Linking up with Pre-K Pages
Chapter 3: The Stages of Read Aloud

Once again, I love Trelease's matter of fact-Nurture your child's instinctual drive for learning; not through building a super baby but just bonding through the sharing of  great stories. While his advice on building your child's stamina seems so simple and like we should all know this, what a fabulous reminder!

As I read through the first part this chapter I had an overwhelming urge to reach out to new, young parent's and share this knowledge.  Talk about the normal behavior of an infant and toddler during read aloud. Talk about what read alouds should look like and sound like. Let them know that it's okay to read just about anything with an infant because they won't understand the content. This time is essentially meant to create that bond, to hear their parents voice, and let them know that reading is a pleasant experience.

During toddler-hood is a good time to read books with rhythm and rhyme. This will hold their attention longer because the sounds are pleasing. The next step should include reading books with everyday vocabulary words.  Helping to build your child's everyday vocabulary.

 I  love the idea of creating photograph books. This is how my daughter learned the alphabet. I let her take pictures of things that started with each letter of the alphabet. I also use this strategy with my intervention kiddos that are still reading at a (Reading Recovery) level zero at the beginning of first grade.

Again, I thank Mr. Trelease for the reminder that its okay that kids want to hear stories over, and over again. They do need to ask questions (there is a difference between real thinking questions and nonsense avoidance questions). I believe, he also said  at some point in this chapter it's better to read less if it means that deeper comprehension occurs and vocabulary increases.

The section on pre-teaching vocabulary brought back a pleasant college memory. I had a professor in one of my teaching reading classes that had 10-15 words and phrases on the board when we got to class. We were told that we had five minutes to use those words and phrases to write about a story that she was going to read aloud to us. Several of us got to share our stories before she read the book so it was really fun to see who got close and who was totally off! This is an activity that could easily be adapted to most age groups. Of course at in the primary grades, it would be more of an oral activity than a written one but it could still be a very exciting experience! I want to try this with my upper grade kiddos this year! I had forgotten all about that.

I love that Trelease included topics such as what if a parent is illiterate or semi-illiterate. It doesn't matter. There are early leveled easy readers and books on tape. He also discusses when to transition from picture book to chapter book. And of course his response is there is no set rule. You should read picture books even into high school years and there is nothing wrong with  reading chapter books to preschoolers. He even addresses what makes a good read aloud.

This book is nothing less then spectacular! Anybody and everybody who has children in their life in any way should read it!

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