Re: Audio Books (4)

[Kathy Simonsen <ksimonsen@CHEROKEE.K12.IA.US>]

alternative for students.  It is especially suited to those who are not
"great" readers or have concentration problems.
        My 13 yr old son has attention deficit disorder.  We try to get as many 
books
on tape as possible.  He likes to read along as he listens to the story.  He
has done Treasure Island, Huck Finn, and many other classics this way.  Tapes
have opened up books to him that he would not have been able to read
otherwise.
        I purchase audio books (2 copies) for all the required novels and drama for
our English classes.  They are intended for special needs kids but are
available for anyone to check out.  I would purchase for recreational reading
if it weren't for the expense.  I don't make judgements about reading v.
listening (hopefully they will do both together if they have trouble with
reading) but I am VERY CAREFUL to get unabridged (it's not always easy!).
Good luck!
        We have a small collection of audio books, most of them "classics" which
still remain on our required summer reading list (in print, I mean).  All are
unabridged.  I think listening is a perfect way to get through a book a
student may not otherwise.  I have no problem with that at all and would
probably purchase more if I had more money and kids did more fiction reading.

         We've had books on tape (mostly abridged) for seven years and they are very
popular--particularly with our faculty.  They love to take them on long trips
to listen to.  The students like them also.  Most will go back and read the
book later.  Since the abridged are only $12 - $15, they are very affordable.
We have a few of the unabridged, but they run about $80 and take 20 hours or
more to listen to.  Good luck.
        Our learning specialist has requested we purchase some audio books.  She
feels that her auditory learners will benefit from them.  The criteria that
the English teachers and I decided on was that they could not be titles that
are on the required reading lists and that they are unabrdged.  This is for a
private school and the audio books are intended for middle school grades.
        I notice more and more people with less and less time listening to books on
tape via walkmen and in cars.  I think we need to make media available in a
variety of forms for all types of learners and for the busy world we live in
today.  I don't think they will replace books but we offer videos too.
        I have purchased quite a few audio books for my school library with grant
money.  I almost exclusively bought UNABRIDGED versions of the books.  I've
tried listening to abridged books but find them horrid.  The reading levels
here at the juvenile detention center range from pre-primer to post high
school. Our students cannot take the tapes back to their housing units and
must listen to them either in the library or in a classroom. All my tapes have
at least two accompanying paperback copies so when the kids plug into a tape
player, they follow along with the text.  It's great for readers and
nonreaders alike.  Don't worry about them "just" listening instead of reading.
 I pop in a book on tape all the time when I'm driving or walking.
Personally, I prefer to read, but who has time for that luxury anymore??  Good
luck.
        We have just started to purchase a few books on tape.  I haven't seen them
circulate, but then they are just for teachers it seems.  I myself am a
listener to book on tape, and I definitely see the value.  First of all you
can "read" more books.  I listen when I walk, drive, and do other
things.  Listening is an important skill to develop and one that is presently
underdeveloped.  Because of tv we are definitely much more visually oriented.
I have listened to books that I just couldn't get into when I tried to read
them, and found them wonderful to listen to . Listening often makes me much
more aware of the language than reading.  You can only go as fast as the
reader.  Imagination use can be increased as we draw mental images of what we
re listing to.  I definitely don't think tapes should replace books, but they
can be used as suppliments and even reading rousers when only a part is
listened to.  I have heard a chapter of segment of a book read and have been
sucked in so that I immediately have to get the book.


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         Cherokee Community School District - Cherokee, Iowa 51012
         Problems, please contact:  712-225-6767 voice
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