are replaced by reading for school. Combatting the Decline in Reading As Mackenzie puts it, “by Middle School…reading is work.” By high school, the average student reads for pleasure just 6 minutes a day. Reading aloud has the power to combat the downward trend in reading among kids of all ages. Because their listening comprehension is better than their reading comprehension, students can be exposed to deeper ideas and more advanced vocabulary. Creating a Book Club Culture at Home A “Read Aloud Family,” can create a “book club culture at home” by sharing great stories and discussing them informally. As a byproduct, the children are developing more sophisticated language patterns, comprehension, empathy, critical thinking, a love of reading, and even better test scores. Sarah recognizes that it seems “too easy and delightful to count.” In her book she muses that if there were a pill that could deliver all the benefits of reading aloud, parents would be lining up to buy a bottle. What good news that this old remeup the rest on their own. But it was better than that – it was so amazing that all three of us were desperate for more – we read all 4000+ pages curled up together. It took well over a year and was something we looked forward to every night. During this literary odyssey we laughed, cried and had some of the most heartfelt conversations about good, evil, friendships, romance and more. Reading aloud brought us closer together. The Read Aloud Revival has put a name to the delight I stumbled upon in those middle elementary years. Sarah Mackenzie provides encouragement, support, research and resources for parents who want to connect with their kids from birth though high school. The School vs. Home Reading Dilemma School is where most of our children learn to read. Ironically, Mackenzie points out, school is also where they learn to not want to read. When children are young, reading means snuggling with mom or dad, sharing a story. Once they are able to read alone, those experiences taper off and A “Read Aloud Family” can create a “book club culture at home” by sharing great stories and light discussion. “Reading aloud brought us closer together.” 144 HAWAII PARENT September/October 2024
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