Reading outloud

[CloverkissSparklecheeks]

If I child is 7 (Y3) but an age 11+ reader, how important is it for them to read outloud still either at home or at school or is reading to themselves sufficient now?

no idea why I have spelt outloud as one word

I think reading aloud is till important (though I only did it once or twice a week when mine got to this stage). You can't read to yourself with expression and it's easy to skip over words you don't know, if you're reading in your head. My DD makes up her own pronounciation of words she doesn't know - I wouldn't have been able to pick this up if I didn't hear her read aloud regularly.

(Plus it's just a nice thing to do with your child!)

They still need to read aloud as it helps with pronunciation of odd words.... and of obscure names and places.... otherwise you could get a wrong idea of how things are said inside your head - which can be embarrassing !! Something as easy as Domino - always donimo in my head.... It also helps them with timing, storytelling skills and phrasing etc...

I used to be a parent helper and some of the kids who could read well, read absolutely beautifully - drawing you into the story with their pauses, teasing, surprising you with loud "crash" noises etc where needed -- others, some of whom were considered "top" readers could not "tell" a story for toffee - monotone, no pauses, no life to it etc....

oops - cross posted....

I do still read with DS, I make him read a certain amount out loud to me but just wondered if there was a particular age people stopped. I like hearing him read as he reads well and uses expression well so its nice to hear (and like you say I can make sure he is doing this).

I also think they are the readers who read out loud the least at school so probably important I do it at home.

Thank you.

x post was good as it means you must be right as you both said it

We haven't stopped yet and mine are 11 and 12 - I love the way they read, the sound of their voices, just the general feeling of having a special time together once or twice a week where they read to me - either the book they are reading currently - or something they have written themselves... I can see it will stop soon, but want to hold onto it as long as we can...

As an aside.. .. the books they read are getting more grown up now.... so it can help them generally by giving them time to ask about things, and we can talk about some of the "big" issues - sex, bullying, death etc.... at our special reading times.... so I'm very glad we kept it up.

That makes complete sense! Obviously we have to keep an eye on what he is reading due to content so no big issues yet as such cropping up but thinking about it there have been a couple of times where we have done this on a smaller scale.

DS1 (yr7) still reads out loud to me - we aim for once a week, and I have to sign his school diary to say we have done it. He has had a very high reading age for a long time, but I noticed a very big difference in his 'out loud' reading when I assumed it wasn't necessary to listen to him for a year or two around yr2/3 age.
He still refuses to read any swear words in his books out loud though when I am listening

DD's new Year 6 teacher is very keen on them reading out loud. I was sceptical at the start, but I've been amazed how useful it has been. First of all because reading clearly out loud is a completely different skill from reading alone, and secondly because it gives us a chance to talk to DD about how to pronounce tricky words and what they mean.

When DD got to the stage of finding reading in her head more satisfying, we read poetry out loud rather than stories, thanks to a recommendation on here. Loads of interesting words to get her head around and a lot of fun to do. Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats was a big favourite. I think it actually helped develop her sense of expression and timing.

Thanks, all good tips, I think I will carry on once or twice a week for as long as possible then.

DS has always preferred reading in his head (I was the same) but I know he is a skim reader like me also so reading out loud will probably benefit him really.

Hi Cloverkiss:

DDs are 8 & 11 and I just wanted to add (in addition to great advice above) that if you include yourself in the reading aloud thing it really helps.

So DH or I are reading our childhood favourites (currently The Hobbit - because our house rule is no movie/ DVD without reading the book first) and we read series like Lemony Snicket together, with all of us taking turns.

We also tend to finish chapters on nights when they're tuckered out or a bit under the weather.

Usually on a Friday or Saturday night we do the bulk of the reading and the love the night off.

Don't underestimate the importance of practicing speaking out loud (great skill for giving presentations in future) and listening to the spoken rule (great skill for rhythms of English language and also understanding spoken conversation/ instruction).

HTH

not sure what happened there - & posted too soon

should be

they love the night off...

and listening to the spoken WORD

Clearly need another coffee this p.m.

I just caught the end of a Radio 4 program last year about how important reading aloud is compared to reading to yourself. There was something about it activating a different part of your brain.....really helps with all sorts of language skills. Having said that my 10yo doesn't like reading aloud so we rarely do it . My other DS will do it if I scratch his back at the same time .

Thanks, I like the idea of reading to him as well so we can tackle some more in depth books without it being too hard work for him. I am hoping he wants to read The Hunger Games soon and maybe a few more of the Harry Potter books, my friends 9 YO loved them (except the kissing )

We also don't allow him to watch the films before the books so he has only seen the 1st Harry Potter film so far.