What is the purpose of the read-aloud?

I came across this interesting article that addresses how to use Read-Alouds in a classroom when one has a student with autism. Along the way, the author discusses the value of Read-Alouds in general. I've pasted below her main points, and a link to the full article. It's worth reading.

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What is the purpose of the read-aloud?

http://readerswithautism.com/2009/08/the-problem-of-the-read-aloud/

• The read-aloud is used for the primary purpose of exposing kids to necessary and important text that is higher than their own reading level.
  
• The read-aloud is used to expose the kids to the pleasure of the written word.
• The read-aloud is used in writing intruction to show kids how words, the rhythm of language, and rhymes can influence a text.
  
• The use of read-alouds to support lessons in writing instruction is a best practice employed by most literacy teachers.
  
• The read-aloud is used as a warm-up or cool-down exercise for kids as they prepare to transition to other tasks.
  
• The read-aloud is used as a break from other academic tasks.
  
• The read-aloud is used to engage kids in bringing a period of history or a certain situation they’ve read about in other contexts to life.
  
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Teacher read-alouds in Primary classrooms

Using Read-Alouds with Critical Literacy Literature in K–3 Classrooms

Reprinted from Young Children • November 2009

http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200911/PrimaryInterestWeb1109.pdf

Wendy B. Meller,

Danielle Richardson,

and J. Amos Hatch

"This article describes read-alouds that feature critical literacy literature. Critical literacy literature consists of high-quality children’s books that prompt children to think and talk about social issues that impact their daily lives. The article includes a rationale for the importance of using children’s literature and read-alouds in primary classrooms; a description of critical literacy and the kinds of children’s books appropriate for critical literacy read-alouds; and an example of a critical literacy read-aloud in a first grade classroom by one of the authors."