Several years ago I had the privilege of attending a Read
Aloud Nebraska workshop with Mem Fox.
In her book, Reading Magic, she gives several tips of reading
aloud to children. I have found that
when I strive to follow her suggestions, storytimes are a fun and positive
experience for the children, their parents and caregivers, and me!
Here are some of the tips from Mem Fox regarding expressive
reading. By simply paying attention to
the text we can vary our voice to make the story much more engaging. Here are some easy ways to do that:
Vary the volume of your reading… loud/soft. When the text says whispered make sure you whisper
too!
Vary the speed of your reading…fast/slow. Reading about a child chasing their runaway
dog will be faster than the child getting ready for bed.
Vary the pitch of your reading….high/low. Use a higher voice for exciting parts and a
lower voice for frightening parts.
Pause. The pause
builds anticipation and also allows the child to think about what might be
coming next.
I encourage you to take a little time to read (or review)
Mem Fox’s Reading Magic, especially chapter 6 that discusses expressive
reading. Small things that make a huge
difference in our storytimes!
Mem Fox. Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to
Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. Harcourt,
Inc: San Diego, CA. 2001.
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