Rock Your Read Aloud
Sparking Curiosity and Confidence in Little Readers
1. Auflage April 2025
288 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Help K-5 students experience the magic of reading by sparking amazement, wonder, and excitement through the art of the read aloud
It is not news to educators that kids have trouble paying attention. The allure and interactivity offered in televisions, tablets, and video games are tough to match. Consequently, reading scores have plummeted and educators say the joy has been sucked out of teaching. Rock Your Read Aloud brings back the joy and helps you create a read aloud experience that will have even the most reluctant of K-5 readers begging for just one more story.
A must read for every current or aspiring elementary teacher, librarian, and administrator, this book shows you why read alouds are critical to literacy education in today's media-saturated world. Inside, you'll find techniques for turning reading scores around in early elementary classrooms, so you can rediscover how rewarding teaching can be when students are engaged and learning. You can even link this book to the Novel Effect app to access a unique soundscape that will give you a taste of just how fun reading can be.
* Discover how reading aloud to kids can improve reading scores and outcomes
* Get tips for making your read alouds magical and igniting students' love of books
* Motivate struggling readers by creating a culture of reading together
* Learn about proven techniques like buddy reading and community read alouds
K-5 teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, and reading interventionists will gain insight and inspiration as Rock Your Read Aloud shows how to cut through the distraction and make reading fun again.
Acknowledgments xiii
About the Authors xv
Introduction xvii
Part I The Art and Science of the Read Aloud 1
01 The Magic of the Read Aloud 3
02 Unleashing the Power of the Picture Book 17
03 "Game-changer": Reading Aloud with Novel Effect Soundscapes 31
04 Your Reading Brain: The Foundations of Literacy 41
05 Developing Young Writers and Storytellers 57
06 Getting Ready to Rock Your Read Aloud 71
Part II Bringing Stories to Life 87
Interact 89
The Book with No Pictures 89
Press Here 93
This Book Just Ate My Dog! 97
Tap the Magic Tree 101
If You're Scary and You Know It 105
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus 108
Play This Book! 111
Laugh 115
Dragons Love Tacos 115
We Don't Eat Our Classmates 119
The Wonky Donkey 123
The Serious Goose 127
Love and Connection 131
Love 131
Hair Love 135
Stellaluna 139
Love Monster 143
Owl Moon 147
Last Stop on Market Street 151
The Scarecrow 155
The Invisible String 159
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend 163
Move and Play 167
Giraffes Can't Dance 167
We Will Rock Our Classmates 171
Comfort and Acceptance 175
The Bad Seed 175
Be Who You Are 180
Imagine and Create 183
What Do You Do with an Idea? 183
The Dot 187
Rosie Revere, Engineer 191
Mae Among the Stars 195
The Most Magnificent Thing 198
Jabari Jumps 202
The Magical Yet 206
We Are Water Protectors 210
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist 214
First Day Jitters 218
Our Class Is a Family 222
Chrysanthemum 226
The Kissing Hand 231
The Day You Begin 235
Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome 240
Oh, the Places You'll Go 244
Index 249
"Cue the epic trumpets and crowd-cheering sound effects--Rock Your Read Aloud by Matt and Melissa Hammersley, the team behind Novel Effect, will inspire and uplift educators, parents, caregivers and anyone who wants to instill a love of reading in children."
--Josh Funk, award-winning picture book author of the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series
"Rock Your Read Aloud will have you reading like a story time rockstar--without the stage fright! Packed with tips to keep kids hanging on your every word, it's the ultimate guide to turning story time into an encore-worthy performance that will keep kids wanting to come back for more."
--Megan Broussard, M.Ed, Implementation Specialist, The Carmel Hill Fund Education Program
"Matt and Melissa have created a must-read for all families, librarians, and educators! Rock Your Read Aloud highlights the important and lasting impact reading aloud has on children. They have created such a gift to share with us through Novel Effect, as everyone can 'rock their read-aloud' with this fun and important digital tool."
--Shannon McClintock Miller, District Teacher Librarian at Van Meter School, Iowa
"In our school district, we are on a mission to inspire the joy of reading in our students as we help them prepare for college, careers, and life. Matt and his team have helped support our mission by developing Novel Effect. The intuitiveness of this resource has made the read-aloud experience not only fun and engaging for the listener, but the reader, too! Rock Your Read Aloud is a must-have for anyone looking to make reading an adventure!"
--Jennifer Saunders, Director of Library Media Services, Atlanta Public Schools
"Rock Your Read Aloud is a transformative guide that elevates the way educators, parents, and caregivers connect with young readers. Matt and Melissa Hammersley, with their deep expertise in literacy and technology, offer an innovative and practical roadmap for creating read-aloud sessions that inspire a lifelong love of reading. Their insights make this an invaluable resource for anyone invested in fostering a meaningful connection with children through storytelling."
--Jen Davis Wickens, Founder, Impact Public Schools and Co-Founder, Seminar
"For those aspiring to master read-aloud skills, you need this book and its valuable insight. Matt and Melissa emphasize the significance of reading aloud to children through research-backed expertise and practical lesson ideas."
--Blake Hopper, Assistant Principal and Former School Librarian in Tennessee
