Learning with Your Ears
We all have our own preferred learning style whether it be visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.
But did you know that learning is always enhanced when more than one learning style is used?Adding audio books and stories to your home offers many learning advantages.
So spice up your lessons by adding in some auditory elements!
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Free Online Stories, Songs, and More
for your audio homeschool
These are my favorite sources for free audio especially for children.
- Kiddie Records
- This site is so fun! Old records have been put into MP3 format for free download! You're sure to find an old recording you had as a child!
- Story Nory
- Natasha reads an audio story every week! The choices are varied -- classics to modern tales.
- Librivox's Files for Children
- Librivox works like this --volunteers record audio files of books in the public domain. There are lots of classic works here that are great for kids -- Black Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, Aesop's Fables, Peter Pan, and so much more!
- Educational Songs
- These are delightful songs that teach. You can't save them, but they are free to listen to online! Topics include: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Foreign Language, Geography, Geology, History, Language Arts, Life Skills, Math, and Physics.
I just found many of these songs online for free download! The science and nature songs can be downloaded at Singing Science Records. What great news! - Kid's Corner
- Classic stories that you can listen to with RealPlayer: Beatrix Potter, Grimms fairy tales, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Kipling's Just So Stories.
- The Reading Well
- A small sampling of mostly stories from American history (Paul Revere, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Robert E. Lee, etc.) but with a few fairly tales and Bible stories thrown in as well. The sound quality of the recordings is not very good, but they have multiple voices and a professional sound otherwise.
- Internet Archive
- This site has loads of wonderful old radio programs converted into digital format. This link is to Cavalcade Of America. Other great historical programs can be found at Frontier Fighters, You are There, and American Trail.
- Old Time Radio Catalog
Remember the golden age of radio?
With detailed descriptions of classic radio shows, OTRCAT.com offers thousands of old time radio episodes online. In the 'daily downloads', there are new broadcasts of the day throughout history. More information about the golden age of radio...
This site sells very affordable disc collections of old time radio programs, but you can also download them for free.- CHILDREN'S VINYL RECORD SERIES
- Old records converted into MP3 format, free for download! There are purely fun stories such as Snow White and Cinderella as well as more educational topics such as jazz, ballet, instruments of the orchestra, multiplication, and Shakespeare.
Characteristics of Auditory Learners
Thirty percent of all people are auditory learners (their preferred style of learning is through auditory channels). So how do you know if your child is an auditory learner? Here are some characteristics.
- remember what they hear
- learn by listening, especially through music
- find phonics useful
- remember names well
- easily distracted by noise
- talk while they write
- read outloud rather than silently
Learning Styles
The Way They Learn
Amazon Price: $9.22 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $0.01
In my opinion, this is the best book about learning styles. Use the tests on everyone in your family to discover your favorite ways to learn.
Teaching Strategies for Auditory Learners
or for anyone!
Here is a list of strategies that take advantage of auditory strengths. You can vote your favorite ones up or down. And you can add other ideas!
Free Literary Selections in Audio Format
- LoudLit.org
- Categories include poetry, novels, short stories and a children's section!
- Lit to Go
- Free MP3 files of classic literature from Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse.
- Free Audio Books to Download
- The focus here is historical and philosophical books.
- Audio Titles from Gutenberg.org
- This is the Gutenberg catalog of audio classics told by human voice.
Using Audio Resources in Your Homeschool
- Listen while traveling! Buses, cars, trains, or planes -- invest in an MP3 player for your child and load it up with stories and songs that you approve of!
Read Diane Flynn Keith's ideas for what she calls "carschooling." She uses lots of audio books. - Listen while doing chores or crafts.
- Listen when sick in bed.
- Instead of reading aloud to your child, find the book in audio format. Your child still gets the benefit, but you get a break.
- Supplement your history curriculum with extra novels.
- Add in educational songs and listen daily to reinforce the facts. My favorite are from Audio Memory. These really work!
MP3 Player
Disney Mix Stick MP3 Player - Ice Blue Chrome
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
I'm not a big fan of giving children electronic toys. But we bought our child an MP3 player when she was only eight years old. Why? Because we travel a lot. I found that letting her listen to free MP3 audio books from Librivox was far better than letting her listen to the blaring pop music or watching the questionable movies shown on buses and planes. I control what goes on the MP3 and in turn what's going into my little one's brain.
Jim Weiss CDs
stories told by a master storyteller
These CDs are a great investment; they get played over and over again!
The Three Musketeers: Robin Hood
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $12.99
Shakespeare for Children
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $7.99
Greek Myths
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $10.21
Auditory Learners
- The Auditory Learner
- An article from Parent Center that explains what it means to be an auditory learner and how a parent can help that learner. Be sure to click through the links that take you to specific age and subject related tips.
- Learning Styles
- This simple article breaks down learning styles in an easy to understand outline.
Books on CD
Many excellent books can be purchased in audio format. Browse some of these CD books to listen to during your next road trip or just while staying home.
Audiobooks enrich a student's overall use of language and love of literature. Read more at Learning with Audiobooks.
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia CD Box Set
A classic series that every child (and adult!) must read!
Amazon Price: $54.75 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $31.99
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
A witty book that not only entertains but also teaches about the Civil Rights movement in America.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $11.16
The Sign of the Beaver
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $6.94
Inkheart
The book that inspired the movie!
Amazon Price: $23.09 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $10.35
Audio Homeschooling Guestbook
So, let me hear what you think of this page!
Aadel wrote
My daughter will listen to a book on audio that she would not even look twice at in the library. We love Librivox and are looking into a program where you can rent audiobooks for a monthly price and send them back for new ones (like Netflix).
Posted August 10, 2009
_Joan_ wrote...
This is good stuff for me. My ten-year-old is primarily a kinesthetic and auditory learner.
Posted June 21, 2009
EverythingMouse wrote...
My eldest son is an auditory learner. It just makes things a lot easier when you realize which type of learner, or mix of types your child is and then you can tailor things to work with them. Lots of great information here as always Jimmie
Posted March 08, 2009
Joy wrote
Thank you so much for this! I too have an auditory learner and this will help us so much!
Bless you for this! You have been a great help.
www.littlecowpokesinthecountry.blogspot.com
Posted January 01, 2009
JJNW wrote...
Hi! We homeschool and I love these ideas! Also, congrats on becoming a Squid Angel! I am hoping to be on the new Giant list coming out soon (can't wait, can't wait!).
THANKS! 5 Stars rating for you!
Posted September 23, 2008
AshleyAnnRyan wrote...
I'm so happy to have you featured in my Parenting Group Parenting on Squidoo. Please check back often to add any of your new lenses to the group. I'm always looking for new feature topics, so make a suggestion and I will do my best to make it happen!
Ashley
Hollywood Glam on a Budget
Posted September 08, 2008
endlesslight wrote...
Thank you for the links. We are so fortunate to be able to start homeschooling my 5 year old so I am happy to have found more ways to "FUN" learning!
Posted April 30, 2008
WhitePineLane wrote...
What a great lens! Excellent resources! Welcome to the Children's Books Group!
Posted April 22, 2008
by Jimmie
Hello! I am a homeschooling, stay at home mom who loves to teach and learn. I enjoy cooking from scratch, blogging, photography, and traveling, but I...
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