Originally published by Scholastic Parents on July 13, 2022<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading out loud in class is an effective way for your child to build essential reading skills \u2014 even though they may have reservations about being called upon to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany times, teachers will ask students to read out loud to practice their fluency of reading,\u201d says Kierstin Appleby, a 4th grade teacher in Iowa. Fluency is the ease and speed with which a child can read smoothly without interruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students develop more than just fluency by reading out loud in class: They also build vocabulary and improve their articulation of words, and it\u2019s great for their memory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Appleby acknowledges that some children may \u201cshy away\u201d from reading out loud due to a lack of confidence or because they struggle with decoding words at the same pace as their classmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHowever, I have also had many students in my classroom over the years who love to read aloud,\u201d Appleby says. \u201cWhether or not they struggle with reading, children find power behind reading words.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child has difficulty reading out loud in class or is apprehensive, there\u2019s a simple solution: Practice with them at home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPracticing reading at home builds comfort and confidence,\u201d Appleby says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are three more suggestions for helping your child read aloud:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Children tend to prefer reading fiction out loud, as nonfiction texts often have more complex vocabulary that is more challenging to decode. Appleby also suggests helping your child choose books that showcase the right amount of new vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaving children preview a page in the book first can help narrow down choices,\u201d she says. \u201cChildren can start reading and if they come across a word they don\u2019t know or have difficulty reading, they put up a finger. If they finish the page and have four or five fingers up, the book may be too challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two or three fingers up after the first page? You\u2019ve found your book! One finger? It may not pose enough of a challenge, though Appleby says not to discourage your child from reading books they love just because they\u2019re too easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nChoose Fiction Books for Read-Aloud Practise<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFiction texts will have more genres that children are familiar with, and can be more repetitive, which is good for confidence boosting,\u201d Appleby says. \u201cBut really, any book your child is interested in is a win!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLook for a Mix of New and Familiar Words<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n