Reading aloud: making storytime count

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.