got. And thats okay with me and my kids!! I know the important thing is that we read together- not whether Ive got a talent for character voices etc. Those things are great, but I dont have to measure our read aloud time by them. Thanks Sarah and Jim!
This was wonderful! I’ve been struggling through doing the voices while reading The Wizard of Oz to my boys and I was feeling beaten. The voices are the kids favorite part, I don’t want to mess them up! The tips on simply using a higher/lower, faster/slower, softer/louder voice will be implemented immediately :)
There were so many. I did like his tips on how to change characters in a very easy way.
I have been loving the podcast. I went back and listened to all the ones I missed. Encouraging and affirming.
I am really enjoying these podcasts! We do not have any Jim Weiss recordings but I am inspired to look into them. Thank you for your encouragement!
I just love all of your podcasts so far -picking one is difficult. LoL loved Jim Weiss. He is new to me (gasp, I know) but I found several at our local library and I’m on the wait list for them now. I would love any of his audio books I’m sure.
Thanks for your amazing blog and your gift of blessing others through your passion. Thee book is amazing and the podcasts attached were wonderful.
This was good. I love not having to be perfect.
Not only do I love your podcasts…but my children do as well! Such fabulous content and guests!! I’m looking forward to ordering some books from Greathall Productions. We love audio books!!! And good narrating is so important. Makes or breaks a story! Thank you, Sarah!
I’d love to win a recording!
The tip about taking voice lessons. My daughter’s piano teacher also teaches voice, so I am going to ask her for a lesson on breathing.
Can’t wait to listen when I get some quiet time :)
We are enjoying these so much, Sarah! Thank you!
Love Jim Weiss!!! Love RAR!!! Thank you, thank you!!!
Love the interviews. We love having great books around the house for the kids to pick up.
I have loved all of these podcasts and to be honest they don’t come soon enough!
I really enjoyed the tip on making your voice higher or lower for different characters. I also liked his comment on focusing changing your voice on the main characters and not worrying so much about the minor characters.
I love to read aloud to my kids and can read a long time to them. Though I’ve never officially taken voice lessons, I have studied different breathing techniques and I do sing all the time in church. While he was talking about voice lessons I realized (like you did) I must naturally breathe correctly when I read aloud to my kids.
We love books on tape, but his productions are new to me. I am excited to check them out!!! I loved what he said about coming from a family that loved and told stories. And to give ourselves grace and use a recording that we can all listen to as a family.
I am completely smitten with this series (as well as your Teaching from Rest series . . . and everything else!). You have been a source of inspiration just when I needed it most. THanks!!
Helpful tips for main characters…low and high, fast and slow voices! How simple.
Wonderful podcast!
I love Jim Weiss, would love to own more of his recordings!
My favorite tip was about breathing correctly to help maintain your voice. As a speech-language pathologist I should have known that but I have never thought to apply it to myself when reading to my kids! Thanks again for a great podcast!
This is so helpful! Great lessons for reading aloud for years to come to by 3 year old and 5 month old sons!
Really enjoying all the discussions about reading with our kids! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much! This is the very first podcast I’ve ever listened to (yes. I live under a rock. With nine kiddos:).
We have collected Jim’s CDs for a few years now, and my 5 oldest boys listen to them almost every single night. The two he mentions for going to sleep are both excellent and PROVEN in our home.
I’m so excited to listen to more … it’s very easy to let Reading Aloud (though it’s my favorite) fall to the wayside, and it’s encouragement like THIS that reels me back in — showing me what the most meaningful is.
Might I suggest an interview with Elise Hooper at A Path Made Straight? She’s been sharing wonderful children’s book reviews on her blog for years. Good books … we have NEVER — in the 4 years I’ve been reading her blog — been disappointed in one of her choices! Perhaps she could share with us how she goes about CHOOSING a good book (or anything else … she’s truly an all around inspiring momma).
Again, thank you for this.
xo
Kathi Bailey
We love Jim here at our house. We borrow lots of audio books from our library and the kids all know who the different readers are. Great podcast!
I stalk this podcast until there is a new episode and refuse to delete old ones. :) great work!
I absolutely LOVE your podcasts. Thank you so much for sharing your passion with other homeschooling moms. You are really getting me revivied about reading aloud! :)
Love hearing this podcast. Jim Weiss is awesome! My boys love it when my husband or I read books out loud to them… and they love hearing audio books as well.
It was interesting to hear Jim’s advice on taking a few voice lessons so that your voice won’t give out while talking for long periods of time. I have had this happen to me and I’ve had to pop a cough drop or something to be able to keep teaching.
We love Jim Weiss! We have been listening to his CDs for years already. I just purchased a whole new round of them- one for each of my five kids. I’m already picking out the next ones I want to purchase. They are truly part of our family read-aloud culture. He was so interesting in the interview! I loved the part on character voices.
This podcast is such a great encouragement to me. It gives me such excitement about the future of our home school and our family culture. Thank you for your efforts. It is truly appreciated.
Loved this! I love the character voice tips!:). So fun!! Thanks again for these great podcasts!!!
Looking forward to hearing this podcast. Thanks for the chance to win one of his recordings!
Hi Sarah!
These podcasts are amazing!
We love Jim Weiss around here and I was so pleased to hear all his wonderful suggestions!
Thanks so much!!!!
My Favorite tip was to put on an audiobook when tired…as I’m frequently sleep deprived but still want the kids to hear excellent literature!
Definitely loved the tip about the audiobooks for when I’m too sleepy. Because I just recently (within the past year) got into podcasts, and have never read an audiobook myself, or listened, rather, I forget about them all the time. I do know that my kids LOVE the funny voices that the presenters give to the characters. Love this podcast!
sarah M
Thriftbooks.com is great for used books. Sometimes it’s cheaper than Amazon used books. And you get a discount for ordering more than one book from the same vendor.
Excellent podcast!
Oooh. I’ll check them out!
http://www.discoverbooks.com/ is another great source. I was able to find a rare Scottish Poetry book (New Poems by W.D.Cocker) for $8 that was $35 at Amazon.
Also, if you have a specific book you are looking for, you can do a Google Shopping search then you can sort by best deal.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! These are just so awesome! I’m bummed when each one is over.
I have a good friend who is a voice teacher, so I may just ask her to give me a few pro-bono tips on my breath. Great episode. Thanks Sarah and Jim!
I love how he talks about using different voices.
Thanks for this – audio books are a great alternative when we are unable to re-aloud some days.
WE love Jim Weiss here, and I have listened to him for years!
Love the podcasts, thankyou! The best tip for me was about doing voices, maybe I’ll even give it a try.
We LOVE Jim Weiss and his stories. Often my kids fall asleep listening and you can hear them all nigh long ;) I had the great pleasure of hearing Jim speak at a homeschool conference in GA 2 years ago and am sooo excited he is coming back this year to speak!!! My kids met his wife Randy at the conference last year and they still talk about that. Would love to add a CD to our collection. Great job Sarah!
Can’t wait!
I loved the idea of taking voice lessons to benefit my career as a home school mom! :)
Thanks for another inspiring podcast! I really appreciated his tip about thinking about what makes the character special when choosing how to do that character’s voice. I’m looking forward to part two of your conversation with Jim Weiss.
We love audio books!
Galileo and the Stargazers was our first Greathall cd and we’ve been huge fans ever since! Loved the interview!
This was such a great podcast! I usually start a book with ALL the voices and then quickly can’t keep up with it all. Good tips! Thank you :)
I loved the suggestion about turning on an audiobook on days/at times when I’m too sleepy to read aloud. It is such a joy to listen to a well performed audiobook!
Hi Sarah! I was SO excited to see a new episode of RAR on my way to exercise. I’m loving the Jim Weiss episode and I’m glad you broke it up into two so that I have something else to look forward to. Just last night, in total desperation, I put my two wired boys in bed and turned on Weiss’ “Goonight Night” cd for the first time. It literally put two active boys asleep in 2 minutes! My 11 year old LOVES his Funniest Stories Ever Told, so I’m thinking there will be more Jim Weiss cd’s in our future.
I was wondering if you could interview the authors of Deconstructing Penguins; Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone. I’m currently reading that book to try to learn how to dive into deeper discussion and I LOVE their idea of treating all books like mysteries. The one question I keep asking myself while reading their book is: How do you lead your own book club? On page 191 they talk about needing a blueprint. Is the blueprint the same for every book? I’m also wondering if their way of treating a book like a mystery is complimentary to Adam Andrew’s way of breaking the story into it’s 5 elements. I’ll be diving into picture books and short chapter books this summer with my family to get practice discussing books in the hopes that I can lead a fall parent/child book club. Any step-by step guidance on leading one would be appreciated.
Lastly, I was wondering if an 8 x 10 poster pdf could be made of your podcast so that parents can post it up at their local libraries.
Thank you for this wonderful resource!
I also read the Deconstructing Penguins book and would love to hear an interview with the authors. Thanks for mentioning it… I need to look it over this summer and remind myself.
Great idea! I loved that book! And Elizabeth- what a great idea about the poster pdf. I’ll do that, definitely!
You already made the poster?!!!! That’s amazing…and a lesson for me to take action on my own ideas a lot quicker. ;-) It looks great! I’ll be hanging the first one up today at my closest library branch. Thank you for doing this…I REALLY believe in the message of this podcast and want to share it with everyone I know…and don’t know. :-).
Ha! I had some time last night and it was one of those things that would get shuffled off the priority list if I didn’t jump on it. Or maybe I’m just impulsive. Or both. :)
Thanks for the idea- it was such a good one! I sent an email to the Goldstones too- we’ll see if I hear back. :)
I loved Jim Weiss’s tip on taking voice lessons to learn to breathe…and the tips on how to make character voices by doing simple things.
We love Jim Weiss around here….We love to listen to them in the evenings
Thanks for this. Excited to listen.
We love Jim’s work!! Favorite tip: thinking about what is special about each character when making up their voice. I do that! But I pretty much always forget to carry the voice through the entire book…the boys don’t seem to mind :)
These podcasts are so wonderful! I listened to 2 of them while ironing and I was actually sad that I was done ironing because I wanted to listen some more:) We love Jim Weiss stories- I stumbled upon them in a toy store about 10 years ago and have collected many.
Thank you, Sarah. I am looking forward to listening to this when I have some quiet time.