Rachel Driscoll teaches second grade at Acton Elementary School, a rural K - 8 school in southern Maine. She has also worked in Title 1 and Special Education programs. Acton Elementary was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.

Right from the first when I began teaching second grade, I made audiobooks a regular feature in my reading centers. I maintain a reading center board, which displays icons for four different centers (i.e. read-with-a-friend, word work, reading journal, and audiobook center). Every other week, I put the icon for the audiobook center up on the board. Usually, a student will notice and yell out, "Yeah! The headphone picture's up there!"
 
 My listening center has two tape players, one of which can accomodate four headphones. The largest reading group consists of five students, and they generally split into two groups. Center time lasts for approximately twenty five minutes, which is generally enough time for one longer tape, or two shorter ones.
 
IT WORKS!
Audiobooks open a new world of more advanced literature to the struggling learner. The reading level span in my classroom currently goes from grade level 1.6 to grade level 4 plus. Audiobooks allow that 1.6 reader and the grade 4+ reader to sit and giggle together over "Rachel Fister's Blister" and other wonderful stories.
 
IT WORKS!
Listening to audiobooks exposes students to the rhythm and cadence of good oral reading. They get to hear, and later model, the reader's use of expression and intonation.
  
IT WORKS!
A group using an audiobook, no matter how varied their reading level, can hear good literature and then meet together in a format like a literature circle to share their experience.
 
   
TIPS:
 

	Many times, I encourage students to use a large poster I have mounted on the wall in the classroom to write a short review of the audiobook they have just finished and say whether or not they recommend it and their reasons for their reactions. One struggling reader wrote of Jane Yolen's lovely book "Owl Moon", which is a challenging second grade read, "It's really, really cool!" It was a joy to watch her mesmerized face as she listened.
	It is very helpful to have enough copies of the book for each student in the group. I do have tapes with one or two copies, but it is better with one each.
	Stories that contain songs are very appealing to young students. It's fun to watch their heads bopping around with headphones on!
	Set out no more than six choices of audiobooks (include all different reading levels) at a time, and rotate choices frequently.

You may e-mail Rachel Driscoll at rdriscoll@acton.k12.me.us

 
EDUCATORS:
If you make good use of audiobooks in your approach to education and feel you have some good tips and inspiration to pass on to others, would you like to be considered for our Educator of the Month feature?
 
If so, contact Heather Frederick, Publisher at Audio Bookshelf at 1-800-234-1713 or audiobooks@prexar.com
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