This is our third year to participate in the Read Aloud Challenge from Read Aloud Revival.
Can I just say that it has been one big gift to MYSELF??
– I printed the challenge.
– Next, I had the kids make their challenge sheets personal with their name and embellishments before taping them to the refrigerator.
Afterwards, just to help get them started, I paired them up to read aloud to one another. And then the magic happened……
After the 1st 10 minutes I heard, “Can we PLEASE read longer than 10 minutes?”
I answered, “I guess if you REALLY want to.” 😉
They get to count “a day” per 10 minutes of reading out loud. I can do the math real quick with my handy phone calculator and that’s a whopping 28 hours of children reading aloud in our house for the month of January!!! Are you kidding me?!?!
The non-readers can tell back a story or tell a story using pictures on the pages. Our emergent reader is improving greatly these first 2 weeks of the read aloud challenge!!
It’s a gift to myself for many reasons including it gives us a different feel for the month after a busy holiday season. Twice I have heard the children offering cups of tea to their sibling before sitting down to read. Their relationships are deepening which is music 🎵 to my ears! I overheard our oldest son telling the boys that they should head to bed early so he can cover more of the Wingfeather Saga that he is reading to them.
The girls offered their room as a tent day where every blanket was used and reading nooks with lamps were placed all around.
Apparently, our children like the motivation. AND it’s pushing me to be more of a creative mom by rewarding them along the way. Today, one of the kids earned a ticket to choose what was for dinner. It was a huge hit when he chose Pretzel Hotdogs. My friend Becca often makes these when we get to visit their family.
The big reward will happen at the beginning of February. As a bonus, if they also write 10 minutes a day then there will be an extra prize!
A Gift to MYSELF indeed along with a January tradition the kids will never forget! ❤️
Book Ideas
The Story of the Trapp Family (Sound of Music – not pictured above, she was Missing In Action)
Awaking Wonder (me)
Alexander Hamilton: A Life (Blake)
The Family Under the Bridge (our cozy read aloud that I am reading – it’s leftover from December, but thrilled my friend Shay suggested it) Hey, wait a minute!!! I want a ticket for reading out loud. I would like the dinner ticket and I choose, “TAKE OUT!”
*I would love to know what you are reading!! Share it in the comments.
Tying Strings 
The Boy, the mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charles Mackesy
We have read it aloud several times to our kids and I have bought it as gifts.
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Oh awesome! Thank YOU for the book idea!!
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Has Alexandria graduated? Missing her in the picture! I would welcome any book suggestions a five (almost six) year old girl would love!! 😉📚❤️
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No she was babysitting. 😊
The ones pictured, Make Way for Ducklings and You Belong Here are both great for that age.
– If I Had A Little Dream is very special.
– The popular Beatrix Potter is still a favorite.
– We Are the Gardeners
is filled with beautiful pictures!
I could give 50 but last idea for now is:
– Roxaboxen which is a life giving book about children who make a pretend town. Our children ran and created one of their own as soon as we read it for the first time.
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We are reading along Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis, Tales from Persia about a missionary from Persia in the 1930s ( I think), and the Vanderbeekers of 141st St. Reading aloud is my favorite part of the day and my kids’, too! We would be great book swap partners. Haha. The Family Under the Bridge is one of my favorites ever. Have you read The 100 Dresses? 😭. My boys are reading the Prince Warrior series now and we have all of Justin’s old Louis LaMore books! ❤️. That was his favorite author growing up! Loved the update!!! Your kids are growing and I know you enjoy each day so much. ❤️
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So glad you shared these!! Thank you Allison!!
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