Read-Aloud Revival ®

Latest Episodes:

RAR # 199: The Books that Won, and Few That Should Have (2022 Youth Media Awards) Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Every year, our Read-Aloud Revival Team watches the American Library Association Youth Media Awards together.

These are the official awards of ALA. Some you’ll recognize, like the Caldecott, the Newbery and the Coretta Scott King Awards. But others are not quite as well known …

The ALA Youth Media Awards honor books that have been published in the previous year, so this year’s awards ceremony in January 2022 was honoring books that had been published in the year 2021 only.

For this episode the RAR team gathered together to talk about the announcements that made us cheer, the familiar faces that we loved seeing win, and …

…just a few books that we think should have gotten some ALA love. 😉

Tune in to hear:

about our favorite book winners and people who took home honors
other books published in 2021 that the RAR team loves
tons of book recommendations! (Don’t worry – they’re all linked below!)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/199/.

RAR #198: Which Curriculum Should I Use? (and other questions with life-changing answers) Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

“Which curriculum should I use?” It’s the question I get asked most often.

I suspect there’s another layer just underneath the surface of that question. A layer that sounds a bit like, “I’m tired. I’m overwhelmed. I don’t want to screw this up. Can you just tell me which curriculum is the best, so I don’t mess this really important thing up?”

At least, that’s the kind of thing that went through my mind back in my early homeschooling days, when I asked that question myself.

I’m answering this very question on today’s podcast episode.

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/198/.

RAR #197: Hey Mamas, Reading for Pleasure is Part of the Job! Feb 09, 2022

Show notes

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you want to read more, but are struggling to do it as much as you’d like. It can be a real challenge to find time to read for pleasure in your already busy day. I get it!

On today’s episode of the Read-Aloud Revival, I’m sharing all my best tips to help you read more, ditch the guilt (this is part of your job, right?), and fall back in love with your own reading life.

In this episode you’ll hear…

what to do when you’re in a season of it feeling impossible to cultivate your own reading life
how to find time to read (really!)
how to get some recommendations from me

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/197/.

RAR #196: Teaching Literature Without Curriculum Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

Shouldn’t helping our kids love reading be the point of literature education?

So why is it that most kids enjoy reading less and less, the further they get into their school years? And why do we insist on using literature curriculum when we know it doesn’t help our kids fall more in love with books?

Today I want to share an easier, simpler, more delightful (and less expensive!) path to giving our kids a fantastic and enjoyable literary education.

On today’s podcast, I dive into why it’s OK to ditch formal literature curriculum, and a better model for moving forward

In this episode:

our true goal for a solid literary education
what I do instead of using a literature curriculum
why reading for academic ‘success’ is kind of defeating the purpose

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/196/.

RAR #195: “So Many Books, So Little Time!” How to Quell Overwhelm in Our Reading Lives Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

Stressed about getting to all the books you want to read? Wondering how you can possibly read as many books as you’d like to with your kids?

On today’s episode of the Read-Aloud Revival, I’m talking about that all-too-familiar feeling of “So many books, so little time!” If you’ve ever felt that way, this one is for you!

In this episode you’ll hear…

how many books should we be aiming for, anyway?
what’s the best way to prioritize what to read next?
is re-reading worth the time, when there are still so many books we haven’t ever read?

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/195/.

Blessings Pressed Down, Shaken Together Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

If your inbox is anything like mine, you might be experiencing a little “you-need-to-buy-this-for-Christmas” fatigue.

I always like to remind myself that Christmas will come and the Baby King will be born, no matter what I buy or don’t. No matter what I get checked off on my merry-making list . . .

. . . or don’t.

No. Matter. What.

Goodness, what good news that is. 🥰

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/blessings-pressed-down-shaken-together/.

RAR #193: A Relaxed, Read-Aloud Christmas Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

Sometimes, it can seem like the holiday season is over before we even had a chance to truly celebrate. And so this year, we’re wishing you a relaxing read-aloud Christmas, full of plenty of cocoa, warm blankets, and snuggles with your favorite people.

If all of that sounds like a dream – we’ve got what you need to make it happen. So listen in to this special episode, and Happy Thansgiving and a Merry, Merry Christmas!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

how to be more present this holiday season (it’s what our kids want most of all)
ideas for the best Christmas picture books, novels and audiobooks
everything happening at RAR to help you celebrate Advent, Christmas and beyond

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/193/.

RAR #192: Help! My Kids Hate Narration Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

When my kids were young, I tried narration in my homeschool.

But instead of working how it was supposed to, it made my oldest daughter freeze with panic. She actually started hating books she had previously loved. Read-aloud time became fraught. And the quality of her education suffered for it.

In today’s episode, I’m diving deep into the Charlotte Mason (CM) idea of narration, and offering an idea for what to do if narration simply isn’t a good fit for your family.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What’s the goal of narration anyway?
What my family does instead of narration (and we like it so! much! better!)
A reminder of what we’re going for (spoiler alert: narration isn’t the only way to get it)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/192/.

RAR #191: Helping your ADHD or Dyslexic Child Love Reading Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

If you have a child with ADHD or dyslexia and want him/her to love reading, this episode is for you.

I’m sharing tips and tricks to help kids with ADHD enjoy reading and read-alouds in this episode of The Read-Aloud Revival.

You’ll hear…

audiobooks: help or hindrance?
what worked for one of Sarah’s dyslexic kids
Sarah’s go-to resource for all things related to homeschooling a child with ADHD

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/191/

RAR #190: Sarah’s Favorite Stories About Christian Saints and Heroes Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

Looking for my favorite stories about Christian saints and heroes? You’re in the right place!

That’s what I’m talking about in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. (Heads up, I’m Catholic, so a lot of these titles will be of special interest to Catholic listeners. 🥰)

There are lots of wonderful stories of Christian heroes, but these are some of my favorite short picks, perfect for mixed-age groups.

You’ll hear…

my favorite non-gory picks (because some of these stories can get… well, gruesome)
recommendations for a wide age-range
Bible hero ideas (including a favorite on audio)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/190/.