Most of these children come from homes where there are few or no books in the home. Parents of these students rarely have the time or ability to read to their children.
Reading aloud builds vocabulary as they begin to learn the words in context as they hear them.
Reading aloud builds an appreciation of literature and the wonderful world of books.
Reading aloud builds listening skills.
Reading aloud to a child creates a special recreational bond that many children will not have experienced before.
Reading aloud is, according to the landmark 1985 report “Becoming a Nation of Readers,” “the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading.”
More information: http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/read-aloud-to-children/
Developing that passion for reading is crucial, according to Jim Trelease, author of the best-seller, “The Read-Aloud Handbook.” “Every time we read to a child, we’re sending a ‘pleasure’ message to the child’s brain,” he writes in the “Handbook.” “You could even call it a commercial, conditioning the child to associate books and print with pleasure.”
