Audio Books

Audio books are awesome!

Not audio-visual books, but audio books.

I was an avid reader as a child and my mother very much remembers my obsession with disney's audio books on tape.  I would sit and listen and read along often.  I believe they had a lot to do with my success and lifelong enjoyment of reading.  Why wouldn't I want to pass that on to my 2 loves?

If you're into literacy instruction, the "Daily 5" is a very popular approach to literacy instruction right now.  

I'm going to share how 2 of the 5 activities are able to be accomplished with Audio books at home!

I did extensive research before I bought Mp3 players for my girls. 

There are a ton out there, so do your research.  I was looking for one that could be manipulated easily by me but that would NOT be easily manipulated or broken by my active 2 and 4 year olds!  I am EXTREMELY happy with my purchase of the Sweetpea3.

One of the reasons I was really excited about Audio books is that we live far away from a ton of relatives, so having relatives read books to Charlotte or Adelyn is a great connection for them.  It's also a cool idea when a parent travels, etc.

I like this software because it's only $0.99 and it's easy to use with an iPhone!

(If you have questions - please don't hesitate to ask!)

Charlotte LOVES her new mp3 player full of audio books!

One of the ways we're using her mp3 player full of audio books is to enhance her instructional reading level.  There are book sets that she can read to herself alone, easily and fluently.  Those are at her independent reading level.  However, there is a level just slightly more challenging than that (called instructional level) that kids can practice at.  One of the methods you can use audio books for is something called "Choral Reading".  Choral reading is when two people read a text together at the same time (like a chorus).  Instead of another person sitting next to your kiddo, you can record a set of books so that they can choral read with you.  These Bob Books (below) are at Charlotte's instructional level.  I recorded the entire box as one of the 10 potential playlists.  In daily 5, this choral reading is considered "Read to/with Someone".

This is the book set we're currently using for Choral Reading

A fun second way to use audio books is just for listening pleasure!  This is considered "Listening to Reading" in Daily 5.  We all know it's important, right?  

What is fun about audio book sets is that kids can listen to you read the same book 100 times :)

Haven't we all FELT like we read a book 100 times in one day?

Another cool aspect is that a variety of people (that your kids love) can read books that kids love into these eclectic book sets! With the above software anyone with an iphone or ipad can read a book with their phone and email you the file in minutes!

Our current mixed set includes a variety of types of books (13 total), lengths, difficulties, etc.

A book of Nursery Rhymes

Did you know that research shows that 4 year olds that know 8 nursery rhymes are more likely to become better readers by the age of 8?

I love mixing in stories that really have strong messages!

 I use stickers at the bottom left of the book with a number that corresponds to the number the book is on the playlist.  This way, when I turn on a playlist, Charlotte can easily navigate to the book she wants to listen to.

This is one Charlotte can probably read along during parts

Classics never get old!

Charlotte loves to use the mixed set during her quiet time with headphones :)

Good headphones are another must-have for kids.  

We have loved these so far for a variety of purposes!