“I enjoyed walking and listening when we could be doing something boring inside,” wrote a 5th grader. She was commenting on an audio adventure begun by Laura Fenn last at year Scroggs Elementary in Chapel Hill.
The pleasure of listening entered Laura Fenn’s classroom in a curious sequence of events. First, Fenn learned she had new a responsibility. Organized exercise had joined the overwhelming list of curriculum demands that NC public school teachers faced. This bad news sweetened last April when a technology grant from NC Virtual Public Schools allowed Scroggs to purchase ipods for the students. When a nature trail opened next to the school, Fenn added 2+2 and came up with a plan that linked learning, exercise and fun.
Fenn started by searching for podcasts that fit her curriculum, “NPR was a great source and so was How Stuff Works.com,” she said. After syncing the same podcasts or books on each ipod, she and her students listened daily on mile-long nature trail walk. “We looked pretty goofy. We had no grant money for incidentals, so we made ipod holders from shoelaces and baby socks letting students to pump their arms and get a better workout.”
Over the spring, students stretched their listening stamina, quickened their pacing and lengthened their walk time to about 20 minutes. “Motivation went up so much that the transition time between classroom and the trail grew shorter. My students couldn’t wait to get outside, watch for deer poop, and listen.”
After 10 years of teaching, Fenn knew that students loved hearing stories read aloud, but audio listening became a stronger experience when her students were actively involved. Classroom learning changed too. “When the daily walk ended, students were chomping at the bit to talk, but I’d have them write down their thoughts, connections, and reactions first. Only after writing would we share opinions and fill in gaps. Their desire to write went way up and so did their involvement during discussions. Even less able students joined conversations about literature in a meaningful way.”
Fenn learned as she taught. She came to understand that the lower reading level students were better listeners and she could see how they’d been using listening to compensate. And one May day, she understood the magic of milieu. “The fifth graders worked up quite a sweat. They provided a great smelly setting as we discussed the podcast of the day-- the difference between deodorant and anti-perspirant. Talk about contextual learning for a human growth and development curriculum requirement!”
Writing and producing tall tales brought another significant shift. “I’ve always had students read work aloud before turning it in, but their editing was less than remarkable,” Fenn said. “That changed when they recorded their stories for classmates’ listening. The revisions of every child, from the lowest to the highest achieving, markedly improved. Because they were committed listeners, they understood that rewriting would make for a better story.”
Times to remember? Fenn still holds an image of one student walking at a good clip with his mom, who served as a "pacing volunteer". They shared the listening experience by each wearing one earbud from the same ipod.
For the coming year, Fenn wants to measure changes in listening comprehension and stamina, approach other curriculum areas, and listen to longer stories. Here are some recent audio releases that might interest Fenn and other teachers and parents of upper elementary school students.
The Nine Pound Hammer by John Claude Bemis, read by John Mayer (Listening Library, unabridged, 8 CDs, 10 hours)
12 year-old Ray and his sister have been deserted by their father and orphaned by their mother’s death. His father left behind a magical lodestone that guides Ray through dark adventures as he learns that the legendary John Henry was only one hero who fought against the evil Gog. Tall tales, history and fantasy combine in this adventure. John Mayer gives voice to the cast of unique characters from thieves to sideshow heroes.
Betsy Ross: The American Flag and Life in a Young America by Ryan P. Randolph, read by Suzy Myers (Brilliance Audio, unabridged, 2CDs, 11/2 hours)
Myers’ upbeat reading enthusiastically leads listeners through the questions, context, curiosities, and details of Ross’ life as well as the Revolutionary War era. The audio traces events of the Boston Tea Party events and explores how Ross’ Quaker background influenced her life. Because only her family supported the claim that Betsy made the American flag, the audio introduces controversies that lead to great discussion.
The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, read by David Hyde Price (HarperChildren’s Audio, unabridged, 4CDs, 4.5 hours)
Price lingers as he introduces Milo, a boy unenthused by life until he receives a mysterious gift--a tollbooth that becomes his portal to strange lands. Price chauffeurs us through story with superb characterizations and faultless timing, transporting us with word play, steering through slapstick, thrilling us at every twist and turn of this classic adventure.
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine, read and sung by Sarah Naughton and others (Full Cast Audio, unabridged, 8CDs, approx 8 hours)
Original songs and stunning performances in a multitude of voices make this best-selling book an involving listen. The heroine is Aza, whose beauty comes in her gift for song. Unfortunately, this innocent doesn’t have a single notion about how to protect herself from cruel court intrigues.
The Thirty-nine Clues: The Maze of Bones, Rick Riordan, read by David Pittu (Scholastic, unabridged, 4CDs, 4 hours)
In the first audio of a new and popular series, Grace Cahill dies and leaves her orphaned grandchildren Amy, 14 and Dan, 11, with a choice. Do they, and other descendants, want a million dollars, or clues will help them change the world? Pittu’s narration stresses adventures and swift chases as the siblings seek clues from Philadelphia to the catacombs of Paris.
Be on the looking for guyslisten.com, a new site by Jon Scieszka, former teacher, wacky author and National Ambassador of Literature for Young People. If you google the address, you can find out how to get an audio book sampler.