Chapter Book Read Alouds...Tips and Our Favorites

It's amazing how much stronger Stinker's vocabulary has gotten since I've started implementing read-alouds as part of our homeschool curriculum. Research consistently proves that reading to children is one of the most effective ways to strengthen the neural pathways in their brains, allowing them to learn quicker and retain more. Since January, I have read 10 chapter books out loud to Stinker.

Here are a few ways to find a good chapter read aloud for your student or students:

1. Start With the Classics...Adapt if Necessary
They're classics for a reason. Books from Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, and Alexandre Dumas have all stood the test of time. If your child is a little young for some of the subject matter, use an adaptation specifically for young readers. The writing of the older books is stronger than newer books, and the vocabulary is much larger. The stories are also a lot of fun.

2. Make Reading a Priority
Read a chapter while the kids are eating breakfast, read while your child is in the bath. Set aside time every day to read. Help instill a love for reading now, so your child will be a lifelong learner.

3. If a Book Isn't For You, Don't Be Afraid to Stop It 
If you've started a book that's boring or that your child isn't interested in, don't be OCD like me and refuse to start a new book until you've finished the boring one, trudging along just to get through it. In the younger grades, it's most important to associate enjoyment with reading, not duty.

Here are the books I read out loud to Stinker last year:

• The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
• Imagination Station #1-4
• Boxcar Children #1-3
• The Wizard of Oz
• Little House in the Big Woods (Little House on the Prairie series #1)

Here is our list of books to read this year (First Grade)

• Little House on the Prairie (plus additional in the series)
• My Side of the Mountain
• Swiss Family Robinson
• Black Beauty
• Oliver Twist
• Chronicles of Narnia (continuing the series)

What are some of your favorite read alouds?

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