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Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

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Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#11

Post by jvm_ »

fsloth wrote: post #3

Don't parents read to their children anymore? Is this actually a "lost art"? Our son is 12 and he still wants to be read aloud. Is this an aberration?

My wife read and recorded the whole Harry Potter series for our eldest, now the second gets to either hear Mom read live, or listen to a recorded chapter everynight before bed.

I've heard you should always read to your kids regardless of their age. They'll only ever read at their level, so even reading a poem or newspaper article or scientific journal to them when they're older increases their reading level.

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#13

Post by senorjazz »

jvm_ wrote: post #11
fsloth wrote: post #3

Don't parents read to their children anymore? Is this actually a "lost art"? Our son is 12 and he still wants to be read aloud. Is this an aberration?

My wife read and recorded the whole Harry Potter series for our eldest, now the second gets to either hear Mom read live, or listen to a recorded chapter everynight before bed. I've heard you should always read to your kids regardless of their age. They'll only ever read at their level, so even reading a poem or newspaper article or scientific journal to them when they're older increases their reading level.

wouldn't it be better to spend time with them and actually read it to them, rather than sending them to bed with a device to playback a pre-recording?

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#14

Post by senorjazz »

fsloth wrote: post #3

Don't parents read to their children anymore? Is this actually a "lost art"? Our son is 12 and he still wants to be read aloud. Is this an aberration?

I still read to my daughter who just turned 12 before bed for 30 minutes or so.

She can quite easily read the books I read to her, but still wants me to read.

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#15

Post by fokinsean »

eutropia wrote: post #10

My wife and I recently started enjoying this! It's a very calming way to wind down in the evening instead of another installment of $TV_SHOW. I've been narrating Bram Stoker's Dracula, and I must say, the imagery and scenes stick in my mind much better than when I (quite quickly) read silently. It's fun doing the voices, and taking time every now and again to discuss what happened gives us a more engaged sort of rela…

My wife and I recently tried to do the same with Dracula for Halloween! Unfortunately those first few chapters are on the longer side and we got tired of reading aloud :p

I ended up finishing up the book on my own, but the chapters we did read aloud were fun.

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#16

Post by tobr »

Do you find it easier to write code if you can talk to yourself while you do it? I don’t do it very often since there’s usually people around, which would make it pretty awkward. But somehow I find it makes it easier to stay on track - it’s as if a thought spoken out loud is easier to remember even after your mind has shuffled through five other thoughts. Almost like there’s an echo lingering in the room.

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#17

Post by at_a_remove »

When I used to tutor, if we hit any Shakespeare, I had the kids read it aloud. Often, I would rope parents in to read from a different copy (the trunk of my car was rather full of books) for other characters. This worked for most plays but especially well for Shakespeare. Poetry, too.

I sometimes rewarded good behavior with reading from The Hobbit or something similar.

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#18

Post by dmlorenzetti »

A lot of comments here concern reading to and with kids.

For those interested in practical aspects of reading out loud to children, check out Jim Trelease's "Read-Aloud Handbook". It has advice, advocacy, and specific age-appropriate book suggestions.

http://trelease-on-reading.com/rah-contents.html

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#19

Post by undershirt »

illegalsmile wrote: post #9

Often times on river trips before going to sleep I'll read a few pages/chapters of whatever I'm reading aloud to whoever is near me, if they're interested. Sometimes during the day if we stop we'll pass around a relevant book, poetic'ish environmentally themed books..., to read to the group kind of like reading to the class in elementary school. Everyone has a unique style of reading aloud and it's always interesting…

A girl i always chatted with at chipotle finally sat down with me the other day during her break. I told her I was a writer, and was elated when she handed me her phone to let me read a dark poem she had written. I asked if I could read it back to her out loud and she let me. It was nice.

I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't been reading to myself out loud recently, and also at workshops where we have the opportunity to recite after doing writing prompts. I always like hearing people nervously sharing meaningful experiences.

In Houston we have something called Gentle Hour, where people gather in a rather cozy circle, taking turns to read something they wrote. Storytime is alive and well, and not just the “Grown-up Storytime” you find at open-mic bars!

Re: Rediscovering the lost power of reading aloud

#20

Post by floren »

senorjazz wrote: post #13
jvm_ wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife read and recorded the whole Harry Potter series for our eldest, now the second gets to either hear Mom read live, or listen to a recorded chapter everynight before bed. I've heard you should always read to your kids regardless of their age. They'll only ever read at their level, so even reading a poem or newspaper article or scientific journal to them when they're older increases their reading level.

wouldn't it be better to spend time with them and actually read it to them, rather than sending them to bed with a device to playback a pre-recording?

> now the second gets to either hear Mom read live, or listen to a recorded chapter everynight before bed.

I assume mom reads live frequently, but if she can't for whatever reason the kid can still get his/her chapter at bedtime.

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