Is an audio book a book? Is it “reading”? {Neil Gaiman alert}
I think so, and so does Neil Gaiman, who took the mic at NPR last month and filed a story on audio books, featuring audio book emperors David Sedaris and Martin Jarvis, no less.
Listen to it here (and, for fun, read the text transcript at the same time to see where NPR made edits).
Our students love audio. While I initially purchased Audible.com subscriptions and iPod Shuffles with an eye on our special education students, they are wildly popular with all students. I don’t mandate that they also check out the book; I leave it to the students to decide. I figure that if I really want to develop passionate readers, I’ve got to make room for those who might not read if it required sitting down with the book in one’s hands but who might consider it if they could do their chores and rake the leaves while reading.
I’d love to hear from you. How are you using audio books in your school? Can students “just listen”? Do they (or must they) follow along with the text? Do kids listen to audio books for pleasure, or merely to keep pace with classroom reading assignments?
December 14th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I love them. I am getting my SLMS degree and if it weren’t for audio books I would never have been able to keep up with children’s books or pleasure reading wile also teaching and having a family. My wife argues that I can read faster than I can listen, but I point out that I can’t read while driving or folding laundry and that’s about the only time I have so it works for me!
But your question was about teaching. I teach elementary ESOL and have always had a listening station with plenty of book/audio packs. Not all kids love it, but the ones that do really do so I think it’s essential. It’s also great for ADHD students who tend to have a hard time reading lengthy passages even if they’re not hyperactive. I only wish I could afford iPods for all of them because then I could take advantage of the “slower playback setting” for some of the ESOL students.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I LOVE audio books. I too purchase them from an Audible subscription, run them through iTunes, and burn them onto CD. I have a special “Books on CD” section in my media center. I try to download books that I have more than one copy of so I can shelve one copy of the book beside the CD version. I don’t require that both get checked out together, but I like having the book right next to the CD in case the student would like to check out both. All levels of learners have enjoyed books on CD!
December 15th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Laura,
I am curious if you are a high school or elementary Media Specialist? I have wanted to add a section like you mention to my media center but was worried about how I would handle elementary kids checking them out. Also can you tell me more about your Audible Subscription, how much? how do I find them?, this is new to me so lots of questions.