Why is reading aloud considered the single most important activity for building literacy success? In this Rally to Read 100 webinar, literacy researcher and former classroom teacher Dr. Molly Ness breaks down the science behind read-alouds and shows educators and families how to use them to build children's language comprehension at every age.
Dr. Ness, a reading education expert with a doctorate from the University of Virginia and author of five books on literacy instruction, walks through decades of research on how read-alouds shape the developing brain, boost vocabulary and comprehension, and even support emotional regulation and physical health in young children. She then turns to Rally to Read's author-led read-alouds specifically, sharing new data on how hearing authors read their own work builds motivation and connection to reading. The webinar closes with practical, easy-to-implement strategies teachers and parents can use immediately, from "think-alouds" to fighting the well-documented drop-off in read-alouds once kids turn 9.
Key Takeaways:
- Read-alouds are linked to measurable differences in brain activation, vocabulary growth, and academic achievement
- Reading to children above their independent reading level builds comprehension and background knowledge they can't yet access alone
- Simple "think-aloud" techniques help kids internalize how skilled readers process text
- Read-alouds shouldn't stop at age 9 — most kids want them to continue
- Including nonfiction and author-led read-alouds rounds out a child's literacy diet
Featured Speaker: Dr. Molly Ness, reading researcher, author, and founder of Dorigo Literacy