Select a popular story that is age-appropriate such as one of the Harry Potter series. Ask the students if they are familiar with the author, and if they have read anything else written by her. Show the cover of the book and ask students if they can speculate about the story's plot. Generate enthusiasm about the upcoming adventure as you begin to read.
Know the material so that you may give a voice to the characters. Let the pitch and volume of your voice express appropriately any anger, sorrow, joy and laughter the character is experiencing.
Use appropriate expression in your voice when reading words that are onomatopoeic such as hiccup, cuckoo, swish and sizzle. Let the sound of the word help illustrate the meaning so that the children can "hear" the meaning as well as comprehend the sounds.
Stop reading at strategic points in the story to ask questions about what you have already read. Ask the children early in the story if they think it is fiction or non-fiction. Show any illustrations along the way and talk about what is happening in them.
Speak distinctively, clearly, and slowly as you read the story. Pauses may add to the suspense in a story. Speak effectively. For example, speaking in a whisper makes the listener lean forward in anticipation of your every word.