Would you like your children to read more? Many parents are choosing audiobooks to enrich their child’s imagination and to encourage them to develop lifelong reading habits. Whether it’s on long trips in the car, in the classroom, or just for enjoyment at home, listening to an exciting story can catch the attention of a generation that is used to playstations, television and the internet.
The Commission on Reading report entitled “Becoming a Nation of Readers” states that the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for success in reading is reading aloud to children. The spoken word has been the primary way that people communicated and learned for centuries. ‘Audio reading’ makes sense, especially in this digital age, when today’s children can instantly download a book to their MP3 players.
Experts in the classroom agree that audio books in the classroom go a long way to help students enjoy reading, much more than normal books. This is especially true for children with reading difficulties. Following along in a printed book while listening to a story can greatly improve their learning skills. By listening to a story, weaker readers can more fully participate in group reading and discussions and so increase confidence and self esteem.
Incorporating audio books into a program can enrich a child’s language, increase speech fluency, improve pronunciation, and inspire curiosity about related subjects and stories. More prosaic benefits include the cost benefit – a downloaded MP3 file is much less expensive that purchasing a book. Consider the cost savings for an entire classroom! Another benefit is that children are exposed to more than just one ‘teacher’, creating more time for teacher preparation and focus work.
Audio books provide an enjoyable way for children to learn in a natural and entertaining manner, and can encourage a love of literature that can last a lifetime.
If you’d like to add audio books to your childrens library, please visit my website, http://www.hearsaybooks.com. You’ll find audio books for children of all ages, instantly downloadable, and much more economical than bookstore prices.
