Reading aloud is a terrific activity, even with older students, as it can help break the ice between you and the class. Plus, it’s a great way to let the students see you in a new, exciting light, especially if you decide to wear costumes or do different voices, say the tutors of AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center.
Reading aloud offers opportunities for interaction between teacher and students. For instance, the book Chrysanthemum, written by Kevin Henkes, tells of a mouse with an unusual name and how her uniqueness ultimately blossoms in school, teaching students to be proud of their individuality. An interesting follow-up activity for this is to have your students write anecdotes or acrostic poetry with their names.
Another attention-grabbing book is Judith Viorst’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This story is more effective if it’s told after a vacation break. Instead of having your students write about what they did over the holidays, let them write about their version of a dreadful day. While not everyone has had a memorable break, everybody has certainly had a bad day.
Finally, the book Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss is a fantastic way to end the year. The artwork is truly imaginative, and the message will encourage your students to do amazing things when they venture out into the world.
When you read aloud, you will certainly leave a bigger impact on your students!