• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast

Guide for Dads: Reading to Older Kids in School, Part 2

February 29, 2008 by George Jacobs Ph.D. and Wan Loh Inn Ed.D. Leave a Comment

Teachers in a wide range of subject areas at secondary schools, colleges, and universities are discovering what their colleagues in the teaching of literature have long known about the power of reading aloud to capture their students’ attention and to stimulate their thirst for learning. For instance, Professor Robert Coles has used stories to teach ethics to students at the Harvard Business School. Regardless of the subject area, we can find stories that contain valuable information, food for thought and fuel for discussion.

Reading aloud to older children can be a very different experience from reading to the younger ones. First, the reading material changes. Although there are books written especially for pre-teens and teenagers, dads can also read aloud from material written mainly for adults, such as daily newspapers. Chapter books, such as Kayla & the Magical Tree, can be read as well. Dads can seldom finish these in one session, so they will need to think of good places to stop, places that will generate the urge to read again tomorrow to find out what happens next.

A second change that takes place when reading aloud to older children involves the discussions that accompany the reading. These discussions are at a more mature level, and dads can bring in more of our own experiences and talk to the children more like peers.


 


Third, instead of reading an entire book, as we do with younger children, with older children, we can just read one section of a book and then choose another book next time we read aloud. For instance, dads can read a favorite section of a book, or they can read the beginning of a book as a way of encouraging children to read the book on their own silently. With non-fiction, dads can read aloud sections that contain particularly startling information or that answer a question that we have been wondering about.


 


Dad reminder: You can start to read to your kids at ANY age. It’s fun for the kids and dad. It really is a dad duty!


 


– George Jacobs, Ph.D. and Wan Loh Inn, Ed.D.


 


Dr. George Jacobs, Ph.D. and Dr. Wan Loh Inn, Ed.D. are the authors of many books (including “The Read Aloud Guide”, textbooks for teachers and students, curriculum guides, and children’s storybooks).


 


Find out more about reading aloud to your kids.


 

Filed Under: Reading

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
SIGN-UP TODAY to receive the only baby newsletter written by dads, for dads. Act now and receive a free copy of the popular GreatDad E-Book!
My baby's due date or birthday :
Profile picture
Privacy Policy and Terms
Baby Name Finder!

what's in a name

  • Show names for:
  • Boys
  • Girls
  • Either
Finding a name you can both agree on isn't always easy. Use our simple name generator to get started.
First Letter
Last Letter
Number of Letters
Origin
Find a name!

More to See

5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Surgical Procedure

April 6, 2022 By Contributing Authors

How to get kids excited about dental hygiene

March 3, 2022 By Contributing Authors

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Footer

Hi mom!

Would you like to share this site with your husband or a friend?

Just enter his email address and your name below and we'll let him know all about GreatDad.com.

His email address
Your Name

Recent

  • A Dad’s Guide to Bonding with Your Kids Through Computer Games
  • 5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Surgical Procedure
  • How to get kids excited about dental hygiene
  • 10 Important Lessons to Teach Your Kids About Keeping Pets
  • The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Search

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Copyright © 2022 . GreatDad