The Magic of Read Aloud

Reading out loud to children facilitates their readiness for formal reading, their concepts of printed words, and their phonemic awareness—all of which provide a strong foundation for literacy. But this cherished reading time is more than academic; it's absolutely magical. The guide starts by asking children to recap what had happened the previous day and many hands shoot up. They all contribute, some in greater detail than others, pieces of the story that make the whole. And that's the thing—this group dynamic is representative of the collaborative nature of the Montessori lower elementary classroom: all voices are heard, each child is valued, their voices are part of a bigger picture.Read aloud is fascinating to observe. A small room, absolutely packed with children, is completely and totally quiet. There is only the sound of paper being folded and the shifting of bodies. Each child understands and respects the expectations: they are to listen, whether their hands are busy finger-knitting, folding origami, or drawing or simply folded in their lap.When the guide reads a humorous or light passage, the children erupt into laughter. Then, like magic, it is quiet again.Being together in this small space, one cannot help but notice the sense of community. The older children help the younger ones, using hand signals instead of words—guiding them through a tricky fold in origami, offering a hand when a stitch is off, or sharing scissors and pencils. A treasured time of day, read aloud is a time to relax and refresh the mind before another work cycle.