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Reading aloud: making storytime count

Storytime isn't phonics practice - and that's exactly why it matters. How to read aloud so the love of books grows alongside the skill.

Meera Iyer
Tutor Community
Published14 July 2026Reading time1 minute
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Two different jobs

Phonics practice teaches the code. Reading aloud teaches why the code is worth cracking - story, rhythm, vocabulary, and the warm feeling of a book shared. Keep them separate: don't turn storytime into a quiz.

How to read aloud well

Do the voices. Pause at page turns. Let your child finish sentences they know. Re-read favourites as many times as requested - repetition is how young brains feast.

One small phonics bridge

If your child spontaneously points at a word and sounds it out - celebrate, help, and move on. Follow their curiosity, never force it. The goal of storytime is a child who thinks books are where the good stuff lives.

Taggedreading aloudstorytime

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Reading aloud: making storytime count | PhonicSky