: The power of reading aloud Stella Jones explores how interactive classroom reading boosts language skills, sparks imagination and builds pupil connections.

In a world where children already experience plenty of digital content outside of school, it might seem convenient for teachers to share video or audio recordings of books being read aloud in the classroom. While these digital resources can have their place, they cannot replace the rich, interactive experience of an adult reading aloud to pupils. The act of reading aloud in a classroom fosters deep connections, both in language development and in building a supportive learning environment. It turns story time from a passive, solitary activity into a shared adventure that ignites imagination, promotes learning and strengthens classroom relationships.

The magic of interactive reading
Reading to children is not just about delivering words — it’s about engaging their minds. When adults read aloud, they can stop and explain new words, elaborate on story details, and even act out verbs to infuse words with meaning – bringing them to life. By incorporating sound effects, hand gestures and even changing our tone of voice, we create an immersive experience that enhances comprehension. 

This active engagement is what turns reading into a dynamic, interactive learning process. Stopping to ask questions like, ​“What do you think will happen next?” or ​“How do you think the character feels?” fosters critical thinking and imagination, prompting children to engage with the story on a deeper level. Reading
becomes a two-way dialogue, rather than a passive reception of information, and in doing so, builds a sense of community and belonging around the shared experience of a story.

The Importance of interactive reading
One of the most powerful ways to cultivate essential reading skills is through interactive reading, where adults read with children rather than simply to them. This interactive approach has numerous benefits:

1. Building vocabulary and comprehension
Books often contain language that is above a child’s independent reading level, exposing them to new words and complex sentence structures. This broadens their vocabulary and enhances their understanding of language mechanics, giving them the tools they need to read and comprehend on their own.

2. Enhancing listening skills and focus
Listening to stories read aloud helps children develop auditory processing skills and the ability to follow narratives. They practice focusing on spoken language, which improves their concentration and strengthens their capacity to retain and comprehend information.

3. Encouraging imagination and critical thinking
Interactive reading invites children to ask questions, make predictions, and reflect on the story. This stimulates their imagination and promotes critical thinking, encouraging them to think beyond the text, draw connections, and develop deeper comprehension.

4. Strengthening emotional bonds
Shared reading fosters emotional connections between the child and the adult, creating a positive association with reading. When reading is experienced as a warm, nurturing activity, children are more likely to develop a lifelong love for books.

Motivating and engaging children through reading
A key aspect of encouraging children to read is making the experience enjoyable and engaging. As the Improving Literacy in Key Stage 1 report from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) emphasises, ​“Teachers play an important part in motivating children to read. Being willing and eager to read influences reading attainment, by increasing the amount of reading a child undertakes.” The more a child reads, and the more genres they explore, the more opportunities they have to deepen their understanding of texts.

Adults can motivate children to read by creating an inviting and fun reading culture. This can be done by:

- Demonstrating a love for reading: When adults show genuine enthusiasm for books, it becomes infectious. For example, you might introduce a story with excitement, hinting at plot twists or mischievous characters, sparking children’s curiosity and desire to read more.

- Making reading an adventure: Transform the reading environment to match the story. If you’re reading a book about the night sky, turn off the lights and read under twinkling lights to make the experience magical.

- Offering choice: Allow children to select books that reflect their interests. When children have agency in choosing what to read, they are more engaged and motivated.

- Ensuring success: It’s important that children experience success while reading, as negative attitudes toward reading can create a cycle of underachievement. The next blog in this series ​‘Learning to read before yearning to read’ looks at how we can build confidence and foster a positive relationship with reading.

The role of adults in literacy development
While technology can offer convenience, it is the human connection that makes reading truly impactful. Adults can pause to discuss difficult words, ask questions to check understanding, and explain concepts in ways that digital media cannot replicate. Moreover, the act of reading together strengthens the child’s sense of community and belonging, reinforcing the idea that story time is a shared, enjoyable journey rather than just a solitary task.

Children learn best when they feel supported, engaged and part of a shared experience. As adults, whether as parents or educators, we have the ability to make reading an interactive, enriching activity that not only develops their literacy skills but also instils a love for books that can last a lifetime. Let’s prioritise shared reading — where the joy of a story and the richness of human connection come together to ignite a child’s imagination, curiosity, and proficiency.

A lifelong thing
Remember, reading aloud is not just for the youngest learners — it benefits students of all ages, including young adults. Research shows that the positive effects of being read to extend into adolescence and beyond. For example, shared reading experiences have been linked to improved mental health and a greater sense of connection, especially for individuals between the ages of 18 – 34. In one study, 59% of young adults reported that reading aloud or being read to made them feel more connected to others and 56% said it helped reduce feelings of isolation during challenging times.

In the classroom, reading aloud to older pupils can help improve their literacy skills, enhance critical thinking and boost engagement with complex texts. It fosters a collaborative learning environment where pupils can discuss themes, characters and literary techniques, promoting deeper comprehension and critical analysis. By creating a shared reading culture, teachers can encourage reluctant readers to engage with books in a more meaningful way, helping them to feel successful and less intimidated by difficult material. Reading aloud also offers opportunities for incidental vocabulary learning and emotional connection, making literature more accessible and enjoyable across a lifetime.

More on interactive reading
Video – Interactive reading: High quality interactions through shared reading

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