I just finished Chapter 2, and I have already come away with a tremendous amount of knowledge that I will forever take with me as an educator, and eventually as a parent.
Jim Trelease includes the following research, "In 1985 the national Commission on Reading (out of the U.S. Department of Education) declared: "Reading aloud to children is the most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading."
There is research and anecdotes to impress the importance of read-alouds, and there is a huge read-aloud treasury to use as a guide to finding books to read-aloud to the children in your life.
I keep finding myself sharing the research and anecdotes I have just read with my husband. I already believe that everyone who teaches and definitely EVERY parent should read this book.
In Chapter 2, there is a section "What About Reading to Children with Special Needs." In the words of the two personal narratives, my heart was captured by how reading aloud to children with special needs can impact their development so dramatically.
I had done read alouds with my third and fourth graders while I was student teaching. I had the opportunity to read two of Kate Dicamillo's novels The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and The Tale of Despereaux. Now as I am about to start my first full year of teaching Preschool Special Education, I have a renewed commitment to making read alouds a priority in my classroom.
I wanted to share with you this visual created by Vanessa Pre-K Pages of 10 Wordless Picture Books.
Happy Reading!
