Read-Aloud

creating a community of young readers one book at a time

About the programme

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools all over India had shut their campuses, Adhyayan Foundation had started a Read-Aloud programme in Goa so that the children of Goa would continue to receive some inputs to build their foundational literacy. A tweet about this programme caught the attention of Smt. Uma Mahadevan-Dasgupta, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department. She had a similar vision for the Gram Panchayat libraries of Karnataka and under the Oduva Belaku programme, nearly 6000 such libraries were being renovated and revitalised. Adhyayan Foundation was invited to send a proposal to RDPR to train the GP library supervisors to conduct read-aloud sessions.

The objective of the programme is to enable a reading culture among rural children in the age group 4-12 years. Library supervisors are being given training to conduct read aloud sessions along with other activities to boost more participation and higher engagement with children of the community. This simple intervention has led to an increase in the footfall to the library, greater interest in books and reading in the children and a shift in the mindset of the library supervisor from a custodian of books to a community resource person. The programme has now expanded to four additional districts — Chikkamaguluru, Tumakuru, Belagavi and Kolar.

Adhyayan has recently started its read-aloud programme in the union territory of Delhi as well.

increase in daily library visits

0 %

look forward to read-aloud sessions

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started reading more books

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Why Read Aloud?

There is abundant evidence that children who read regularly show greater sophistication in the usage of language. Books also contribute to higher levels of cognition as stories teach children about sequencing, visualisation, problem solving, cause and effect and prediction. Stories also help children reflect on moral values and teach them valuable life lessons. Books help children step into worlds that are different from their own and widen their perspectives.

What makes a good read-aloud?

Reading aloud to children is not just fun for the child, it is also very enjoyable for the adult. What’s more is that you don’t need any expensive or complicated equipment or resources. Your toolbox comprises your voice, your face and your body. And, of course, a good picture book.

Our Stakeholders

"The impact of the programme on ground has been tremendous. It has surprised me, it has surprised all of us. We have found, first of all, that the librarians have themselves felt seen. There have been children who have picked up their favourite book and read it out to me in libraries. It has been absolutely wonderful to see this unfold in front of us."

Uma Mahadevean Dasgupta

Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayat Raj Department, Karnataka

Play

a children’s story about what the librarians experience through the read-aloud programme

During our work with the librarians of Karnataka, we discovered many stories waiting to be told. Stories of people who, on the surface, seemed unassuming but had great depth. Time after time, we kept hearing from them how the read-aloud program had made them feel seen, feel heard, feel valued by the community. Before the program, their duties were mostly clerical. The read-aloud program allowed them to discover that their work was not about record keeping. It was about igniting the joy of reading in children and in themselves.

The story of Story Chikkappa

a children’s story about what the librarians experience through the read-aloud programme

About Adhyayan Foundation

As a capacity building organization, Adhyayan Foundation seeks to improve the leadership and governance of teaching and learning in schools. Adhyayan’s team members have been refining the process of evidence-based self-review, benchmarked against global and Indian best practice, for the last 6 years across 390+ schools in 27 States through Adhyayan Quality Education Services, our social enterprise.