• Welcome
  • Tutorials
  • Services
  • Contact
  • Endorsements
  • Meet Gretchen
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Gretchen Louise

mentoring digital wordsmiths

  • Connoisseur of Books
  • Books
  • Fiction
  • Non-Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Booklists
  • Audiobooks

by Gretchen Louise · 9 Comments

Why Read Aloud?

(This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.)

Share15
Pin2
Tweet
Email
17 Shares

I had always assumed that a good reader would naturally make a good writer.

Not necessarily, according to Andrew Pudewa of the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

Andrew Pudewa believes that the fundamental requisite for being an excellent communicator is listening to quality literature being read aloud.

Why Reading Aloud Makes Good Writers

What do we do when we’re reading silently? We speed read. We skip over the words we don’t know. We hardly pay attention to the articles or pronouns.

But when we read aloud — or listen to something being read aloud — we absorb the sentence structure, the syntax, and the verbs. And the more we listen to the language patterns, the more our brain memorizes the form, creating mental templates of excellent writing. We’re building what Andrew Pudewa calls a “rich database of reliably correct and sophisticated language patterns.”

Why We Should Read Aloud to Children of All Ages

Andrew Pudewa encourages parents to read aloud to their children as much as possible (at least two hours per day), at a level slightly above the oldest student’s reading ability (“decoding skills”, he calls it). “Understanding is highly overrated,” says Pudewa; “you’re building syntax.”

It is amazing what they pick up. We were given the Radio Theatre editions of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Little Women when our oldest was four. We listened in amazement as our daughter’s vocabulary grew exponentially each time she heard the familiar stories again. As our children grow, so does their love for good literature, as well as their verbal dictionary!

But reading aloud is not just for parents of young children. “We usually stop reading aloud when they most desperately need us to continue,” says Andrew Pudewa. Too often, we stop reading aloud to our children once they can read on their own, which is just when they can learn and absorb more than ever.

 

Why read aloud?

The Read-Aloud Revival

My husband grew up in a home that ran on solar power. A central feature in his childhood memories is playing on the living room floor, by the light of a gas lamp, while his dad read aloud to the whole family. From Ralph Moody’s Little Britches series to every one of Gene Stratton Porter’s vintage works, my husband grew up with a sincere appreciation for the classics. And it’s a family tradition we’re working hard to preserve and pass on to this next generation.

Homeschool mom Sarah Mackenzie also believes in the power of reading aloud. In 2014, she started a podcast called Read-Aloud Revival, where she shares her passion for helping parents shape their family culture around a shared love for reading. Through her podcast conversations and webinars with educators and experts like Andrew Pudewa and Adam Andrews, Sarah is equipping families around the world with the knowledge of why it is so important to read aloud. The Read-Aloud Revival podcast provides parents with the inspiration and the tools for instilling our children with a love of literature. Sarah even provides challenges to help you create a read-aloud habit in just five minutes a day.

How Audiobooks Can Supplement Reading Aloud

Not every family has a schedule conducive to reading aloud for hours on end each day. And not all parents love to read aloud (in fact, some downright hate it). But don’t give up hope on nurturing a new generation of bookworms just because you don’t have the hours in your day. Both Andrew Pudewa and Sarah Mackenzie endorse quality audiobooks as an ideal way to expand your children’s literary horizons beyond read aloud time. From Audible to Radio Theatre, and with resources like Loyal Books and OverDrive, today’s options for audiobooks are affordable (if not free!) and nearly unlimited.

Nothing can replace storytime with dad or mom. But the way the whole family enjoys an audiobook together on a road trip can come close. Whether reading aloud or listening to audiobooks, it’s all about creating a family culture centered around a love of good literature while fostering imagination and inspiring a “storyformed” life for the next generation.why you should read aloud to children of all ages

What are you reading aloud today in honor of World Read Aloud Day?


Read-Aloud Resources

  • Institute for Excellence in Writing: Download a free MP3 of Andrew Pudewa’s lecture “Nurturing Competent Communicators“, read “One Myth and Two Truths” about the importance of reading aloud, or check out the other free downloads including a recommended book list.
  • Center for Lit: Download free lectures from Adam Andrews, including “Building the Perfect Reading List“.
  • Read-Aloud Revival: Listen to Sarah Mackenzie’s podcast (don’t miss the episode with Andrew Pudewa, on Reading Aloud to Older Kids), check out her favorite book lists, and join the Read-Aloud Jumpstart Challenge.
  • Storyformed: Sarah Clarkson, author of the new book Caught Up in a Story, is creating an extensive site of book lists, reviews, and of course, great conversation about books.
  • Story Warren: Dedicated to fostering imagination in children, they provide (among many other resources!) short stories for children each Friday.
  • Audiobook Resources: Find my favorite sources for free audiobooks–and directions on how to download and listen to them.

You may also enjoy...

  • Love & Little Britches
  • My Cookbook ShelfMy Cookbook Shelf
  • Come ye thankful people come…Come ye thankful people come…
  • Summer Reading?
  • Doing the Next Thing in the Midst of Organized Chaos
Share15
Pin2
Tweet
Email
17 Shares

Posted in Books Tagged With: originally published on YLCF, This Post Contains Affiliate Links · March 4, 2015

« How to Find and Listen to Audiobooks
The Green Ember »

I love words. Share yours here in the comments? Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Words from More Digital Wordsmiths

  1. Kay says

    March 20, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    This is something I will have to try. When I have read aloud, my throat starts to hurt, but only because I am using an unnatural voice. This is something I definitely have to practice on, and it will probably help refine my own voice. Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Brianna Siegrist says

    February 1, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Wow! What an encouragement! My children readily read for themselves now, and I’ve moved to only reading their schoolbooks to them. (I <3 Mystery of History.) But after reading this, I think I need to read to them other things more!!

    Reply
  3. Joan Thompson says

    April 3, 2012 at 11:21 am

    Amen! We’ve spent hours of cozy afternoons reading aloud together over the years. Mr. Pudewa is so right. The well written literature goes through our ears and into our minds and hearts, expanding vocabulary, making good grammar second nature, and growing imaginations. Not only that, but the togetherness and the memories of shared books we love is priceless. I am so thankful that we learned the value of reading aloud to our children many years ago!

    Reply
  4. Jess says

    March 9, 2012 at 3:37 pm

    Growing up one of my favorite times was when my mom would have us climb on the couch (or bed) with her and she would read, for hours. Loved! I love reading to my little ones, but they’re not quite to the point of being able to sit still for too long.

    Reply
  5. Elisabeth says

    March 8, 2012 at 4:36 am

    My parents read aloud to me from when I was tiny and somehow I hope to read aloud to my own children. A story is always special, but it’s so much MORE special when it’s shared by reading it aloud. I know that listening to my parents read aloud – as well as listening to audio books by the hour while drawing or colouring or something – enlarged my vocabulary and inspired my imagination.

    Reply
  6. Jessiqua Wittman says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:16 am

    Oh wow! My mom read aloud to us most of every school day when we were kids! Now a lot’s starting to make sense! 🙂
    Gorgeous article. Thanks for the reminder! Much Love!

    Reply
  7. LindseyMarie says

    March 7, 2012 at 4:24 am

    I’ll be reading a few of the Bower’s books (bowerbooks.com) to the sisters, as well as my Bible. And oh, probably other things too. We’re a group of readers in this house, heardly an hour goes by with out a “Can you read this to me?”

    Reply

Words About These Words

  1. The Ultimate List of Epic Audio Adventures for the Whole Family - Club 31 Women says:
    July 17, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    […] while dramatized audio recordings can never replace that priceless read-aloud time, audiobooks can expand those precious hours into a family culture that prizes […]

    Reply
  2. Als de dag slechtgezind begint - says:
    November 3, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    […] heen zoals gewoonlijk.  Ik las ieder woord al wist ik dat het boven hun niveau was. Ik dacht aan Gretchen’s post over het belang van lezen, en taal, en ging mee in het verhaal en het ritme van de woorden en ik […]

    Reply

Hello, I’m Gretchen.

Gretchen Louise My love affair with the written word began at age 3 1/2. My husband and I went bookshopping on our honeymoon. And now, we work together to instill a love of reading and a passion for good books in our four children. Read more...

Latest Reads

air mail, love stamps, and the delayed gratification of the postal service

10 features that will help you get the most out of your Goodreads account

What Sets George MacDonald Apart from Other Fiction Writers

How to Make Pirates, Renegades, Dwarfs, and Dormice Come Alive for Your Children

Favorite Reads

RSS Favorite Books at Kindred Grace

  • 6 Collections of Humorous & Authentic Real-Life Love Stories (giveaway!)
  • 5 Romance Novels I Will Want My Children to Read

RSS Book Lists at Club31Women

  • Real Life Love Stories That Offer A Glimpse Of The Gospel
  • Why You’ll Love These Excellent Books for Your Older Teen Girl

Sponsored Links

Looking for something?

Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links.

Sponsored Link

Gretchen is basically my virtual knight on a white horse! I would recommend Gretchen to anyone without caveats. She’s never disappointed me yet.

-Brandy Vencel
Copyright © 2019 Gretchen Louise · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Photography by Jenni Marie Photography · Credits
Disclosure: Powered by Affiliate Partners: StudioPress · Agathon Group · NameCheap · WordPress · ConvertKit · WP Rocket · Social Warfare
Close