WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

April 27, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 17

READING ALOUD[2]

Twenty-five years ago, Rudine Sims Bishop wrote: “Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience. Reading then, becomes a means of self-affirmation.” As April’s “Cultivating Empathy” theme concludes, Dr. Bishop’s words provide lessons for all.

Reading aloud can transform human experiences and improve literacy. It is not reserved for children. Older adults benefit from reading aloud, enhancing connections in multiple ways. English writer Joseph Addison once said, “reading to the mind is what exercise is to the body.” There is a “production effect” of reading aloud that can improve memory and recollection.

Whether reading an article to a grandparent with failing eyesight or sharing excerpts from a child’s or nephew’s favorite picture book or your favorite novel, reading aloud fosters socialization and empathy. Reading aloud also enhances critical thinking and can improve math skills. When reading aloud, people often pause and think to themselves or ask those in the room questions such as: “Why was that person so sad?” or “I wonder what she will do next?” or “How many cats were in that barn?”

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Create a “reading-aloud toolbox” for someone you know or donate a toolbox to a school, nursing home, or community organization. Shoeboxes decorated by you are perfect toolboxes for small books or articles that you want to share. Include a pen or highlighter, a bookmark, and sticky notes.  

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] R.S. Bishop, “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors,” Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, Vol. 6, No. 3, Summer 1990;  In the Classroom with Kristine Nannini, www.kristinenannini.com/empathyreadalouds (Kristine showcases several picture books for teaching empathy along with other helpful information); Michael Dunlea, Teacher’s Guide to Critical Thinking, www.reboot-foundation.org; R. Kawashima, Reading aloud and arithmetic calculation improve frontal function of people with dementia, Journal Gerontology, March 2005.