Managing multiple read-alouds

[deltagal]

Hi all,

I see that many of you have children in multiple levels. How do you manage all the read alouds and not steal the thunder for the child who has not had that level, yet?

With Joy!
Florence

[mamas4bugs]

We probably aren't typical, but I have found that it turns out that my kids love to hear the books again. The little ones don't usually remember all the details--just a vague recollection of the book--and then when they get older they still want to sit in on the repeat. Just the other day I was reading "Gooseberry Park" to my 6 year old. My 15 year old pipes up with "Oh I loved this book!" and plops her brother in her lap so she can listen in also. All 3 of my older ones tend to sit in on everyone else's read alouds (except for the times when the content of the oldest's book is inappropriate). Maybe your kiddos will be like this as well.

If not, you could just do the read aloud parts in another room of the house while the other children either have independent work or play quietly. Some folks use the read alouds at bedtime. If they have separate bedtimes, you might try that as well.

Welcome to HOD!

[Kathleen]

We're doing Bigger right now, and I know that in the appendix there are 4 titles reccommended for each genre to read aloud. (I think Beyond is the same way...and the new ancients guide is going to be similar to that, too.) Oh - I'm talking about the storytime portion of the day here. Is that what you were asking about? So, the only guides where there is a "set" read-aloud schedule for now would be LHFHG and PHFHG. For the guides that have several options you could just choose a different option for the next time around. Some moms choose to combine everyone for storytime if their kids are close in age. (Like just doing Bigger's storytime from the group.) I'd say that you'd want to use LHFHG and PHFHG as is, as the Burgess books are great to build little ones listening skills...and from what I've heard the kids really get into the stories and love the characters! Preparing's storytime (I think) is linked to the history so substituting would take that away.

My little 2 haven't grown to the point that my ds is yet, so I can't say for sure, but I tend to agree with mamas4bugs that when the kids are old enough to hear the books on their own that their comprehending level will probably be different and they'll get more out of them when it's their "turn". (And they probably won't mind repeating them.) I'm sure it depends how close your kids are in age. I don't think you'd want to be reading the same books consecutive years.

I'll be inerested to see what others do. Right now my 8 yo and I go away from the little 2 to do history and science readings so he can concentrate and narrate...and I don't have to feel like a "reading jungle-gym". We've moved to doing our storytime during their naps, but occasionally we've done it during lunch and they listen in. It works either way for us.

[Carrie]

Florence,

Great question! The ladies have given you wonderful advice! My kiddos don't mind listening to read-alouds over again either when they're older and can take more from it. Also, Kathleen is right that only LHFHG and Preparing have "set" read-alouds, so the variety in choosing in the guides really helps you use "new" books.

At our house, I usually choose one of the storytime sections of one of the guides I'm teaching that year to read aloud to everyone at lunch. Then, we do the corresponding plans for that "box" with everyone together. The rest of the boxes, I read aloud separately with just the child who is doing that guide. It may change from year to year which guide I'll use the storytime box for at lunch.

Blessings,
Carrie