Literacy and audiobooks

I'll start with a quote “Reading out loud to children is a proven way to develop vocabulary growth and language expansion and plays a causal role in developing both receptive and expressive language capabilities. Reading out loud can also enhance children’s background
knowledge of new concepts that may appear in both oral and written language.”
—G. Reid Lyon, The Keys to Literacy: Overview of Reading and Literacy
Research

So not only is listening to a book a great, relaxing pastime but, it can also help kids build literacy skills, audiobooks for the win! Moreover, comprehension levels are shown to be higher when listening to books then when reading books, so for all kids who are struggling to reach the next comprehension level audiobooks can help bridge the gap until the student "catches up".  I could go on and on about the many benefits of audiobooks but, I'll stick to a short list.

Audiobooks are great for:

• Reluctant readers
• Readers who are not native English speakers
• Building vocabulary
• Listening to the classics - such as Dickens' Great Expectations
• Time crunched parents and teachers who would like to have their kids read to more

Here is a great website if you would like to read some articles on the benefits of audiobooks  Books on Tape

References
Ditlow, Tim (2005). Young Adult Audiobooks: The Audio Answer for Reluctant
Readers. Random House, Inc.
Lyon, G. Reid (2002). The keys to literacy: Overview of reading and literacy
research. Washington, D.C.: Council for Basic Education.

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