Read-Aloud Revival ®

Early on, pretty much everyone in my world told me we were making a huge mistake in homeschooling.It was weird, it was unknown to them, and of course, we are afraid of things that are weird and unknown. I actually didn’t know anyone in my personal life who was homeschooling.I read some blogs and books (of course!), but I just had a very strong hunch that we should do this home education thing. So we did, and I’m so glad. I loved it – not every minute of it (ha!) – but now that my oldest kids are adults, I’m so grateful for the time I got with them during all of those growing up years. Today, I have a treat for you. My oldest daughter, Audrey – 20 years old at the time we’re recording this, just finished her sophomore year at Franciscan University of Steubenville as an English major, and she is joining me on the show. Audrey was homeschooled her entire education.And there were some rocky years! When Audrey was 12 – so you know, 6th grade-ish, I also had a 10-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 1 year-old, and twin newborns. Yes. Three babies age 1 and under. It was… a lot.We’re going to talk about that, plus:what was most helpful for Audrey’s futuredid she feel “prepared,” for going away to college and becoming an adult? (you’re going to love her answer, I think!)what she really remembers about that time with babies (💗 😭) Mama’s with newborns – you just need to hear this. 💖We’re also answering YOUR questions!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/209/.

Summer is almost here.And probably, you have things you’d like to do this season. Maybe lots of things! (Perhaps … too many things? 😬)Not to fear! In this episode, the RAR Leadership Team is back to share an easy tool for determining your direction this summer.In this episode, you’ll hear:how setting a compass will help us this summerwhy (in homeschooling) a compass is more helpful than a mapquestions to ask yourself as you choose your own directionFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/208/.

When I was a kid, I read voraciously. I could lose myself for hours in stacks and stacks of books. The reading wasn’t that high quality, mind you. I could usually be found reading The Babysitter’s Club or a Christian historical romance, though I also loved Roald Dahl and Lois Lowry (anyone else remember the Anastasia Krupnik series?) and nonfiction, too. Then I became a mom, and reading felt decadent. I read books to nurture my marriage, how-to books on parenting (some far better than others, ahem). But overall, reading just got… harder. It was something I did to improve myself. Not something I got swept away in.Reading for pleasure felt like a splurge, and often it was a splurge I couldn’t figure out how to justify. But here’s the thing — reading for fun is part of the job.My life is richer when I’m reading for pleasure, and so is my kids’! In fact, I’ve found that their reading lives feed off the energy in mine. So how am I going to nurture my own reading life this summer? And what might get in the way?It’s a question worth asking for all of us, and joining me to ask it today on the podcast are RAR Community Director, Kortney Garrison and Managing Editor, Kara Anderson.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why reading is a priority in our lives (hint: it’s not too decadent!)Ways to nurture your reading life this summer How to know what to readFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/207/.

Do you want to teach your kids Shakespeare? Do you want to them to carry a love for The Bard in their hearts, and remember passages from the most famous plays ever written?Maybe your answer is YES! BUT … Shakespeare seems overwhelming. And adding it feels stressful.So today, RAR Community Director Kortney Garrison and I are breaking down how to teach Shakespeare in a simple, low-pressure way that your kids will actually enjoy and look back on fondly.In this episode, you’ll hear:a million ways to teach Shakespeare (and maybe only one you want to avoid)how to start with your goals when creating a Shakespeare teaching planwhat Kortney and I actually do Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/206/.

When Mandy called in to ask about her daughter, who likes to be read to, but doesn’t really enjoy reading herself, I was all ears.If you can relate, consider: when your child was 2, 3, 4 … did he/she like being read to? Most small children LOVE being read to. They climb right into your lap and relish every minute.It’s about the story, yes, but it’s also about the connection. We really, really want our kids to love reading. So naturally, we worry when they don’t. I wonder if that same connection is what our non-reading kids are actually seeking. We’re often tempted to think our kids are lazy, or aren’t true readers, but laziness is rarely at play here (especially in the case of a dyslexic child). So why don’t some of our kids love reading? And what on earth can we do about it? That’s what I’m addressing today on the podcast from a mama who suspects her child may be dyslexic, and worries that she doesn’t enjoy reading.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why kids may prefer being read to (hint: it’s not because they’re lazy!)Whether it’s OK to do a lot of reading aloud to older kids (short answer: heck yes)How different modalities make reading accessible at a different levelFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/205/.

We get many questions about how I organize books in my home library, and today we’re talking all about it.I’m going to break down my system and hopefully help spark ideas for how to best organize books at your house. Here’s the thing: Your home library should serve your family’s reading life. And that might mean organizing it in a different way than you think.It also means the organization isn’t the goal. (Keep reading to see what I mean.)I’ll give you a peek at a few of my own bookshelves throughout this post, which are definitely not gorgeous or Instagram-worthy. 😅 But they areuseable. And they’re used… a lot!In this episode:how to focus on your home library’s goal (which may be different than you think!)how to cut down on time searching for booksideas for organizing your family’s books without making it a full-time jobFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/204/.

Do your kids read for fun in high school? According to Dr. Daniel Willingham in Raising Kids Who Read, the average high schooler reads 6 minutes per day for pleasure. What that really means, he explains, is that a few kids read for pleasure quite a lot… and most don’t read for pleasure at all.Karen recently called in to ask me what my own kids read for fun in high school… and I’ve got lots of suggestions in this post!In this episode, you’ll hear:deciding what goal you have for your high schooler’s reading lifewhether high school reading should be “hard”tons of recommendations from my teens and adult children (weird, I now have 2 of those!)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/203/.

If you have a child who struggles with sad stories…a child who gets really uncomfortable when bad things happen and wants you to stop reading (or wants to stop reading themselves)… then this episode is for you.And actually, it’s for them, too! In fact, it’s an episode you might like to listen to with your kids.In this episode, you’ll hear:What to do if your kids get upset while reading sad storiesWhy you can predict what terrible thing might be coming (and when in the story it’ll happen)What the author is doing and whyHow to help your kids hang on to the story, and get all the way through to the hopeFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/202/.

Are you or your kids feeling overwhelmed by a long book list? Today I’m sharing how reading fewer books (yup!) can help our kids love books more.Yep. We’re going to talk about reading fewer books. What could it mean for your kids’ reading lives (and yours too!), to focus on reading fewer books and making the time spent reading them more enjoyable and richer?Maybe even to have a reading life that is rich, relaxed, and leisurely? If you or your kids are overwhelmed by a long book list, this sounds pretty great, right?Tune in or read on to hear:The difference between reading a book and completing a bookWhy my own kids don’t track the number of books readHow to make time for (quite possibly) the best kind of readingFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/201/.

We’re just a little excited here at RAR this week.First, it’s our 200th episode! 🥳And second, it’s March, which here in the northern hemisphere meets *melting*. It also means a new season, and it’s a great time to name what matters, and set some intentions for how we want to finish out this homeschool year.This week, the whole team will walk you through a simple process we’ve been using here at RAR in order to name what matters – and how to get there.In this episode, you’ll hear:How to name what matters most this spring Your FREE cheat sheet to making a plan for your own homeschool that’s doableAnd … what we’re reading this spring! 📚🌱Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/200/.

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 honorsother books published in 2021 that the RAR team lovestons of book recommendations! (Don’t worry – they’re all linked below!)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/199/.

“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/.

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 lifehow 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/.

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 forwardIn this episode: our true goal for a solid literary educationwhat I do instead of using a literature curriculumwhy reading for academic ‘success’ is kind of defeating the purposeFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/196/.

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/.

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/.

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 audiobookseverything happening at RAR to help you celebrate Advent, Christmas and beyondFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/193/.

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/.

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 kidsSarah’s go-to resource for all things related to homeschooling a child with ADHDFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/191/

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-rangeBible hero ideas (including a favorite on audio)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/190/.

Many of us worry about how screen time impacts our kids’ reading life. So how do we manage screens in a way that still makes it likely our kids will love to read?That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…the case for helping kids engage with screens in a healthy waytwo times a day we go screen-free at our househow to set goals to help kids want to read morehttps://readaloudrevival.com/189/.

If you take your kids to the library and they consistently choose books you aren’t excited about them reading… what can you do? That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…Sarah’s favorite places to check book reviewsan alternate way to get library booksdealing with silly books 🙃 vs ones those our kids really aren’t ready for 😬Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/188/.

How can we find books that engage both an 8- and a 4-year-old? That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…why we shouldn’t leave picture books behinda tip for keeping kids engaged with longer booksa few book suggestions! (naturally 😉)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/187/.

Should my kids’ reading correlate with their history studies?Many of make it a point to make sure our reading lines up with the time period we’re learning about in history. Is that a good idea? That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…what I wish I worried about less when it comes to teaching historya tip for helping kids track reading by time periodthe value of re-reading the same books over againFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/186/.

Should I use Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons?That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…Yes, if it works for you. No, if it doesn’t.My own experience and my favorite alternatives A reminder: look for the easiest way to teach that also nurtures your relationship with your kids 💗Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/185/.

What should you do if your developing reader skips words when reading?That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…Actually, we all do skip words when reading, but…Sarah shares a simple tip (🐢 🐢🐢)An idea if your child does this too (🎧 + 📚)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/184/.

Should we avoid abridged or adapted versions of classics?That’s the question I’m answering in today’s short episode of the Read-Aloud Revival. You’ll hear…what abridged or adapted versions of the classics can offerwhat happened when Sarah’s daughter read an abridged version of Heidihow adapted books can lead to better, richer readingFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/183/.

Today I’m sharing five books you’ll love, plans for RAR this fall (books clubs and writing and events you don’t want to miss!), and answers to your questions about reading a book a day.Wondering if including re-reading is a good idea, or how to stay awake while reading aloud? (You aren’t the only one! 🥱)Tune in to hear:5 books your kids will adore (including a picture book that seems to always grab kids)some book ideas for you, Mama – I made you a list!a secret audiobook strategy 🤫 😉Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/182/.

In this episode, we’re offering some tips and ideas to help you with the nitty gritty of reading more picture books. The whole RAR team is back, and we’re answering your questions about reading a picture book a day.In this episode, you’ll hear:the best way to create a picture book routineif reading the same books again and again is OK (YUP! 👍)when and if to buy a particular book, and new way of thinking about investing in booksFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/181/.

We’re all on board with reading picture books to our younger kids, but that has to stop at some point, right?Ohhhhhh no. No, it does not. What do our kids stand to gain… and how on earth can we read picture books with older kids and teens? A lot. Here at RAR, we’re always saying that there is nothing a novel can give your kids that a picture book can’t. Honestly, a picture book might just be able to do it better, with an art gallery to match.In this episode, we’re breaking down how to get big kids and teens on board with reading picture books, what they can gain from them, and we’re also sharing some book ideas we think they’ll love.In this episode, you’ll hear:No such thing as reading levels for picture books – and what this means for youStrategies for inviting teens into exploring picture booksRecommendations for big kids and teens (📚)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/180/.

Last time on the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, we talked about what happens (and what our kids gain) when we read aloud a book a day. In this episode, we’re digging in to how to look closely at a picture book—how to see what we might otherwise miss. You may be surprised at how much is there in a picture book, just waiting to be seen and heard!No lesson plans are needed. Just you, your kid(s), a book plucked from your shelf. Ready? Let’s do this.In this episode, you’ll hear:What about just reading, and not doing anything extra?How open-ended questions change the reading experience for everyoneHow to look at a picture book in a brand new wayFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/179/.

What would happen if we read a book a day with our kids?That’s the idea we’re exploring today in a brand new episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast. And we’re also issuing a challenge: we dare you to read a picture book a day with your kids – for a week, a month… or more. And you’ll even hear some profound insights, like how a good picture book is like a baked potato. 🥔 😆 All the details are in today’s episode.In this episode, you’ll hear:Why it’s worthwhile to read a book a day with our kids of all ages (so MANY reasons)What to read with kids of all ages—you know we have lots of ideas! Printable trackers for your own book-a-day challengeFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/178/.

In today’s Special Edition of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, you’ll meet the man behind Make Way for Ducklings. Robert McCloskey was the first to win two Caldecott Awards, and his books are arguably among the most celebrated picture books of all time.His most popular picture book wouldn’t stay on the page, either. His ducks became permanent sculptures fixed in Boston Public Garden, and even made a way for international diplomacy as part of the START Treaty between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. in 1991. A picture book is a powerful piece of art. In this episode, you’ll hear:what it was like having Robert McCloskey for a Dad one of the hardest parts of his life as a successful artistwhat his picture books gave the worldFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/special-edition-robert-mccloskey/.

Science is everywhere. It’s in everything we do, everything we see. And yes, everything we read. Books offer a delightful opportunity to talk about science, both through their illustrations and their text. We just need to know a few things to look for and a few questions to ask. Today we’ll find out how to think like a scientist, and how to teach our kids to do the same.I invited two professors from St. Michael’s College to teach us all about cross-cutting scientific concepts within picture books. Dr. Valerie Bang-Jensen is the Department Chair and Professor of Education at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. She’s an expert in children’s literature and literacy. Dr. Mark Lubkowitz is a molecular biologist and the Chair and Professor of Biology at St. Michael’s.In this episode, you’ll hear:What it means to “think like a scientist”How to find scientific concepts in every book you readHow to use cross-cutting concepts to teach young scientists of all agesFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/177/.

Is homeschooling with dyslexia a good idea? Can dyslexic students thrive, even if the parents aren’t specialists (or even certified teachers)?Let’s be clear: absolutely, yes. You can homeschool your dyslexic kids, and you’ll do a darn good job of it, too. Today on the podcast, Marianne Sunderland from Homeschooling with Dyslexia is back to talk about the nitty gritty details of teaching children who learn differently. Marianne has homeschooled eight kids (seven are dyslexic). In this episode, she gives us the low-down on teaching dyslexic kids at home, which resources to use, and when to ask for help. In this episode, you’ll hear:How to teach dyslexic children Why Orton-Gillingham works to teach dyslexic kids how to readWhether or not to get your child tested and officially diagnosed Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/176/.

Is my child dyslexic? And if so, what should I do about it? It’s one of the things we’re asked about most here at Read-Aloud Revival, and no wonder. When our kids struggle to learn to read, we worry. Dyslexia is extremely common, and is very often misunderstood. Today, we’re going to talk about the signs of dyslexia, and what to do if you think your child may be dyslexic.If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is a “late bloomer” or might be struggling with a learning difference, you’re in the right place.Marianne Sunderland from Homeschooling with Dyslexia is here to give us the lowdown.In this episode, you’ll hear:Does my child have dyslexia? Here’s how to know…What we get wrong about dyslexia Which reading curriculum is best for dyslexic learners Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/175/.

Every year, the RAR team gathers to watch the American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards. Once, we went in person (!) but the past two years, we’ve watched together from home and texted each other like mad the whole time.The awards have a way of bringing out BIG feelings. These are basically the Oscars for children’s books, and as you’ll hear, we have a few Opinions (with a capital O), here at RAR. Ahem. 😇Today we’re sharing:Some stand-out winners from the 2021 ALA Awards Which books we put on hold at the library as the awards were happeningJust a couple of books we think should have been honored. Ahem. 😉Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/174/.

Ready to dive into a little brain science? Today, we’re discovering what happens in your child’s brain when you read aloud.This is probably not a surprise, but… A LOT is happening. Dr. John Hutton of the Reading and Literacy Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is joining me to break this down. I love how he puts it in the beginning of this episode: that scientists are using fancy methods to verify what we already know – that reading aloud is good for our kids.Want to know what happens in your child’s brain when you read aloud? You’re in the right place.In this episode, you'll hear:how the brain actually readsthe immense value of dialogic reading (don’t worry – you’re already doing this!)how reading aloud “primes” the brain for reading independentlyFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/173/.

Learning to read can be hard. And when our kids are still learning to read fluently and well, helping them fall in love with books can feel impossible.But it doesn’t have to be that way. In today’s episode, I’m going to show you how to help your kids fall in love with stories, and tell you why it will help them more to keep reading aloud than to cram in another long phonics lesson.In this episode, you'll hear:a reminder that learning to read is a little like climbing a mountain! ⛰️the key to getting our kids reading (hint: it’s NOT endless phonics practice)how to become a book match-maker for your childFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/172/.

The Bard. He can be a little intimidating, right? If you’ve ever wondered how to introduce your kids to Shakespeare, you are in a for a treat with this podcast episode.Many of us met Shakespeare in a way that didn’t set us up to love him or even understand him. But today, I’m joined by Ken Ludwig, award-winning playwright and author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare – my very favorite resource for doing just that!In this episode, you'll hear:Why we should make Shakespeare a part of our curriculum How to get over the intimidation factor, once and for allExactly how and where to start teaching your kids Shakespeare (I promise, it’s easier than you think!)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/171/.

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 timehow 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/.

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 rhythmsetting 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/.

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 StoryThe Gift of the MagiThe NutcrackerFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/168/.

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 Schoola preview of what’s coming in 2021 Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/167/.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to talk with your kids about books. Specifically, we’re talking about open-ended questions, which you’ve probably heard us talk about before here at Read-Aloud Revival.Open-ended questions are key to having conversations with your kids about anything they read, and anything you read together.But what exactly qualifies as an open-ended question, and why do they work?In this episode, I’m breaking down:How to make book conversation a habitHow open ended questions are a form of narrationHow to talk about books even if you haven’t read them yourselfFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/166/.

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 lifeWhy 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/.

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 toolsthe best ways to read them and use them in your homeschoolhow picture book biographies help us answer the so what questionFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/164/.

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 twitchinesshow to read books that contain troublesome and problematic ideas (because old books tend to do that… a lot!)what it means to read with generosityI 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/.

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 togetherwhat reading aloud does for parents too – especially right now!and of course, Mem’s favorite books to read aloudI’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/.

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 obstacleshow to make your home a place of resource for your childrenthe 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/.