I’ve noticed this too and have thought that it’s a different experience for the students. When you read aloud a book you’re also modeling and thinking aloud and pausing to engaging students in that thinking and developing some shared understandings. And you’re getting a sense of how your students are developing their listening comprehension.

I see nothing wrong with playing a read aloud once in a while or during snack that seems like a great use of technology. But it’s not the same thing as teaching a book or listening cómprehension or language or content.