Read Alouds: A Critical Instructional Strategy

Through intentional selection of texts and the art of ongoing reading, the team dissects the various elements and advantages of Read Aloud. From fostering a love of reading and improving skills to raising test scores and building a sense of community, each point is explored. Drawing from personal experiences, literary favorites, and the rich tapestry of educational theory, this podcast provides a comprehensive guide to harnessing the potential of Read Aloud. Whether you're an educator seeking to enhance your teaching approach or simply intrigued by the art of storytelling, this podcast offers a wealth of insights. Tune in to explore the intersection of learning, engagement, and the joy of reading.Highlights include:00:04:15 Definition of Read Aloud00:07:10 By having the true elements of Read Aloud in place we can develop four things - support students’ development as readers and writers, foster their love of reading, improve reading skills and abilities, and raise standardised test scores.00:10:02 Using the terms ‘striving’ and ‘thriving’ rather than ‘struggling’ and ‘weak’.00:11:16 Some of the struggles teachers have using Read Aloud, as one of their high impact teaching strategies00:12:30 Read Aloud needs to be intentional, and have purpose. It has everyone attention on listening, making sense etc. It’s something students take action on in their own reading and writing.00:14:55 Is Read Aloud under-utilised as a teaching strategy ?00:20:26 Sharon's action research on children’s attitudes to Read Aloud00:21:25 The influence on Sharon as a young student of Read Aloud in the 1960’s and 1970’s.00:22:46 ‘The House at Pool Corner’ as Sharon’s preferred text when she was child00:23:45 ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ ‘Alice in Wonderland’, poetry being read, ‘Charlotte’s Web’, ‘The Secret Garden’, ‘Midnite’, ‘February Dragon’, ‘Storm Boy’, ‘Treasure Island’, All examples of read alouds during Sharon's time as a student.00:24:43 Professional learning as a powerful influence on Phil00:24:50 Reference to Mem Fox podcast on Read Aloud00:25:05  ‘The Wind in the Willows’.00:25:31 Run through of the 13  advantages of Read Alouds. From the book ‘Reading Aloud and Beyond’, Giorgis and Serafini.  - Fostering the Intellectual Life with Older Readers.00:26:05 The chapter we refer mostly to is ‘Thirteen Good (Scientifically Based) Reasons to Read Aloud With Older Readers’.00:26:50  Number 1 of the 13, of the reasons: Reading aloud increases test scores. Specifically it increases students’ background knowledge, it introduces them to various story structures, and it demonstrates what competent reading strategies look like.00:30:00 Connection to Every Child Every Day research.00:31:50