Reading Aloud (Storytime)
The importance of story time (reading aloud to students). In short, story time is an effective way to engage in critical literacy development. Reading stories aloud to students helps them develop knowledge of story structures, cultural & life values, critical thinking, vocabulary, and syntax.
Another important aspect is that when stories are read aloud, students get comprehensible input and this helps ESL/EFL students improve language fluency. For example, when teachers read aloud with a natural, engaging voice that rises and falls with the events in the story, students hear this and acquire the natural sounds of the English language.
Most of all, story time is a great way for students to have fun and associate books with happiness. Always find time to read aloud to your students. Here is more from Reading Rockets.
Watch Ms. Christine tell a story using good voice, body motion and classroom
management skills.
This video shows a read aloud with students. This books is informational.
This is a great website with lots of stories for children from many genres!
What's the difference between myth, legend, fable, folktale and fairy tales?
Myth: This is a fictional story that deals with how the natural world works and how we should treat each other. Here is an example: The Heroes. There is often a focus on different gods or mythical creatures and explains something about the way nature works or its origins. There are many myths from the ancient Greeks and Romans. For example, here is an example of a myth that deals with the god of fire.
Legends: These old stories passed down from generations that tell the story of people and their actions. Here is an example of a famous legend: Robin Hood. Although the stories are based on truth in some way, the stories are not fully true. This is why they are legends.
Fables: These are old stories that are passed down from generations to teach about something. There is a moral to the story, and the characters are animals or mythical creatures. The most famous fables were written by Aesop around 600 A.D. Here is an example of a fable by Aesop.
Folktales: These are cultural stories mostly and are passed down through generations orally. For example, maybe your grandfather told you some folktales around the fire on a cold desert night. Here are some examples.
Fairy Tales are stories written specially for children to read and the characters are often magical like princesses, fairies, elves and animals. Cinderella is a famous fairy tale.
Comedy: These are stories that are funny and makes children laugh. Here are some modern examples.
Drama: This means a story that has action in it and the characters face difficulties and challenges that keep the audience engaged and concerned. Here is an example: Balloons over Broadway
Informational: This kind of literature is about content. They include facts. For example in the video on this website the teacher is reading about vegetable.
Biography: This is a book written about the life of a real person. Nelson Mandela.