

Read-Aloud Revival ®
Sarah Mackenzie
Sarah Mackenzie helps your family fall in love with books, and helps *you* fall in love with homeschooling.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 15, 2015 • 24min
RAR #29: Getting Back in the Saddle with Reading Aloud
Have you fallen out of the read-aloud habit? It’s okay – I understand. I’ve been there 100 times! In fact, I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things myself.Getting back in the saddle is quite likely easier than you think, though. In this episode, you’ll hear: a handful of tips and tricks to make the transition as smooth and simple as possiblesome fun book ideas to get the whole family excitedadvice for keeping reading aloud simpleFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/29/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Jun 8, 2015 • 1h 8min
RAR #27: Summer Reading: Making memories (& having fun)
We all want our kids to read over the summer, right? But how can make that summer reading both memorable and fun – a treasured childhood memory rather than another thing to do and check off our lists?For today’s show, I talked to one of my very favorite people on the whole planet--Pam Barnhill.In this episode, you’ll hear:ideas for how to motivate your kids to readhow to motivate yourself to read aloud to themand which books are best for summertimeJust wait till you hear some of the reading party ideas!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/27/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

May 19, 2015 • 42min
RAR #26: How Illustrations Nourish the Imagination, Zach Franzen
If you’ve listened to the Read-Aloud Revival podcast much, you probably know I’m a huge fan of The Green Ember. I think it’s the best book my kids and I read together all year long. You’ll understand, then, why I was so excited to chat with Zach Franzen, the illustrator of The Green Ember for today’s show.I was floored by how insightful Zach is – how much careful thought and real consideration goes into his work.In this episode, you’ll hear: whether illustrations help or hinder a child’s imaginationwhy illustrations deeply matterhow one simple sentence helped him to realize he was an artistFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/26/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

May 5, 2015 • 46min
RAR #25: When Kids are Whiny (and other questions you’re asking)
On today’s episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, we’re answering YOUR questions! These Q and A podcasts are listener favorites, so grab some laundry, pop in your earbuds, and let’s go!In this episode, you’ll hear: what I do when kids are whiny and don’t want to listen to a read-aloudwhat to try when teens aren’t interested in the family bookand how I organize my booklistsFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/25/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Apr 21, 2015 • 30min
RAR #24: From Picture Books to Chapter Books and Novels
I'm trying something new for this episode of the Read-Aloud Revival Podcast. Instead of interviewing a guest, I’m chatting with you one-on-one.Something I hear about a lot is the struggle it can be to make the transition from picture books to chapter books and novels during read-aloud time. It’s something I’ve struggled with in the past, as well, and I’ve got a few ideas about how to make this as seamless and simple as possible.In this episode, you’ll hear: some quick tips for making the transition from picture books to chapter booksmy very favorite first novels and chapter booksand tell you my #1 tippy-top recommendation of them allNope-not gonna tell ya. You have to listen to find out. ;)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/24/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Mar 24, 2015 • 53min
RAR #22: Read Good Books. The End. -Carole Joy Seid
This isn’t rocket science, Carole Joy Seid tells us in today’s episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast. It’s really very simple – read good books. The end. :)In this episode, you’ll hear:fabulous book recommendationssimple, practical strategies to help us make reading aloud a pillar of family lifecalming encouragement from a mom who has made it to the other side of homeschooling!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/22/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Mar 10, 2015 • 54min
RAR #21: Finding Allies in Imagination: S.D. Smith and The Green Ember
If you read nothing else to your kids this year, read The Green Ember. This is a book that will steep your family’s imagination in the good, true, and beautiful.The characters encounter tremendous difficulty and face them with indomitable courage. You will laugh, cry, and find your heart racing. You will wonder if you could possibly live up to the nobility and fortitude Heather and Picket.You will, in short, fall down a rabbit hole. :)I stumbled across The Green Ember during some random late night clicking and had no idea I had found such a treasure. After reading it with my kids, I started shouting about it from the rooftops and wrote to the author, asking if he’d please-pretty-please come on the podcast.Guess what? He said yes.In this episode, you’ll hear: heroic virtueholy imagination in children’s literatureand why I fell head-over-heels for this bookFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/21/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Feb 10, 2015 • 48min
RAR #19: Reading Aloud to Toddlers - the Why and How
We know we should start reading aloud to toddlers when they are still small, but somehow the logistics of doing just that are really difficult! Today I’d like you to meet Haley and Sarah from Aslan’s Library–a blog I love. Haley and Sarah focus most of their blog writing about beautiful and true theological books for kids.In this episode, you’ll hear:the nitty gritty of reading aloud with toddlers- a formidable age group to approach with a read-aloud, no doubt. :)how to power through the rocky spotswhy it’s worth itI’ve got a pack of toddlers in hand at the moment, so this episode is especially relevant to me.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/19/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Jan 12, 2015 • 51min
RAR #17: On Living a Storyformed Life
If you only listen to one episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast, let this one be it. This episode is the humdinger of them all, if I do say so myself. ;)I have been dying to talk to Sarah Clarkson since the Read-Aloud Revival was born! She’s a busy student at Oxford, though, and it took a bit of finagling to get our schedules to play nicely together. Over the Christmas break we made it happen, and now I’m ready to share it with you!This episode is guaranteed to make your heart rate speed up and energize every single aspect of your read-aloud culture in your home.In this episode, you’ll hear: why the Read-Aloud Revival existswhy it’s so important to build your family culture around booksand what’s really at stakeFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/17/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling

Dec 31, 2014 • 12min
RAR #16: Start a Reading Streak!
I never do this--record a podcast episode on the fly just because I’m so excited I can’t help myself. :) But today is the last day of 2014 and I want to make sure we head into 2015 and make it count by forming deep and meaningful connections with our kids.In this episode, you’ll hear:how you can start a reading streak in your home TODAYhow this one step will make a difference in your family for the whole year throughhow it really can be easy (pinkie swear!) to read-aloud each dayFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/16/.
Join us for the upcoming Circle with Sarah Retreat: Happy Homeschooling


