Read-Aloud Revival ®

Latest Episodes:

RAR #170: How to Read a Wordless Book Jan 09, 2021

Show notes

Do you ever feel lost when it comes to how to read a wordless book?

I’m convinced that some of the very best picture books being published today are wordless. They invite us to slow down, predict what will come next, make connections, and linger over a good story, well-told.

Today I’m excited to share some of the best ones with you, as well as a simple guide for how to read them.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

why wordless books are worth our time
how to read a wordless books (with tips for what to say as you turn the pages)
just a few favorites 😉

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/170/.

RAR #169: The Read-Aloud Challenge Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Here at RAR, we can’t think of a better way to kick off a new year than to do it with books.

That’s why we kick off every January with a challenge for your kids–to help them start their new year reading and reading and reading some more… and falling a little more in love with books in the process!

Today we’re sharing all the details of this year’s Read-Aloud Challenge. I’ll answer your questions, let you know how it works, which books “count,” (spoiler alert: you’re the boss!), and what to do if your kids get frustrated along the way.

We’re starting this challenge in January, but you can start it at any time! If you want your kids to read aloud for 25 days and fall more in love with books (and each other) in the process, you’re in the right place.

Ready to join us?

In this episode, you’ll hear:

how the challenge will help your family kick off a great reading year and reset your rhythm
setting your kiddos up for challenge success (even pre-readers!)
answers to your questions about the challenge including what counts and who counts!

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/169/.

RAR #168: Special Edition, Christmas Stories Nov 30, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to a very special Christmas episode of Read-Aloud Revival, featuring three audio Christmas stories from one of our very favorite storytellers: Jim Weiss.

In this episode, 3 audio Christmas stories:

The Nativity Story
The Gift of the Magi
The Nutcracker

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/168/.

RAR #167: Christmas with Tomie dePaola and Winter at RAR Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

Do you feel it in the air? The seasons are a-changing…and it’s just about the best time of year for reading with a cup of cocoa, next to a crackling fire.

(I suppose in the Southern Hemisphere it’s lemonade and beach reading… but there’s no bad season for reading, right?)

We think you’re going to be very excited about what we have coming up in RAR this winter, plus a brand new addition to RAR Premium – Christmas School! Listen in while I tell you all about it.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

an invitation to slow down and simplify this season (yes, please!)
all about the first-ever RAR Christmas School
a preview of what’s coming in 2021

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/167/.

RAR #165: When Reading Starts to Feel Like School Oct 17, 2020

Show notes

It happens to all of us at one point or another: reading shifts in our kids’ lives from being principally about joy and delight into something that needs to be done for school.

A lot of us notice a significant drop in how much our kids are reading for pleasure once the school year is well underway.

This is a problem.

According to the National Literacy Trust, those who enjoy reading are better, more confident readers who spend less time online, and are more motivated by interest and achievement. (source)

In fact, we know that no single literacy activity has a more positive effect on comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, writing ability, or overall academic achievement than free voluntary reading. (source)

Not assigned reading.

Not reading for school.

Free voluntary reading.

I want to sit on this for a moment because the emphasis here is on reading for pleasure. Simply being ABLE to read, or reading because you are told to does not confer the same benefits as reading for pleasure.

That’s what we’re tackling today on the podcast.

We also get to hear from one of my favorite authors about his newest book release!

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

How less can actually be more when it comes to your child’s reading life
Why we want our kids to be friendly and affectionate with the books they’re reading
A list of books that are just plain fun--my recommended reads if reading has hit a slump in your house (or if you’re just ready for a good time!)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/165/.

RAR # 164: Our Favorite Way to Read Through History (and a new FREE resource) Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

In this very special episode of the podcast, the RAR team is discussing our favorite way to study history: through picture book biographies.

We’re also sharing a brand new FREE resource – a huge list of our favorite picture book biographies, organized by time period and category.

In this podcast episode, you’ll hear:

what makes picture books special and unique learning tools
the best ways to read them and use them in your homeschool
how picture book biographies help us answer the so what question

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/164/.

RAR #163: A Reader’s Guide to a More Tranquil Mind, Alan Jacobs Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

A tranquil mind. Any chance you want one of those? I know I do. Today on the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, we’re talking about how readers can give themselves the gift of a tranquil mind by reading old books.

Wait, did I just say “by reading old books?”

I did.

And I have a feeling this episode will challenge and expand your expectation for what reading old books can do for us in the here and now.

I like to describe Alan Jacobs as one of my favorite thinkers…

…and if you listen in to this episode, you’ll know why.

He’s an accomplished author and a Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at Baylor University, and in this episode he’s talking about why we can benefit from reading old books right now more than ever.

His reasons might just surprise and delight you — especially if you’re feeling a little frayed by everything in the world demanding your attention.

I’m not gonna lie, folks, a conversation with Alan Jacobs is always, always worth the time. I think you’re going to love this one!

In this episode:

our own tranquility vs our own twitchiness
how to read books that contain troublesome and problematic ideas (because old books tend to do that… a lot!)
what it means to read with generosity

I also answer a listener question about whether we should let our kids do their own independent reading instead of listening to the group read-aloud.

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/163/.

RAR #162: Why and How Reading Aloud Will Change Your Children’s Lives Forever (Mem Fox) Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

If you need a boost of sunshine in your week, stop whatever you’re doing and listen to this podcast. Why? Because in this episode, Australian icon Mem Fox joins me to talk about the unique gift this specific time can offer us — the chance to read together, to connect, and to help our kids fall in love with books on a whole new level.

Mem Fox is Australia’s most celebrated author and the creator of many too many pictures books to count.

She’s a giant advocate of reading aloud, as you’ll hear, and someone I’ve been dying to talk with. On today’s show, we’re talking about how and why reading to our kids will change their lives forever.

In this podcast episode, you’ll hear:

the magic that happens when kids and parents curl up to read together
what reading aloud does for parents too – especially right now!
and of course, Mem’s favorite books to read aloud

I’m also sharing the most encouraging thing I’ve read online in a long time (that happens at minute 1:13).

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/162/.

RAR #161: Becoming Your Child’s Mentor and Awaking Wonder, Sally Clarkson Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

What would happen if you decided to be your child’s mentor, rather than their teacher? What if you awakened their wonder and curiosity, so that they became the kind of people who thirst for knowledge and understanding?

What if you could fall in love with homeschooling your kids?

In this episode, Sally Clarkson and I continue a conversation we started over on her podcast a few weeks ago. We discuss how Sally translated her own boredom with traditional education in order to find a different way for her four children… and the (rather fantastic) results of those choices.

If you ever wonder whether homeschooling “works” or gets good results, you probably want to listen to this episode. 😉

…and if you’re about to set off on a year of home learning, be encouraged and inspired to have a glorious year of awaking wonder in your kids.

In this podcast episode, you’ll hear:

how we can raise lifelong learners who aren’t afraid to tackle big questions and obstacles
how to make your home a place of resource for your children
the difference between being your child’s teacher and being his or her mentor (this is BIG)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/161/.

RAR #160: Not Killing the Love of Reading Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

We need a drumroll today, because on the podcast we’re revealing all of our autumn picks for RAR Premium.

I’m also answering podcast listener Corrie’s question about how to preserve her son’s love of reading.

It’s easy to slip into schooly habits that kill our kids’ love of reading– so how can we help preserve our children’s love of reading even after the school year starts?

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/160/.

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