Part of being able to read with expression, is identifying the feelings of the characters. Young children who are not yet able to read are still able to understand character emotions based on what is happening in the story. As the adult reading the story, you can help your child make a connection between how a character feels and how you read the words.
As an adult who is able to read the words and symbols on a page, you are able to read with expression using punctuation, such as commas, exclamation points, and questions marks as clues. Since pre-readers have not yet ready to learn this skill, we can use something more familiar to them in order to help teach this concept.
One way to help children identify the feelings of a character is to use the pictures. When reading with your child, point out how a character may look in the picture. Is she sad? Maybe the puppy looks excited. Or perhaps the princess or pirate looks scared.
Once your child has labeled the character’s feelings, read with as much expression as you can muster. By having your child first identify the feeling and then hearing you speak in such a way that relates to that feeling, you will be helping your child make the connection between what is written on the page and how to properly read the words to convey the proper message.
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Written by BRWI Staff on April 4, 2011
Have you ever tried to make your child laugh while he was in the middle of a pouting fit? It is kind of funny to watch them do their best not to crack a smile so as to prove that the pouting is indeed significant. They are keenly aware that their expressions give us clues as to what emotion they are choosing to display. However, they may not be able to identify those same emotions by name as th
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Written by Laura on June 11, 2010
Have you ever sat and listened to someone who is reading in a monotone voice? It can be extremely boring, and it is difficult to pay attention to what is being read. Children react the same way when we adults read in a slow, monotone, or otherwise boring manner. When you read to a child, you want to grab their attention. If you read with excitement, they will respond with excitement.
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Written by BRWI Staff on August 12, 2009
Have you ever listened to a beginning reader reading a book with which they are not very familiar? It is often choppy and monotone as the child struggles to sound out each word. Although it is obviously important that children learn how to use phonetics and context to read a selection, it is also vital that they learn how to read fluently and with expression. Part of this can be taught through
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Written by BRWI Staff on June 5, 2009
