Read Alouds are Motivating

Reading is such a pleasureable experience, and homeschoolers want to capitalize on the benefits of reading. But what if your child is not interested in reading or struggling to read? How do you motivate children to read?

One of the best ways to build interest in reading is to read aloud to your children. I know that you’ve heard it a million times, but there really is something special about the time that you spend reading to your child. It would be great if we could expect our kids to read the best books on their own, but sometimes they need to hear the book read in order to see the beauty of the language, the excitement in the plot, and to get connected to the characters.

• Reading aloud is a time for you and your child to engage in meaningful discussions, to snuggle, and to even learn something new together. Having that time with you means a lot to kids.
• In our home school have been trying out different genres than we usually read to change our read alouds a little. My children might not choose to read a nonfiction book about kangaroos on their own, but reading it to them helps them see a new genre in a different light. Maybe they will choose a nonfiction book to read in the future.
• The book you read aloud can be a more challenging book than your child can read independently. Knowing the story line of a more challenging book can be exciting and help your child talk to other kids about great books.
• Listening to a book gives your child a break from doing all of the work. It allows your child to focus on the meaning of the text instead of also thinking about how to decode the words.
• Your child learns about reading behaviors that s/he can use in the future. You use inflection, ask questions, use pictures, and make connections to your life when you read. You show your child how to do that when you read aloud. Seeing those skills in action help your child read independently, which builds confidence. Being confident in reading means you are more willing to read.

Why not read that great book to your child? There are some other great tips for reading aloud to your child at Mustard Seeds. Maybe you and your child can try something new! It might motivate you and your child. Happy reading!

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