Today, we’re exploring a topic that’s close to our hearts: the power of read-alouds in the classroom.
Topics Discussed
- Research about the value of read alouds
- Balancing read alouds with independent reading
- How to use them in the classroom
- A list of our favorite books for middle school read alouds
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Transcript
Ellie 0:05
Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of the teaching toolbox. I'm Ellie, and as always, I'm joined by the most amazing Brittany.
Brittany 0:28
Hello.
Ellie 0:29
Today, we're exploring a topic that is close to our hearts, the power of read alouds in the classroom. In our last episode, Brittany said this was a soapbox topic for her. So we're jumping into this topic just a little deeper than we did in our last episode about teaching ELA.
Brittany 0:46
Ah read alouds. They were one of my favorite parts of the day.
Ellie 0:50
Absolutely me too. Like sometimes the kids would come in and we would just start right away, and then it was supposed to be 10 minutes, but 20 or 30 minutes later, we were still reading, but they enjoyed it so much, there's just something kind of magical about gathering students and sharing a story together.
Brittany 1:08
It's like a mini adventure every time.
Ellie 1:11
Absolutely. But beyond magic, there's solid evidence supporting the value of read alouds.
Brittany 1:18
Oh for sure,
Ellie 1:20
Research from Research Gate indicates that reading aloud is a fundamental activity for building knowledge and encouraging academic success across all grade levels and content areas.
Brittany 1:32
And it's not just about the academics.
Ellie 1:35
Right. Reading Aloud fosters a sense of community in the classroom.
Brittany 1:39
Sharing Stories brings us closer together.
Ellie 1:42
Absolutely, but it is essential to recognize that while read alouds offer numerous benefits, they should compliment, not replace independent reading.
Brittany 1:52
Yes, definitely balance is key.
Ellie 1:55
So let's talk about how read alouds are used in the classroom.
Brittany 1:58
Many think it's just about sharing a good book.
Ellie 2:02
And while that's part of it, there's so much more.
Brittany 2:05
Like building vocabulary, understanding complex sentence structures,
Ellie 2:10
and exploring character development and themes.
Brittany 2:14
To achieve this, it's effective to choose books that are a few grade levels above the students reading level.
Ellie 2:22
Yes, students can comprehend spoken language at a higher level than they can read themselves.
Brittany 2:28
So presenting them with more advanced material challenges and engages them.
Ellie 2:34
Right. It's about stretching their minds and exposing them to some richer language.
Brittany 2:39
And let's not forget the joy of discovering new stories together.
Ellie 2:43
Absolutely, Now for our listeners teaching grades five through eight, we've curated a list of read aloud books that are a few levels above each grade level.
Brittany 2:52
Starting with fifth grade. Here are some eighth grade level books, The Hobbit, Anne of Green Gables, The Giver.
Ellie 3:01
That was one of my favorites.
Brittany 3:03
Ender's Game, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Lightning Thief, The Hunger Games, the Maze Runner and Divergent.
Ellie 3:12
I love so many of those. For sixth grade, you could consider some ninth grade level books like To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, Fahrenheit 451, The Book Thief, Treasure Island, Catcher in the Rye, The Old Man in the Sea, The Faults in Our Stars, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Brittany 3:33
My class, when I read the old man in the sea to them, would give a standing ovation at the end of it.
Ellie 3:39
Oh, wow.
Brittany 3:40
It was so, like, wonderful. They just loved that book.
Ellie 3:43
That's awesome
Brittany 3:44
evel books are great options.:Ellie 4:06
And for our eighth grade educators aiming to challenge their students, here are 10 books at an 11th grade reading level. The Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, The Grapes of Wrath, The Color Purple, Slaughterhouse Five, The Bell Jar, The Road, Beloved, The Sun Also Rises, and Pride and Prejudice.
Brittany 4:30
All of these selections offer rich narratives and complex themes to engage your students.
Ellie 4:37
Absolutely incorporating these into your read aloud sessions can stimulate deep discussions and critical thinking, and it exposes students to advanced literature to enhance their comprehension and analytical skills.
Brittany 4:50
And remember, the goal is to just expose them. If you think the vocabulary is too risky or this scene is too adult themed or that scene is too violent, then skip them. You're the teacher. The idea behind read alouds is that they'll hear the book and be exposed to the material in one grade and then read it themselves two to four grades later, when they are better equipped to handle the material that you skipped.
Ellie 5:20
Yes, thank you for adding that. I think that's really important. So fellow teachers, let's make a commitment this week.
Brittany 5:27
Choose a compelling read aloud book and share the experience with your class.
Ellie 5:33
And if you found today's discussion helpful, share this episode with a teacher friend.
Brittany 5:38
Together, we can inspire a love for reading in our students, thanks for tuning in to the teaching toolbox. Until next time, happy teaching and happy reading.