For Reading Out Loud by Lu Ann Staheli

Today, I'm delighted to announce guest blogger, Lu Ann Staheli.

Lu Ann is an award-winning educator—2008 Best of State Educator K-12, Utah English Language Arts Teacher of the Year, Nebo Reading Teacher of the Year, and Christa McAullife Fellow—and mother of five sons, ages eight to eighteen.

Welcome, Lu Ann! And thank you for such an enlightening post on one of my favorite subjects.

For Reading Out Loud

Children of all ages love to listen to a good book if you choose a high interest book, practice your reading voice, and give listeners big enough chunks each session to hook them into the story. A perfect way to expose even non-readers to great literature, reading aloud provides example to young readers, bonding time with teenagers, and a shared experience for the entire family. Life-long readers develop because of enjoyable experiences with the written word. Don't overlook this wonderful experience just because your children can now read on their own.

I love to read aloud. (I suppose I'd better, since I teach English and find myself doing it often.) I love to observe the moment when my students are hooked. I've experienced the same feelings at home when my children were young, and even now that they are teens. I know when to keep reading and when to stop for the day. I've even had my husband beg for more. Sometimes I give it to them, and other times I make them wait. The anticipation brings them rushing to our next family reading time, eager to begin.

If you want to start reading with your family, set aside enough time to read a poem or picture book in its entirety, or at least one full chapter of a novel. Choose a book that has both excitement and memorable characters. Don't be afraid to use a book the children have already read or heard, especially you're not familiar with it, but the kids are. Use a technique teachers call "Think Aloud" and talk about what is going through your mind as you read. Because the kids already know the book, they become the expert while you infer, question, make predictions and connections, determine importance, and clarify information. This gives more opportunity for you all to stop and talk about the story.

If you don't enjoy reading aloud, use a well-produced audio book. This gives the family the option of listening in the car, while completing chores, or just before going to bed. My boys will turn on a book as they clean their rooms, making the task more enjoyable and getting some reading done at the same time. Sometimes I listen while folding laundry or washing dishes, and the kids will hang out, wanting to listen too.

In addition to reading for fun, shared books can also provide a safe ground for an open dialogue on tough topics. They allow conversations about right and wrong, consequences of personal choice, and emotional growth experienced by characters rather than members of the family. Delving into character motivation and choice can especially encourage teenagers to look at themselves and life situations, making decisions that will help them prepare for pitfalls before they occur.

Over the years I've discovered some great stories to read aloud with teens. The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, The Scarlet Ibis, by James Hurst, and The Tell-Tale Heart, by Edgar Allen Poe not only keep teenagers' attention, but they keep them talking. I've had former students come to me years later and mention how hearing those stories for the first time really affected them. I discuss these stories with my boys at home, too.

Shared reading of a novel like Speak can allow parents and teenagers to discuss the issues of rape, peer pressure, and popularity. A family discussion of When My Name Was Keiko might center on racial prejudice or immigration issues in any country. Sharing the humor of How Angel Peterson Got His Name will provide an opportunity for shared stories of crazy things done in the process of growing up. A book for younger readers like Because of Winn-Dixie can teach about the importance of friendship, emotional survival, and community spirit. The Bears of Blue River gave my boys a look at pioneer Indiana, Stuart Little showed them how the story changes when a book is made into a movie, and sometimes I've had to read what they wanted to like when we read several Star Wars and Scooby-Doo junior novels.

If you've stopped reading aloud to your family, I hope you'll consider beginning again—adding a poem, short story, or even a novel—to your family activities. Both you and your family will learn to cherish these moments, and read a bunch of great books all at the same time.

Great Books for Reading Aloud
Family:
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen
When My Name Was Keiko by Linda Sue Park
The Doom Stone by Paul Zindel
The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters by James Dashner
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull
The Bears of Blue River by Charles Major
Stuart Little by E. B. White
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone series by J. K. Rowling
Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

Teens:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Deathwatch by Rob White
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
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Lu Ann Brobst Staheli, M.Ed.
Winner 2008 "Best of State: Education K-12"
Author, Editor, Screenwriter, Educator, Writing Coach
Firecracker - Optioned Holiday Entertainment
Seasons of Salvation: The Movie - In Development
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