Paragraph Five 1. Reading aloud to children on a routine basis improves their reading, writing, speaking, listening, and imagining skills. 2. The first conclusion these people drew after two solid years of looking over all the research was: if you want to build readers, read aloud to children early and often. 3. And it improves their attitudes towards learning. 4. But what we do in this culture is to teach child how to read first; then we try to get them interested in it. 5. Today attitude is the major stumbling block to literacy achievement. 6. That’s put the cart before the horse. 7. Reading aloud is the primary focus for the national report Becoming a Nation of Readers.