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Yes, we have a full time job as teachers. However, us educators are constantly searching for innovative strategies to engage all learners, particularly those facing unique challenges such as Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD). One tool that is gaining recognition for its versatility and effectiveness is the audiobook. Audiobooks in the classroom not only provide an alternative pathway to accessing literature but also offer a unique opportunity to engage reluctant readers and support students with various learning preferences. Let’s explore how audiobooks in the classroom be a game-changer in the classroom for students with EBD, share practical tips for incorporating them into your teaching practice, and provide resources to get you started. Let’s dive in!
The Power of Audiobooks in the Classroom for Students with EBD
Students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders often encounter challenges in traditional learning settings that can create roadblocks in academic progress and decrease their engagement with books and reading. Audiobooks can serve as a powerful tool to avoid these barriers. Here’s how:
- Increased Engagement: Audiobooks bring stories to life through expressive readings that capture students’ attention and imagination. This auditory experience can be especially engaging for students who may struggle with reading text due to dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning disabilities that can often be associated with EBD.
- Emotional Connection: The emotional delivery by narrators can help students connect with the characters and themes on a deeper level, fostering empathy and understanding. This emotional engagement can be particularly beneficial for students with EBD, helping them to navigate their own feelings and reactions. Making literary connections to emotion words and emotional experiences can really support emotional literacy in general. Connecting to characters makes the emotional experience less personal, which can often be less threatening and more inclusive for students that become triggered by conversations surrounding emotions.
- Reduced Stress: Reading can be a source of anxiety for some students with EBD. If reading is tricky for a student, of course it’s stressful! Audiobooks in the classroom removes the visual task of reading, allowing students to focus on comprehension and enjoy the story without the stress associated with decoding text. Say it with me: audiobooks are books.
- Accessibility: Audiobooks can be a great equalizer in the classroom, providing access to literature for all students, regardless of their reading level. This can help build a more inclusive classroom culture where every student can participate in discussions and activities based on the same material. Win, win. win.
Incorporating Audiobooks into Your Teaching Practice
Integrating audiobooks into the classroom requires thoughtful planning and creative strategies. Here are some tips to make the most out of audiobooks:
- Listening Centers: Create a dedicated space in your classroom where students can listen to audiobooks. Equip it with headphones and a variety of audiobook options. This can be the perfect way for students to independently explore literature or work on assignments. This can also be an option for a relaxation or down time, even a choice for students who need a break. We all know books can be a good escape, and fostering that love can be a lifelong gift for students.
- Read-Along Activities: Use audiobooks as a tool for read-along activities where students follow the text while listening. This can help improve literacy skills, including vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. This can also be a great tool for inclusion opportunities.
- Literature Circles: Incorporate audiobooks into your literature circles by allowing students to choose whether they want to read the text or listen to the audiobook. This can support building a love for reading and discussion among students with diverse learning needs.
- Multisensory Learning: Pair audiobooks in the classroom with visual aids, such as maps, illustrations, or character charts, to provide a multisensory learning experience. This approach can enhance understanding and retention for students with EBD.
Resources for Accessing Audiobooks
Unfortunately, audiobooks are generally not free resources. Fortunately, there are numerous resources available for educators to access audiobooks for their classrooms! Woo hoo! Here are a few to get you started:
- Audible: Offers a huge collection of audiobooks, including classics, contemporary novels, and educational content. Their Audible for Schools program provides access to teachers and students in participating schools.
- Learning Ally: Specifically designed to support students with learning disabilities, Learning Ally offers audiobooks that come with VOICEtext, highlighting text as it’s read aloud, which is particularly helpful for students with dyslexia or other reading difficulties.
- Librivox: Provides free access to thousands of audiobooks read by volunteers from around the world. It’s a great resource for classic literature and public domain books.
- Local Libraries: Many local libraries offer digital lending services for audiobooks, such as OverDrive/Libby, or Hoopla. These platforms allow students to borrow audiobooks using their library card, providing free access to a wide range of titles. Personally, I have used Libby for years to gain access to books for my Kindle and for audiobooks that I listen to on my commute. It is a total gift!
All in all…
Incorporating audiobooks in the classroom is a transformative way to unlock the potential of students with Emotional Behavioral Disorders. When we provide an alternative way to access literature, audiobooks can engage reluctant readers, enhance emotional connections, and build a more inclusive learning environment. Embracing these tools not only supports our students’ diverse learning needs but also strengthens our teaching practice! Happy listening!
Remember, the goal is to create a classroom where every student feels valued, understood, and excited about learning. Audiobooks are just one of the many tools at our disposal to achieve this. Spread the word that audiobooks are books – you’re still reading, you’re building knowledge, and accessing the world of books through listening! They matter and they count!
