Literacy Newsletter #3

Literacy Newsletter #3

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

“Reading is a journey. It’s a way to explore new worlds and meet new people. It’s a way to learn about different cultures and ways of life. And it’s a way to expand your imagination”.

Kate DiCamillo – children’s author

Reading aloud

Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents can do with their children. By making read alouds interactive and fun, you will be introducing new words, modelling fluency and expressive reading, and sharing with your children how wonderful books and reading can be. Read below to learn more about the benefits of reading aloud.

Benefits of Reading aloud

1. Boost early literacy skills – children who are read to regularly develop early literacy skills such as rhyming, phonemic awareness (hearing sounds in spoken words), and letter recognition.

2. Helps children develop language and literacy skills – books provide children with new vocabulary that is not used as often in everyday spoken conversation. Exposure to new words increases a child’s “word bank”. Reading aloud also helps children to understand text structure and develop comprehension skills.

3. Builds background knowledge – reading a variety of books helps children to develop a better understanding of the world around them.

4. Offers “windows and mirrors” – books that reflect cultures and family experiences give all kids a window into the diverse world we live in.

5. Nurtures a love of reading – when children are exposed to books and stories from a young age, they are more likely to develop a love of reading as they get older.

6. Strengthens family bonds – reading aloud is a great way to bond with your children, talk about books, share thought and feelings and ask questions.