Celebrate the Read Aloud – One ERG Favorite

As ERG celebrates 11 years of growing all learners, we would also like to celebrate the joy of the read aloud.  Just as music is said to “soothe the savage beast,” a great read aloud can calm a restless class.  It also has the power to strengthen comprehension skills, build retention, boost vocabulary, and create a love for reading.  Some say there just isn’t enough time in the day to sit down and read aloud, but research shows there is much more to this experience than simple entertainment.  A great book read with tone and intention can:

• Enhance listening skills.
• Build literary language.
• Create opportunities for students to predict, infer, and problem solve.
• Demonstrate the power writers have and show the variety of tools they use.
• Integrate curriculum and be a great discussion starter.
• Build understanding of story elements. (characters, setting, plot)
• Help students make connections between the text and real life to create deeper meaning.

One of our favorite read alouds is Janell Cannon’s “Stellaluna.”  This award winning picture book is a fish out of water story.  It follows the adventures of a lost baby fruit bat in search of her mother.  In her quest, Stellaluna finds herself living with a nest of fledglings with high expectations.  Readers cannot help but relate to her struggle to fit in and cheer as she finds an appreciation for who she is on her journey back home.  Cannon partners this heart-warming adventure with detailed facts at the end of the book that will continue to interest her captivated audience.  This beautifully illustrated charmer creates empathy for its characters from page one and allows the teacher countless teachable moments along the way.

We also recommend . . .