1. Literacy Booster Read-Aloud Series, Session 1 © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

2. Welcome to Our Literacy Booster Meeting! Read-Aloud Series, Session 1 Today we will: Talk about why it’s important to read aloud to our children Consider a few tips for reading aloud effectively Hear a great story! Take time to look at and share children’s books © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

3. Getting to Know You… Please introduce yourself to the group! Name Ages of children Why you signed up for this Literacy Booster Meeting What you hope to gain from today’s meeting © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

4. “The Reading Mother” You may have tangible wealth untold: Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be – I had a Mother who read to me. --Strickland Gillilan © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

5. Remember When…? © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

6. The Gruffalo Written by Julia Donaldson Illustrated by Alex Scheffler © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

7. Feedback… Did you enjoy the experience? What did you like about the read-aloud? About the story? What did you find surprising, interesting, and/or helpful from this exercise? Can you name some things I did as I read the story aloud that you might try when you read aloud to your children? © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

8. Recap… Thinking about what we have learned so far, what do you think is important to remember when reading aloud to your children? What techniques do you think work well? What did I do that caught your attention? What did you enjoy most? Why? What might your children like about a daily read-aloud experience? © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

9. Share Your Thoughts! Hold up the book so all can see the cover. Read the title. Briefly tell what the story is about. What did you like (or not like) about the book? Show one or two pages of the art. © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

10. Thank you for attending this Literacy Booster Meeting! Today we: Talked about why it’s important to read aloud to our children Considered tips for reading aloud effectively Heard a story! Looked at and shared GREAT children’s books! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

11. Join us for our next Literacy Booster Meeting! We’ll look at reading aloud to older children Websites of Interest Date Time © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

12. Kiss Good Night Written by Amy Hest Illustrated by Anita Jeram Thanks for attending! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

13. Literacy Booster Read-Aloud Series, Session 2 © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

14. Welcome to Our Literacy Booster Meeting! Read-Aloud Series, Session 2 Today we will: Discuss our experiences reading aloud to our children Consider tips for reading aloud to older children Hear the beginning of a great book for older kids! Look at recommended “reading” websites © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

15. Getting to Know You… Please introduce yourself to the group! Name Ages of children Why you signed up for this Literacy Booster Meeting What you hope to gain from today’s meeting © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

16. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia Chapter One: “Cassius Clay Clouds” © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

17. Feedback… Did you enjoy the experience of hearing a chapter of a longer book? What do you like about the idea of reading aloud to an older child? How did this read-aloud differ from a read-aloud with a younger child? What age child do you think you would read this story to? © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

18. Thanks for attending this Literacy Booster Meeting! Today we: Discussed our experiences reading aloud to our children Considered tips for reading aloud to older children Heard the beginning of a great book for older kids! Surfed recommended “reading” websites © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

19. Join us for our final Literacy Booster Meeting in the Read-Aloud series! We’ll look at reading here, there, every which-where: everyday opportunities to catch some reading time with your kids! Date Time © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

20. Good Night! Don’t forget Read aloud to your older children tonight! Thanks for attending! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

21. Literacy Booster Read-Aloud Series, Session 3 © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

22. Welcome to Our Literacy Booster Meeting! Read-Aloud Series, Session 3 Today we will: Review tips for effectively reading aloud to children Become familiar with everyday opportunities to read with our children Get comfortable with poetry! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

23. Getting to Know You… Please introduce yourself to the group! Name Ages of children Why you signed up for this Literacy Booster Meeting What you hope to gain from today’s meeting © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

24. READ-ALOUD DO’S AND DON’TS Do make it fun. Don’t make it a duty. Do talk and interact. Don’t lecture. Do pick a mix of books. Don’t choose books only for the moral. Do honor your child’s interests & attention span. Don’t read only those books you think you should read. Do make read-alouds part of your routine. Don’t withhold reading together as a punishment. Do start reading as soon as you bring baby home. Don’t stop reading when your child becomes an independent reader or a ‘tween! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

25. Findings Parental Involvement is a PLUS!!! As children read less, they read less well. Lower levels of reading and writing ability can translate into lack of employment, lower wages, and fewer opportunities for advancement. Daily reading equals better reading skills and higher academic achievement. Encourage your child to read! Pick up a book to enjoy together today! Encourage your child to read! Pick up a book to enjoy together today! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

26. We Know That… Reading transforms the lives of children. Reading boosts academic and economic success. Reading correlates with almost every measurement of positive personal and social behavior. Books change lives for the better. Experts agree that reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to improve your child's interest, ability, and attitude toward reading – and school. In 15 minutes a day, YOU can make a difference! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge

27. Forward Thinking… “ We cannot go back and make a new start, but we can start now to make a new ending.” —Steven Covey Thanks for attending! © 2015, Empowering Families by Judy Bradbury and Susan E. Busch, Routledge