Raising an Active Reader: The Case for Reading Aloud to Engage Elementary School Youngsters

Cleaver (Read with Me) asserts that many parents stop reading aloud to their kids when the children start reading on their own. However, the elementary years prove one of the most beneficial times for reading aloud since vocabulary and comprehension skills are developed through Active Reading and reading aloud. The ABCs of active reading (ask questions, build vocabulary, and make connections) are here applied to these crucial years in skill development. To engage learners there are lists of questions for before, during, and after reading. In addition, the author shares how to practice active reading skills in various genres: nonfiction, fiction, first chapter books, and picture books. A special section explores how to help struggling readers by using such techniques as modeling how to visualize, using wordless picture books, keeping realistic goals, and celebrating strengths. The appendixes contain book lists organized by category and answers to frequently asked questions.