Interesting Question About Audiobooks July 6
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Here’s an interesting question I came across which was asked by a mother whose daughter has some reading problems. The source is The Desert Sun, California.
Question: Reading is a very hard task for my 6th grade daughter and her teacher suggested that I get books on tape for her to listen to this summer. My husband believes books on tape are not the same as reading and they are considered “cheating.” I’m confused, are books on tape really a form of cheating?
Answer: Although audiobooks can never take the place of reading aloud, many educators agree that audio books are considered wonderful tools for children for several reasons. Audio books are successful in providing struggling readers an opportunity to be exposed to literature they otherwise would not have been able to read. Reading is also about comprehending a story and audiobooks can help children develop strong listening and critical thinking skills.
The audios eliminate the frustration struggling readers experience with decoding, thus allowing them to focus on understanding a story. Many children use audiobooks to help them learn to read by following along in their book with the audio. They also provide opportunities to launch discussions between you and your child about what’s happening in a story, what will happen next, and how it connects to your own lives.
Brent M. Cooper, licensed educational psychologist, has a private practice and is the director of El Paseo Children’s Center for Psychological & Educational Assessment. He evaluates individuals for learning disabilities, attention deficits, and autism. Brent Cooper is also a school psychologist for CVUSD. If you have a question you’d like to see answered in this column, call 342-4900 or e-mail brent@helpmykid.us or visit www.helpmykid.us
