Parenting is a journey, with countless happy moments, but we’re guessing that many of your most treasured moments took place behind an open book. Think about what happens when you read aloud: a child leans in, eyes wide, completely wrapped up in the world of a story. It’s wonderful isn’t it? The thing is, that wonderful moment doesn’t have to exist only in toddlerhood or bedtime routines. It can take root and grow throughout your child’s life, and make an impact no matter how old your child is. Reading aloud during the school year is especially impactful – and amazingly, there’s time to do it, even when you might think that you don’t have time for it.
When you make reading aloud a habit during the school year, you do incredible things to support your child’s experience in school. But how do you make it a lasting habit when the school year feels packed to the brim with homework, sports, activities, and exhausted evenings? You start small, steal time creatively, and trust that every page turned is a gift to your child’s growing mind.
Why Reading Aloud During the School Year Matters
Studies show that students who are read to regularly are more likely to perform well academically. Reading aloud improves listening comprehension, enhances vocabulary acquisition, and exposes children to more complex sentence structures than they might encounter in casual conversation or even their own independent reading.
And here’s a powerful truth: the home has far more influence than the classroom.
As Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, puts it: “Each year a child is in school for 900 hours and outside of school for 7,800 hours. Improving the curriculum of the home can have six times the impact of classroom change.”
It might feel impossible to change your habits during a busy time of year. It also might feel like pulling out a tablet or turning on the television is your saving grace during those chaotic after school moments. But, have you ever noticed that electronic distractions can actually make those chaotic moments feel a little worse?
You don’t have to make a major transformation from the get-go. You just need to start small by opening time and opening books. Here’s how…
5 Pockets of Time to “Steal” for a Read Aloud
You don’t need an extra hour in your day. You just need to reimagine the ones you already have. Here are five common pockets of time that can be turned into story time:
1. Breakfast Read
While the kids eat, open a book. You’ll have a quiet audience, and it’s a calm way to start the day.
2. Carpool Chapters
Audiobooks are fantastic for school commutes or drives to practice. Or let a sibling read aloud from the passenger seat.
3. After School Wind-Down
Before screen time or homework begins, let reading aloud be the first thing they hear after a long school day.
4. Bath Book Time
While the kids splash, read from a safe distance. It’s multitasking that feels like magic.
5. At the Dentist’s (or Doctor’s) Office
When you’re waiting for your appointment, pull out the chapter book you’ve been reading aloud, or surprise your child with a favorite picture book. Those 15 minute wait times will go by more quickly!
Try the R.E.A.D. Great Books Method
We know it’s hard. Screens are everywhere, and kids love them. But they come at a cost: short attention spans, reduced imagination, and overstimulation. When kids are fed a constant stream of fast-paced images and instant gratification, books can feel slow by comparison.
That’s why Read Aloud America encourages families to try a bold but transformative challenge, and you’ll be AMAZED at how much time this bold strategy leaves for reading aloud during the school year:
R.E.A.D. Great Books
Reduce Electronics and Discover Great Books
What does it mean?
1. Designate Screen Free Time
From Monday – Thursday, make 2 hours per day screen-free time. Turn off all electronics—TVs, tablets, phones, video games, everything! (Want to take it to pro-level? Turn off your electronics ALL DAY on these days!)
2. Read Aloud Instead
Then, replace that time with reading aloud for at least 30 minutes. (Parents, too!) If you’re ready to move onto to something new after you read, then try another family-centered, creative activity, like journaling, going for a walk, or simply talking to each other at the dinner table.
3. Stick to It – and Experience the Difference
Parents report that after just a few tantrum-filled days, a shift begins to happen. Kids become less agitated. They sleep better. They look forward to storytime. They even start picking up books on their own.
As one parent shared:
“It was difficult in the beginning and we saw lots of tantrums because they loved the TV, but a couple of weeks later we saw a transformation. All the kids began showing more creativity and started reading. Today they are all getting good grades and passing the state test. It is not unusual to see my children with a book in their hands. They LOVE BOOKS!” — Abigail
This method works not because it restricts but because it opens space. It reclaims time that can be filled with imagination, connection, and growth.
Reading Aloud = School Success
Reading aloud during the school year does more than just create cozy moments. It lays the foundation for academic achievement.
Here’s how:
1. Vocabulary Growth
Books introduce children to thousands more words than they encounter in everyday conversation. A rich vocabulary supports reading comprehension, writing skills, and even math word problems.
2. Listening Comprehension
Listening to stories read aloud helps children process and understand complex language, story structure, and tone—key skills for school success.
3. Background Knowledge
Books expose children to new ideas, cultures, and historical contexts that help them make connections in school.
4. Focus and Patience
Unlike screens, reading requires sustained attention. It helps kids learn to sit with a story, follow a plot, and wait for resolution—skills that translate directly to better classroom behavior and test-taking.
5. Motivation to Read Independently
When kids love stories, they seek them out. A well-read child is a confident, curious learner.
And it starts with you. Reading aloud, even for a few minutes, is one of the most powerful academic tools you have as a parent.
24 Amazing Books to Read Aloud
Make reading aloud during the school year a top priority! Start with this curated list of excellent read-alouds for all ages!
Kindergarten to Grade 2
- The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
- Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
- Islandborn by Junot Díaz
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
- Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
Grades 3 to 5
9. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
10. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
11. The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
12. El Deafo by Cece Bell
13. Frindle by Andrew Clements
14. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
15. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
16. Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
Grades 6 to 8
17. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
18. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
19. New Kid by Jerry Craft
20. Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
21. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
22. The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
23. A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
24. The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
These books are rich, inclusive, and perfect for sparking conversation. Try a few with your child, and you may just find them sneaking the book off the shelf to finish on their own.
Reading aloud during the school year doesn’t have to be another burdensome item on your to-do list. It can be the most joyful, impactful, memory-making part of your family’s day.
So choose a book. Steal 10 minutes. Turn off the screens. Light a candle or snuggle in a blanket. Watch what happens when the world slows down enough for a story.
Because when you commit to reading aloud during the school year, you’re not just reading books. You’re shaping a learner, a thinker, and a lifelong reader.
