Parents of wiggly kids – the proof is here. In this episode with author Dr. Michael Gurian, you’ll hear scientific evidence demonstrates that many kids not only need to move while being read to, they actually retain information better when they are allowed to do so.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• why boys might prefer to read non-fiction, and why we should let them
• why we don’t need to worry about our kids reading graphic novels
• how we can help resistant kids fall in love with reading

You’ll love all the research in this episode and how it will help you to know how best to support the children in front of you.

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/82/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

I think it’s fair to say this is my favorite episode of the podcast we’ve ever done. 

You probably know Katherine Paterson as the author of books like Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved and the Great Gilly Hopkins, but if you’re not familiar with her essays about writing for children, you’re about to have your socks knocked off.

The way Ms. Paterson thinks about reading and writing books for kids blows me away. I’m in awe.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• what she really thinks when she hears that parents/teachers are using books to improve or help their kids
• how to figure out what a book actually “means”
• how reading allows us a unique privilege to ‘eavesdrop on the soul’

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/81/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

What do you give as gifts for young readers? (Besides books, of course!) Here’s a whole list of gift ideas for the young readers in your life.

In this episode, you’ll hear

• Great gift ideas for babies through teens
• Ideas beyond books – games, book accessories, puzzles, posters, shirts and more
• Ways to help kids make books their own, and begin to identify as readers

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/80/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

What should we look for when we’re choosing books for our children?It’s as easy at 7 points, as you’ll hear in this episode with Sarita Holzmann of Sonlight Curriculum.

Sarita is a veteran homeschool mom and book lover.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• how her son went from struggling reader to Valedictorian
• all about her 7-point all-star test for books
• book recommendations that your kids will love and remember long after they leave home

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/79/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Once upon a time, I said we didn’t love treasuries at our house. Welllll … its time to eat some crow.

Lately, we’ve been reading lots of picture book treasuries, and we are LOVING THEM. They are perfect for longer reading sessions,  for taking on errands when you know you’ll be sitting in waiting rooms, and for building your family’s library with quality books on a budget.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• our very favorite collections – which treasuries we’re loving most (and which have added extras like audio downloads, CDs or even recipes!)
• gift ideas for your favorite young readers
• my biggest tip for choosing treasuries that your family will love

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/78/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report is a national survey of children ages 6–17 and their parents that explores attitudes and behaviors around books and reading.

In this episode, I’m joined by author, Vice President, and Editor-at-Large at Scholastic, Andrea Davis Pinkney. We talk about what the most recent report means for us as parents–and there’s a lot for us in there!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• why we need to build home libraries, and how to do that without breaking the bank
• what kids are really hoping they’ll find in the books they read
• how to make our kids readers for life (listen until the end for five ‘Reading Resolutions’)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/77/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

What do you do when reading aloud doesn’t work out exactly how you hoped?

Maybe your kids are arguing or you’re falling asleep …

But you know how valuable it is to read aloud, so what can you do?

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• 5 ways to make reading aloud enjoyable for everyone (even you! even if you normally get tired!)
• how to keep sibling bickering at bay and toddlers busy so that you can read more
• why 10 minutes of reading aloud is enough (it really is. promise.)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/76/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

It can be challenging to keep track of the books our kids read, right?

But if we want to grow a family of readers, we kind of need to have a system that actually works! So today I’m sharing about our simple reading journals.

• how to create a treasured list of books your kids read at any age
• how to make sure reading journals don’t impede your kids’ reading, but rather create delight (and help our children connect with books)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/75/.

Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling