Family Read alouds for multiple ages?

Tagged: 

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • January 14, 2015 at 8:03 pm
    Dawn
    Participant

    I have 5 children spread out every 2 years – so ages 12 down to 2.  We have read every read aloud on the recommended younger literature selections some more than once.  I normally choose a read aloud to read to the children as a large group at lunch time.  We have done a few from the middle school selections.  I am wondering should I continue to choose other books from the middle school selections or are those too mature for my younger children?  Specifically, the ones we have not read aloud yet are – Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Bambi, Treasure Seekers and we only read one of the Ralph Moody books (first one).  None of the books in Book Group 3/Middle School.

    Suggestions?  What do other families who have many ages spread out do?

    January 14, 2015 at 9:13 pm
    Karen
    Participant

    My girls are aged 10 to 5, so much closer than yours.   I try to keep two read alouds going: one for fun and one for history or science.  The one for fun varies as far as age-appropriateness.  The one for history / science is almost always over the head of my 5 yo.  But I’m constantly amazed at what the 5yo picks up!

    I think as long as the content isn’t going to cause nightmares or questions asked too early (you know, about those “delicate” subjects), I think it’s okay to read books that are a little above the young ones’ understanding.

    You can always edit on the fly, to soften the “blow” of whatever tragedy happens in the book, too.

    I’m looking forward to reading others’ responses – as my 10yo gets older, she asks to sit out of some of our read alouds. Most recently because she read the book by herself not too long ago.  (She did sit and listen to Winnie the Pooh, though!)

    January 15, 2015 at 3:28 am
    anniepeter
    Participant

    Swiss Family Robinson would definitely be good!  And Man of the Family was my favorite of the Moody books… So don’t miss doing that at some point!  I would suggest doing that when your oldest son is somewhere around 10-12.  It is honey for a mother’s heart as well as a child’s 🙂

    How about Wheel on the School?

    January 15, 2015 at 8:05 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    Dawn, I have eight children between age 13-1.  We read aloud a variety of books as a family and even books I expect are over the comprehension of my younger or middle ones are included in that.  For example, we read Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne and EVERYONE loved from the 2 year old on up.  We simply read it in smaller chunks more often.  We also go to the opposite end of the spectrum and read books aimed at the youngest ones and everyone enjoys those as well.

    I like the SCM literature selections but also pull from a wide variety of other books because we read so much.  And like you, we revisit old friends for a reread.

    January 15, 2015 at 10:17 am
    Karen
    Participant

    Tristan, we read Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne and I was so surprised at how much even the 5yo picked up and enjoyed.  I did edit the part about the girl being carried off to be burned on her husband’s grave (or why-ever they were going to burn her)…..just because I didn’t want to cause nightmares.   Anyway, I was surprised myself at how much I enjoyed reading Verne’s work.  I had seen movies, but never actually read his books. I want to read more of his books in the future.

     

    Question: do you allow your older students to sit out of the family read-aloud??  My oldest has read on her own some books that I want to read and that the younger girls want to hear…..I hate MAKING her sit and listen to it if she’s already read it, but I also hate the family not being all together.  I do allow them to do handiwork or building-type toys while I’m reading.  But my oldest has asked to go do her math lesson or other thinking-type lesson while I’m reading and I’m not sure what to do about that.

    January 15, 2015 at 10:23 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    Great question Karen!  I would consider her request if she had already the book and could tell me about it.  Makayla generally doesn’t ask to skip, but lately a lot of our reading begins over a meal so she’s busy eating anyway.  And we welcome something to do with your hands too.  🙂

    I think I would not let them skip every read aloud for sure, but occasionally it would be okay.

    January 15, 2015 at 3:48 pm
    Karen
    Participant

    Thanks, Tristan — that’s the direction I was leaning, so it’s good to have affirmation.  I did notice with our last read aloud (Poppy by Avi) that my oldest would magically appear in the room if it was an exciting chapter *L*….and would not be around if it was a more hum-drum chapter.

     

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • The topic ‘Family Read alouds for multiple ages?’ is closed to new replies.