*This week's images come from our World Book Day celebrations across the Preschool and Elementary School, including the Book Glasses Parade, shared reading in Grade 2 and the black-out poetry workshop with the Grade 4 and Grade 5 students.
Long before I understood the mechanics of a plot, I was captivated by a giant lizard. Specifically, a Komodo Dragon in a green hat and a veil who, mistaken for a wealthy socialite, strolled onto a cruise liner in Diane Redfield Massie’s The Komodo Dragon’s Jewels.
It was the early 70s, and as my mother read that story to me, the boundary between the real world and the world of "what if" vanished. I began to dictate my own stories to her: surreal, hilarious and wildly imaginative tales of the dragon’s further adventures, sometimes merging with characters from Winnie-the-Pooh and other favourites of the time. She wrote them down faithfully, preserving the exact moment my own voice began to emerge. Reading those "collaborations" back now, I can see the sparks of a lifelong love for reading and writing being struck in real time.
That same spark is currently illuminating our hallways at ISA. As we celebrate World Book Day, our Preschool children have been narrating their own stories to their keyworkers. Looking at their display, I see the same magic: children navigating their world through narrative and discovering that their ideas have the power to be captured on a page.
It is with this "spark" in mind that we share the following piece by Claire McMahon, our Grade 4 classroom teacher and the coordinator of our World Book Day celebrations, exploring why these moments, from the surreal adventures of a komodo dragon to the power of a simple bedtime story, matter now more than ever.
Why Reading Aloud at Bedtime (and Reading for Pleasure) Matters More Than Ever in the digital era - by Claire McMahon (“Mrs. Mac”)
In a world increasingly filled with screens, notifications, and digital distractions, the simple act of reading aloud to your child at bedtime remains one of the most powerful gifts a parent can give. Research continues to show that reading aloud and fostering a love of reading for pleasure are essential to children’s academic success, language development, emotional wellbeing, and lifelong learning.
The Power of Just 15 Minutes a Day
One of the most striking findings in recent literacy research comes from a study by Cunningham and Stanovich, widely referenced by organisations such as Scholastic and The National Literacy Trust. It shows that:
- Reading just 15 minutes a day exposes a child to approximately 1 million words per year;
- By contrast, children who read for only a few minutes a day may hear fewer than 100,000 words annually.
This dramatic difference in word exposure directly impacts vocabulary growth, reading fluency, comprehension, and confidence. The good news? Fifteen minutes is achievable for most families, especially as part of a calming bedtime routine.
Why Reading Aloud Is So Important
Reading aloud to children, even after they can read independently, has long-lasting benefits. Hearing a fluent adult reader helps children develop:
- Rich vocabulary and language structures;
- Listening comprehension and attention;
- Expression, pronunciation, and storytelling skills.
A 2023 review published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology confirmed that children who are read to regularly develop stronger oral language skills and deeper comprehension than those who are not. Importantly, these benefits extend well into the upper elementary years.
Reading aloud also strengthens emotional bonds. Shared reading creates moments of closeness, conversation, and connection. Research from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education highlights how dialogic reading (i.e., talking about stories, characters, and feelings) supports empathy, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking.
Reading for Pleasure: The Hidden Academic Advantage
Children who read because they want to read (not because they have to) consistently outperform their peers academically. According to the OECD’s PISA reports and research from the National Literacy Trust, reading for pleasure is one of the strongest predictors of:
- Academic success across subjects (including maths and science);
- Improved concentration and memory;
- Higher wellbeing and self-confidence.
Reading for pleasure builds creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. It also teaches children that reading is not just a school skill; it is a source of joy, comfort, humour, and discovery.
There Is No “Right” Kind of Reading
One of the most important messages we share with families at ISA is this: all reading counts. Children can read:
- Novels, picture books, comics, graphic novels;
- Non-fiction, joke books, magazines, manuals;
- Books in their mother tongue or in another language;
- The same favourite book again and again……
Reading aloud does not need to be long, serious, or perfect. It can be shared, silly, dramatic, quiet, or cosy. What matters most is that children associate reading with pleasure, warmth, and connection.
Reading Aloud at ISA
At ISA, reading aloud is a valued and visible part of daily school life. Our classrooms include a dedicated read-aloud time after lunch, led by the class teacher and chosen with students. These shared experiences build classroom community, encourage discussion, and model a love of reading. In the lower elementary years, students take part in small guided reading groups, supporting skill development and learner agency. As they move into upper elementary, this naturally develops into novel study, where students inquire into texts more deeply, exploring characters, themes, and author’s choices. This progression reflects the IB Primary Years Programme’s emphasis on inquiry, voice, choice, and lifelong learning.
On special occasions such as World Book Day, we celebrate reading even more deliberately. Teachers swap classes to share their favourite books, exposing students to a wide range of genres and showing them that adults read for pleasure, too. These moments send a powerful message: reading is something we carry with us for life.
A Lifelong Gift
Ultimately, reading aloud at bedtime is about much more than literacy. It is about slowing down, being present, and sharing stories together at the end of the day. The memories created (e.g., a favourite voice, a familiar book, a shared laugh) often last a lifetime. By choosing books over screens, even for just 15 minutes a day, parents help build stronger readers, more confident learners, and children who see reading not as a task, but as a joy. At ISA, we are proud to partner with families in nurturing this love of reading: in school, at home, and far beyond the classroom. Happy reading!
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This Week’s Word:
Language: Japanese (Nihon-go)
Word: tsundoku (tsoon-doh-koo)
Meaning: Tsudoku is the Japanese term for buying, collecting, and piling up books without reading them (積ん読). The word was first used as slang during the Meiji era (1868–1912). The term itself combines the verb tsumu (積む, to pile up or to stack) and the noun doku (読, reading). When people use this word, it is not to imply something shameful or wasteful; instead, it communicates a sense of joy at the anticipation of future reading. One look around my house and office will tell you that I definitely practice tsundoku, as I have several stacks of between 2-3 books each that I’m reading at any one time!
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