Give Audio A Chance
Journal
Give Audio A Chance!
Not all students learn the same or understand information in the same formats.  One tool/strategy that may be used for any student in our classroom is audio versions of texts read; such as, novels, Reader's Workshop (self-selected) books, or content area books.
     POSSIBLE BENEFITS:
  • Motivates students to read.
  • Aides in vocabulary/word pronunciation and identification. 
  • Helps a student focus on the text only.
  • Enhances reading instruction.
  • Models how a fluent reader reads a text.
  • Learn to read with expression. 
  • Increased listening skills.
  • Build student comfort levels in using technology as a means of learning.
  • Models how a fluent reader reads a text and can increase student fluency (smoothness in their own reading)
  • Encourage students and help them learn how to read.
     EXPECTATIONS FOR AUDIO USAGE:
  • Follow along in the text as you listen .
  • Use your comprehension strategies to help understand the text: preview, predict, summarize, ask questions, adjust predictions, and use context clues to figure out the meaning of unknown words.                                                                                                                                                  *The audio can't do that for you!
  • Respect the equipment that you borrow.
  • Notify Ms. Baker 2 days in advance of needing audio text versions. 
  • Be observant of your listening: pause the audio when you need to; such as, when you need to re-read a section that is unclear.
  • Charge your player so you are able to use it everyday.

    ACCEPTABLE DEVICES:     Mp3 music player and earphones
  • Ipods
  • Ipads
  • MP3 Players
  • Some eReader's (limited availability with Ms. Baker for these)
  • Ms. Baker does have 2 devices in her classroom
      WHAT OTHER STUDENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT AUDIO:
  • "You might understand a book more when it is being told to you."
  • Sometimes it makes it easier to understand when I can hear and see the words."
  • "You need to try it...atleast once."
  • "Maybe you don't know what a word looks like but you know what it means, audio will help you figure out the word and pronounce it so you can learn it."
  • "Some people don't need to listen to the book to help them understand the story, see for yourself if it helps your understanding."
  • In a recent survey of 74 5th-10th grade students: 50% of the students who have used audio; enjoyed reading more with audio and 50% said they read more when they used audio.
  • 88% of the students who have used audio said that their understanding of a text was helped by using audio while reading along.