Preview the book before reading aloud - to read aloud takes practice.
Mood:
Instead of saying, "Now stop that and settle down!" try, "Let's get cozy for our story."
Sit close together and share the book together.
Expression:
change your voice for different characters
let your voice get soft and loud
ham it up!
Patience:
take time to answer your children's questions
point to the words as you read them and let your child point too
let your child turn the pages
if your child gets fussy, stop reading or choose a different book
Pace:
don't race while reading; slow down
if time is a problem, read a shorter story
Don't get hung up on words. If you come across some words you can't read, that's okay. Make up the words as you go along, using the pictures as your guide. Just keep reading!
