Audiobooks: Getting kids to listen
Will kids develop an interest in reading by listening to books? That's what Parenting magazine and audiblekids.com are hoping.
The two have partnered in an effort to turn kids on to books. Parenting will make recommendations and carry promotions in the magazine, audiblekids.com will provide the downloadable books.
On the Web site, you can find books by subject, age and grade level. The site even hopes to provide books that mom might listen to in the rare moments when she is alone.
I hope it works. Anything that inspires kids to read is a good thing. But I am not sure the reading shouldn't come first and then the listening.
Let's hear from teachers. What do you think?
While she always preferred The Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew, 
Comments
I have a 6 yr old son and he loves audio books and kids programs. Currently I'm reading him the 5 books of The Spiderwick Chronicles (we're on book 3). After each book, we listen to the audio version. We usually play it while he's getting in the shower, brushing his teeth, etc.
He also likes listening to a program called Adventures in Odyssey (a Christian kids program) that focuses on kids and their wacky adventures. He will sit quietly for 30 minutes, coloring or playing, listening to the story.
I think audio books can be a great resource for kids! Not all of them will get into audio books but it's yet another way to get them excited about stories, storytelling, and eventually, reading.
Posted by: Heather J. | August 26, 2008 9:00 AM
Formerly a high school teacher, I found great success in using books on tape, but NEVER without requiring students to read the written text along with the audio recording.
Hearing AND seeing the words allowed students to better grasp the material while assisting in building vocabulary and writing skills. This practice was especially helpful when reading Shakesapeare or reading novels that were culturally rich--with a great emphasis on the vernacular--like Zora Neale Hurston's, Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Using audio books while reading along was also helpful to my students who used English as a second language. One Spanish-speaking girl improved her English writing skills dramatically by this practice; she was even able to encourage her limited English-speaking parents to participate.
I like the idea of the site, but hope it doesn't become the surrogate bedtime story reader.
Posted by: Mo | August 27, 2008 10:53 AM