There are many reasons to check out the world of audiobooks. Maybe you are a slow reader, maybe your child struggles with remembering what they read and comprehension, maybe you commute to work or have a big road trip ahead of you. Whatever your reason, audiobooks can be a positive answer to any of the above situations.
Some students, no matter the speed at which they read, struggle to comprehend what they read. Part of their struggle may lie in the idea that their brain is so heavily engaged in the act of decoding the words that they cannot spare the extra thought to remember or understand what they are reading. In this situation, the power of the audiobook is in the freedom it gives the brain to engage in critical thinking tasks. With an audiobook pronouncing the words for the reader, they can now focus on what the words collectively mean.
In 2011, I completed an action research study using my regular education sixth grade reading students. While reading a novel, the students would alternately silent read and read with an audiobook, on a bi chapter (every other chapter) schedule. When given comprehension quizzes on the material from these chapters, student who had read with the audiobooks outperformed their peers who silently read without the audiobook. The data from the study was not statistically significant enough to prove this strategy will work every time for every student, but I felt I saw noticeable improvements. When students were surveyed, most commented they felt this strategy improved their comprehension. The successful completion of this study and subsequent research paper helped me complete my Master’s degree in education. Similar research was done by Gary Woolley in 2010, finding comparable results.
Another super power of audiobooks is the ability to increase the speed at which a person reads. This power is applicable to a person of any age. If you are a slow reader, listening to an audiobook while you follow along (tracking the words on the page as they are read aloud) can increase the rate at which your eyes move across the page. As your eyes grow accustomed to this speed, your brain will as well. After an extended period of audiobook use, your eyes and brain will be able to maintain and replicate this speed on their own. This is a great strategy to consider for anyone trying to increase their speed on a standardized test.
Oftentimes, reluctant readers are much more interested in technology items (than reading). Lure that child into an amazing reading experience by offering them a new way of reading. Chances are, that if they can read and listen to their book while holding their ipod or while sitting next to the stereo, they will read more often. Even something as simple as using a mini stereo jack box plugged into a boom box caught my students’ attention this week! An initial hood on the method of reading, can eventually turn into just plain hooked on reading.
Alright, now that I have hooked you on this simple reading strategy, you want to know, how do you find the resources to make it work for you or your student? Many libraries, including school libraries and public libraries have audiobooks available on cd to check out (for free!). Also available for check out and becoming more popular are mini MP3 players called Playaways. These small devices hold an entire audiobook in a small compact format. The listener/reader can simply plug in their headphones, carry it in their pocket and be on their way with a great book in tow. If you (or your child) own any of the following electronic devices, audiobooks can be purchased and downloaded (for a fee): iPod, iPad, Nook, Kindle, MP3 Player or a laptop. My favorite site for downloading audio books is audible.com. It is affordable and has a wide library selection of both children and adult titles.
It is important to note, that listening to the audiobook alone is not enough to bring you the success I have talked about. The reader must both listen to the audiobook and physically track the words in the hard copy of the text. Here are a few other ideas and extensions to consider, especially for educators. Try to create a media center in your room by building up an audiobook library and stocking up on old personal CD players. This way you can offer this great learning opportunity to students who do not have resources outside or school to experience reading in this way. A great resource for suggestions on audiobooks or other motivational reading tips is the website www.guysread.com or the newly formed www.guyslisten.com.
Aside from its educational contributions, audiobooks can also be a fun and entertaining option for commuters, or those going on a road trip (an added bonus… no commercials!) So no matter your motivation (or lack there of), give an audiobook and listen and enjoy the reading ride. I guarantee it will enliven, entertain and engage your reading experience.
