'Reading aloud is the foundation for literacy development. It is the single most important activity for reading success.'
Neuman et al. (2000) cited in 'The Reading Book' by Sheena Cameron and Louise Dempsey (2019)
Since I have been teaching Year 3 and Year 4 students I have enjoyed daily time in our class chapter book. This has been supplemented by Chapter Chat NZ (find them on facebook) who has introduced some great books that students have loved. We have loved books by Suzanne Selfors - Imaginary Vetinary Series and Peter Brown's Wild Robot Books. Last year my Year 4 Class enjoyed 'The Mouse and the Motorcycle' by Beverly Cleary. At the end of 2019 we read 'Fish in a Tree' by Linda Mulally Hunt, I was aware that this was set at a higher age group for my class but as I had a few students with dyslexia in my class I thought it important for others in the class to 'see' what it might be like for others and for the students with dyslexia to see that it is different but it doesn't need to be a 'bad different'. Reading these books with my class has opened for some students a love of story, of wanting to read the books themselves and grown their listening skills as they are engaged in the story being read and want to hear what's happening. Students are visualising the story that is being shared with them orally. Reading along with chapter chat has allowed students to make connections with other students exploring these stories through twitter and it has encouraged them to take the text further, being creative with it, exploring vocabulary, responding to comprehension questions and inspiring their own writing.
Over the last couple of years I have observed the choices of books my students make for their 'cave' or independent reading times. These have included the 'How To Train Your Dragon' books, anything by David Walliams, books by Dav Pilkey, Harry Potter Books, Books by Jeff Kinney, Andy Griffiths, Tom Gates, Geronimo Stilton, Ella Diaries, and Stacy Gregg's horse books. When considering a class chapter book, I like to read books the students probably haven't read before and have found these the most successful for read alouds.
I am reflecting on this now as I chanced upon a series that I was unaware of (not uncommon) but picked up and read the first one last night (currently my summer break but always thinking school...). I'm now keen to get hold of the next 3 in the series! This is The Dragon Defenders series and has been authored by a New Zealand Author: James Russell, making it even more awesome. I enjoyed the first book in this series because it introduced a family living on an island in an 'off the grid' and 'plastic free' environment. It demonstrated that one doesn't need devices to be entertained. While demonstrating these 'values' the author and illustrator have also utilised Augmented Reality to give 3D imagery to the story. I wish I had known about #nzreadaloud a few years ago when this book first came out...or even last year when they worked through the 4th book of this series!
Getting involved with Chapter Chat and also NZ Readaloud gives teachers resources to increase the learning opportunities for students with chapter books as well as to make connections with other classes in New Zealand reading the same text. You know your students are enjoying the story from the silence in the room and when students get the book we are reading from the school or local library so they can read along too!
What chapter books have you found successful as books to read to your students?
