Don't try to implement these ideas on your own! Go buy the book! And be sure to check out the official site of "the sisters!"

In their book, The Daily 5, the sisters give the following research based reason for "Listen to Reading":

Hearing good examples of literature and fluent reading expands your vocabulary, builds stamina and helps you become a better reader.

Here's how we do "Listen to Reading" in our classroom:

Choice #1: mp3 players

I have four color-coded baskets of books that I got for free from a reading series sample kit (one we didn't pick - I think they are Harcourt) - these are the small guided reading books that usually come in 6 packs but there was only one copy of each AND a CD for each set! So I copied these onto some cheap mp3 players I found online for $6 apiece! If a student wants to use these they just need to take the whole basket to their seat. The books are numbered according to the track number on the mp3 player. The mp3 players have a colored sticker on the back in case they get mixed up. There are 30 books in each basket.

Choice #2: Cassette players

I have TONS of books on tape that I collected mostly in my first two years of teaching, using bonus points from Scholastic book clubs. I keep these in ziploc bags in two big crates. Each crate sits on the floor between two cassette players with individual headphones (i.e. no sharing needed). I found a ton of old cassette players in the media center closet that nobody uses anymore due to having newer "listening centers" with CD players. I found 5 that worked, and I was able to create 5 individual cassette listening centers in my classroom. These are stationary because the cassette players need to be plugged in. I had them on small tables at first, but ended up moving them to the floor to make things a little more comfy and flexible. In the 2009-2010 school year, we received 5 brand new tape players from DonorsChoose - these will last for a long time!

Choice #3: Computers

I am very lucky to have 5 student computers in my room. Our new reading series, Treasures, includes an online version of the student textbook and the leveled readers. Students can view and listen to these stories on the computer. Click on one of the books below to see these online stories.

I also have a subscription to Raz-Kids.com. Students can listen to, read, and take quizzes on online books that I assign. Click the logo below to visit the site. Parents, see our monthly newsletter for login information.

Choice #4: Leap Frog Tag Readers

I received two Tag Readers and a variety of books through a DonorsChoose proposal. The kids LOVE to use these for Listen to Reading! I also bought a headphone splitter at Dollar Tree so two students can share a Tag Reader at once.

Website visitors can help our classroom by purchasing items from my Amazon Wishlist or making a PayPal donation - all donations and ad revenue received on this site are spent on classroom books and other materials.

Parents - you can also help our classroom by purchasing books for your child from Scholastic book orders. Many books are $2 or less! Every order placed earns bonus points which I use to purchase books and other classroom materials. Every monthly order totaling $20 or more earns us a coupon for $10 in free books for our classroom. If you order online, I get an additional free book pick, which I will use to select a book for your child!

Click the link below to place an order! Username and password are both "maiolo." FGCU students, feel free to order as well! This is a very inexpensive way to get books for your future classroom!

THANKS! Questions? Comments? Feel free to email me.