How to Incorporate Read Aloud Books in Your Homeschool

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Read aloud books are a great way to get kids interested in reading and build their imagination as they listen. It helps build their vocabulary and can even build on history and social studies with books like the Little House series.

How to Incorporate Read Aloud Books in Your Homeschool

You can always do things like use audiobooks while in the car and read aloud time is a great homeschool ‘day’ when mom or dad isn’t feeling well and just want to lay on the couch.

Here are some great ideas on how to incorporate read aloud books in your homeschool day. 

During breakfast – Gather everyone together for breakfast and while you and your kids are eating start your read aloud. The kids have something to pay attention too and it’s always a great way to start off the day. You can even take turns on who gets to read.

Do it during family time – If you want to incorporate the parent that works then do you can read aloud during family time. This has a few benefits. It brings everyone together at the end of the day. This will cut down on TV and video game time. Less TV watched means fewer commercials are seen and less ‘wants’ formed which will save you money.

Start or end the homeschool day – This is the perfect way to start or end a homeschool day. I know many homeschool families like to use read aloud time at the end of the day to help kids unwind from school and transition more to family time before dinner.

Allow Lego play – Your kids will get more from read aloud time if they are allowed to keep busy. Things like building with Legos are mindless activities that keep their hands busy and allow their ears and minds to be on what you are reading. Plus for younger kids it helps with their fine motor skills and prepares them better for things like handwriting and scissor cutting skills.

Before bed – This is a great way to unwind before bed by having your read aloud time. Have the kids do showers and baths and brush teeth and get all ready for bed then sit down in one of the bedrooms, in your room, in the living room or where ever you feel more comfortable and have read aloud time to help your kids unwind and calm down. This will help them get to sleep faster which is a plus for parents of little ones!

A few read aloud book suggestions:

• Little House on the Prairie Series
• The Boxcar Children Series
• Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Magic Tree House by Marie Pope Osborne

Do you have read aloud time? What are your tips?