Historically, my sons wait until approximately 3.5 days before school starts in the fall to begin the dreaded assignment. It becomes a horrific chore and casts a pall over even the best novels. This year I am trying a new tactic: audiobooks.
Listening is Easy
Even when my boys are fond of a book, if it is required reading it becomes less enjoyable. Something about having to read makes the whole experience unsavory. Knowing that they have to take time out of their busy day of riding skateboards through mud puddles, throwing baseballs at each other, and splashing ¼ of the water out of the swimming pool makes them ornery.
There are times when the weather is uncooperative, friends are busy, or they are afflicted with the dreaded “I’m bored” disease. Suggestions to pick up a book are met with “ewww” and copious amounts of eye-rolling as they turn on the television. I have noticed that the TV is generally just background noise as they draw, sculpt with clay, or build with Lego.
Spellbound by Harry Potter
One rainy day, I turned off the TV and stuck the audio version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on the stereo. The boys glanced up from the Legos briefly, shrugged, and went back to building. My older sons had already read the first book of the Harry Potter series, but it was my youngest – and most reluctant reader – that I was hoping to engage.
He had avoided the books after finding them just slightly too difficult a couple of years earlier. As the afternoon progressed, the boys drifted away from the Legos. The older two had moved on to other activities, but my youngest was sitting spellbound by the story.
Reading and Listening Together
When I changed the CD, I suggested he grab the hardcover book so that he could follow along and see the words that were being read to him. By doing this, he found the words that had troubled him and was able to actually improve his comprehension of the story. The success of the Harry Potter experiment has inspired me to offer the listening option to the boys for this year’s summer reading.
My local library has a great selection of books on CD as well as Playaway digital books. All of the boys have iPods, so downloads are quick and easy. My hope is that we can identify some selections early… and those last 3.5 precious days of summer can be spent enjoying the sunshine.
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