Climate Education
Turning Pages Together: Why Secondary Classrooms Need Interactive Read-Alouds
February 2, 2025
P.S. Feb 2nd is International Read Aloud Day! 📚🎉
You know the scene: a group of little ones sitting on the floor, eyes wide, as a teacher reads aloud from a colorful picture book. It’s the heart of early childhood classrooms—interactive, engaging, and full of life. But what happens when students graduate from elementary school? Does reading aloud suddenly stop?
If you wander into a middle school class or a secondary classroom, the chances of seeing that same cozy, read-aloud moment are slim to none. Instead, we assume that by the time students hit high school, they’re set to tackle the world of literature on their own—no need for a teacher to read aloud. But here’s the kicker: That’s a missed opportunity!
So, What Exactly Is a ‘Read-Aloud’?
Here’s the official-sounding definition: An interactive read-aloud is when a teacher reads a selected text to the whole class, stopping periodically to chat about what’s happening. This isn’t just passive listening; it’s a chance to dig deeper, make predictions, and connect ideas together. It’s a conversation, not a monologue.
Why does it matter? Well, – reading aloud is the single most important activity for reading success —and it doesn’t stop being useful just because students hit middle school or high school. Plus, not all kids are getting ‘the book’ experience at home. In fact, a national study found that 25 percent of young children are never read to, and another 25 percent are read to only once or twice weekly.
Why Stop at Elementary School?
The famous film-makers Jean-Luc Godard once said, “Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” And isn’t that the truth? Stories help students make sense of a world that can often feel overwhelming. When we stop reading aloud to students, we’re missing out on an opportunity to help them engage with complex ideas, build empathy, and keep the spark for learning alive. Secondary students need those same benefits—they need to feel the story and wrestle with its meaning. Interactive read-alouds can help them do just that.
What Makes Read-Alouds So Powerful?
So, what’s the secret sauce to a successful secondary read-aloud? How do we make it work for older students? Here’s how:
1. Be a Performer 🎭
It’s all about setting the stage. Teachers can use music, props, or even a silly voice to get their attention. The more you commit, the more students will be pulled into the experience!
2. Make It Interactive 🗣️
An interactive read-aloud is all about the pauses. Stop to ask your group of students questions, make predictions, or dive deeper into a particular word or phrase. This isn’t a “sit back and listen” moment—it’s a join in and discuss experience.
3. Engage Multiple Skills ✍️
Encourage students to jot down thoughts, ask questions, or discuss the text in groups. This isn’t just about reading—it’s about honing writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills in a dynamic way. All skills that are critically important in adult life, for students who go onto college or join the work-force or both!
Why We Need to Bring Back Read-Alouds For Older Students!
Educators can’t control the amount of time students are read to at home, and it is highly unlikely older kids are getting read to at all. But in the classroom, teachers can create an environment where reading aloud is part of the learning experience.
Imagine secondary students not just reading books but really, truly, deeply engaging with them, discussing them, and connecting them to the world around them. It is a truly magical way to bring a group of older students together and let them socialize over stories and issues without it feeling like yet more ‘school work’. It isn’t a chore, it’s fun.
We know that students of all ages are feeling more anxious about the state of the planet today than ever before and class-rooms can be a place to calm their fears and create community. Let’s embrace the tangible benefits of reading-aloud for students at secondary levels and let’s bring back the read-aloud to Middle and High Schools!
If you are a teacher looking for some inspiration on read-aloud book options – or a student looking to suggest some to your teachers – you will find some great ideas on our climate education page. We still have suggestions for ‘littles’ but also books for students at Middle and High Schools too. From Eat for the Planet: Saving the World One Bite at a Time by Nil Zacharias and Gene Stone to The Day the World Stops Shopping by J.B. MacKinnon and many more.
Let’s give our students the opportunity to experience the power of stories, engage with texts in a whole new way, and remember that learning is not just about reading—it’s about connecting, questioning, and growing together.