Audiobooks & E-Books
Overview
Audiobooks, digital text-to-speech books, and e-books are digital formats of literature that allow for portable and accessible reading experiences through audible narration and/or a written electronic version of a text. Listening comprehension and Decoding are foundational components of reading comprehension and can be supported through the use of audiobooks and e-books. When listening to audiobooks or e-books, learners can benefit from hearing fluent reading which can be beneficial for adolescents who may be struggling with Foundational Reading Skills. Using audiobooks or e-books coupled with printed texts has been shown to benefit literacy outcomes for struggling readers, including an increased Motivation for reading, especially for learners with dyslexia and multilingual learners. Audiobooks and e-books also increase access to a wide range of texts, which supports the development of vocabulary and Background Knowledge, as well as overall reading comprehension. While e-books can offer additional interactive features, not all support language development. For example, automated animations may actually distract the learner from the text, whereas text highlighting word-by-word as the story is being read, or built-in dictionary support, can positively support literacy development.
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Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Multisensory Supports Strategies
Communication boards are displays of graphics (e.g., pictures, symbols, illustrations) and/or words where learners can gesture or point to the displays to extend their expressive language potential.
Creating visual representations such as drawings, diagrams, graphs, and concept maps, whether student or teacher-generated, can help students process abstract concepts, enhancing understanding and retention of information.
Using motions to explain new concepts or ideas supports the ability to process new information and to convey thinking and conceptual understanding.
Music and dance supports learners in a myriad of ways, including supporting their engagement and motivation, connecting with cultural background, and offering structure during play.
