Home is where you start from: Homeschool secret weapon #3 -audio books

Monday, February 15, 2010

Homeschool secret weapon #3 -audio books

Everyone loves a good story. Even if they do not know this indisputable truth of life -yet, it still rings true...everyone loves a good story. Your job, homeschool mom- is to reel them in...

My third homeschool secret weapon is...slip them a good, good story
- audio books are a highly effective way to accomplish this.

If you have emergent readers at your home- or even older readers who haven't fallen hard yet for reading...take a peek at the audio books your library has, and prepare to capture your captive audience.

My most successful audio stories to reign in the beginner reader:

Hank the Cowdog
The Boxcar Children series
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

The Boxcar Children are a series of easy chapter books written in the 1920's. Clean and innocent, with mystery. My first attempt at 'reeling' in my new readers was a big success.
~Here was my method, first time out of the box...

Step 1-I borrowed The Boxcar Children book #1-audio, listened to it in the car. The kids were a captive audience, became drawn into the story...and begged to listen to more whenever we were in the car.

Step 2- Brought home The Boxcar Childrn book #2 in regular old book format...began reading it to the kids nightly, and then- got too busy to finish 2 chapters from the end.

Step 3- left the book lying around in open areas...on the dining table/next to the couch/on the kitchen counter.

Step 4- happened on its own, spotted my readers curled up with book, finishing the story.

I keep my eye out for new/fun reads on audio at the library. We enjoy comedy best, but have enjoyed several classics, too. Have a long road trip coming up? Stock up on audio books, they will encourage an interest in books, and introduce wonderful vocabulary.

Hank the Cowdog is our hands-down favorite on audio- and what a treat, the episode supply is almost endless! Other audio books that tickled our funny bones include;

*The Tale of Despereaux ( a work of art!, not to be missed on audio!)
*Ella Enchanted (much different/richer than the movie) *Boston Jane *A Coyote's in the house
*did I mention Hank the Cowdog?...

others we have enjoyed:

*Winnie the pooh *Socks (read by Neil Patrick Harris, he is amazing- he did Coyote in the house, and did a superb job) *Pollyanna (wonderful, Sky loved this one on a long trip)
*Artemis Fowl *The Secret Garden *Chronicles of Narnia *Our only May Amelia

now, go reel them in, mom!

Labels: homeschool, reading basket, secret weapon

posted at 10:07 AM
8 comments

8 Comments:

At 5:18 PM, trooppetrie said...: i may have asked before but where do you get your audio books
At 7:57 PM, Hen Jen said...: mostly from the library...but, our library only has a few Hank the Cowdog episodes, so I buy those from Rainbow resources catalog. I also like to order audio books from the Chinaberry Catalog ( a favorite book catalog, with great reviews/write-ups on the books) and sometimes from my local Barnes & Nobles bookstore, where I can use my educator's discount card. Glad you asked :)
At 8:26 PM, Janae Moss said...: That is a great idea! I am always looking for books that grab them. Sometimes we can't get into a story fast enough and the interest is lost. I think this is a great way to get them far enough into the story, they don't give up.
By the way, your blog looks great!
At 9:14 PM, Julie said...: So glad I found your site. Thanks for the comment! I'm always looking for more homeschool ideas!
At 9:18 PM, Hen Jen said...: Shmonae,

many of the audio books are high on interest-capture-ability! Specially the funny ones. I get caught up into the stories, too.

thanks for noticing the new look!
At 9:20 PM, Hen Jen said...: Julie,

so glad you stopped by, and even better, so glad you commented so I know you were here!!!

I enjoyed visiting your blog, I really liked the "You are loved" m&m photos, -delightful! (I forgot to leave a comment on that one while I was looking around...)

blessings to you and yours today,
At 12:24 PM, Blessed Mommy said...: We just discovered audio books. Our first was Chronicles of Narnia, loved it. We are currently listening to Swiss Family Robinson. Every Tuesday and Thursday we have a 45 minute trip to and 45 min trip home for speech for the twins. I did not want them watching movies and they get bored quickly with music, but audio books have been a hit. I wrote down some of your recs, will look for them at the library. Thanks.
At 12:11 PM, Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...: Audiobooks are a staple in our home/homeschool, too! I try to review some of the ones we listen to. Here's a link, if you're interested--->

http://hopeistheword.wordpress.com/category/audiobooks/

Great post!

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