When it comes to technology, I am a junkie! My students absolutely love our listening workstation. It's so bad that I have to beg them to stop reading so that we can get to lunch. I currently have it set for 4 students and the choice of about 100 books. All cds have been loaded to their iPod Nanos and students just have to search for the cover of their selected book. (Beats the old cd player with 4 sets of headphones that I was constantly resetting during reading groups)
I first introduce them when I started blogging {here}.
In that post you will see close ups and explanations of how things are actually hooked up.
Our Listening Workstation:
consists of 4 individual listening centers. Each child is in charge of their own story and book! They love the fact that they are completely independent and everything is up to them! Books are stored in the middle box and each nano is clipped to where the child should sit to read.
Each book has its picture filed alphabetically so that the students can either find the book by title or picture. Students match the books cover to picture on the screen and click! (as easy as that!!!)
Students then follow the prompts to turn the page and follow along in the story. Our book box includes many different levels of books to meet all needs of all readers. My students love this center!!
Now for your Q&As
How did you get all the books downloaded to the Nano?
In my projects on DonorsChoose I asked for not only iPods, but the books as well. I ordered books that came with audio cds and all I had to do was load the cd's into iTunes, plug in the nanos, and transfer the audio file.
What products did you use?
Click image for webpage
Mainly I used this kit and supplimented old cd reader books that I had already.
If you have any other questions please comment below and I will add them!!
13 comments
You can download books on tape from iTunes as well! Some are expensive though. My students love using my (old) iPod in the listening center.
Sara :)
Smiling In Second Grade
LOOOOVE it! Thank you so much sharing this b/c I have been contemplating what to ask for my next donorschoose project! This is PERFECT! =) You rock!
Jessica
Thanks for sharing! I definitely want to try this. I would have never thought to use a nano. Great idea!!!
Colleen
Totally Terrific in Texas
Wow! I love this idea! Thanks for sharing how easy it is to download the books. This seems like the perfect solution for a listening center.
Elizabeth
Fun in Room 4B
What a great idea. This is a wonderful way to reuse old ipod or ipod touches.
Sue
theverybusykindergarten :)
You have very lucky students to have a teacher like you! :) I'm sure they just love the independence they have with it.
NotJustChild'sPlay
What a wonderful and techy idea!! I will have to look into this for my next Donor's Choose project!!
Aloha,
Corinna
Surfin' Through Second
Ahhh...I am half way there. My last donor's choose project was the same box of books on cd. I love the idea of having them listen on nanos. Way cool!
Ahhh...I am half way there. My last donor's choose project was the same box of books on cd. I love the idea of having them listen on nanos. Way cool!
Thanks for sharing your station. I shall now 'wait' for my nanos to be delivered. I have been holding out as I wanted a system that would show a pic of the cover. This seems to work well.
How did u get the picture to show up with the cd? I have them downloaded into iTunes but no picture
Thanks
Heather94@gmail.com
How did u get the picture to correlate with cd? I have them downloaded but no pictures
Thanks
Heather94@gmail.com
Hi Jessica!
Did you request all the materials in one project or did you separate them? How many iPods did you request?
Thanks so much for your help! :)
Catherine Brown
Brownbagteacher@gmail.com
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