Shared Reading Aloud

The article provides a comprehensive review of studies on reading aloud, with a focus on the developmental benefits for young people aged 5 to 18. It outlines practices where educators, typically within the school system, engage in regular reading sessions with students, encouraging them to articulate their perspectives. The implications of reading aloud for personal growth, community engagement, and scholarly research are underscored. International studies and practical research reveal the transformative role of reading aloud in the educational journey, enhancing linguistic development and comprehension capabilities, such as vocabulary expansion, verbal understanding, and reading proficiency. The practice extends its influence to emotional facets (like emotional intelligence and theory of mind), cognitive functions (including memory, focus, strategic planning, and problem-solving), and social skills (such as empathy and prosocial conduct). The article specifically addresses the collective aspect of reading aloud within interactive reading frameworks. It highlights contemporary research that delves into the outcomes of consistent and structured read-aloud sessions in collective environments where participants can collaboratively evaluate, reflect, and share thoughts, concepts, and anticipations. Additionally, the text discusses various internationally recognized approaches to reading aloud and pays particular attention to a method formalized in Italy. This approach places students at the forefront as active listeners and emphasizes the significant role of educators in leading the reading initiative and managing interactive exchanges. Italy's unique contribution to the field is the methodical integration of this approach into educational curricula, designed to enrich student development and counteract early school leaving. The practice of reading aloud, especially one that involves discussion and interaction around what has been read appears to have an effect on the disposition to volitional reading for pleasure.