TIPS FOR ENRICHING READING INSTRUCTION

NOTE: All streaming Audio on the GoldenArk School Project READ! catalog uses the REAL AUDIO PLAYER  installed. This FREE Player is available from: www.REAL.com 

[1] For your students reading ABOVE their grade level:

Have them begin reading and listening to a MiniBook/Audio in the next higher grade level. Example: If the student would normally be reading in the 5 grade level, have him shift to the 6,7,8 grade level. The fact that more difficult words are defined on the bottom of the pages helps him make this transition.

If a student is shifting to a higher level of reading, it is best to have him listen to the story FIRST before attempting to read it. This will help establish context for the reading and prepare him to encounter higher order vocabulary.

[2] For your students reading AT their grade level:

Make good use of the Word List at the end of the MiniBook. These could be used for quizes or for inclusion in short compositions, either oral or written.

The Audio File can be used either before or after the actual reading of the story for a variety of pre and post reading activities: comprehension checks, writing assignments, discussion sessions, "what if" scenarios concerning variations possible in the story, etc.

[3] For your students reading BELOW their grade level:

This is where the combination of MiniBook/Audio is of optimal use! Proceed as follows:

FIRST: The student only hears the audio to establish context for the story.

SECOND: The student both HEARS & READS at the same time. This is accomplished by the list of directions (a-f) below. These directions are more complicated to DESCRIBE than to actually DO. Once you have done it, the procedure should become almost second nature to you and can be accomplished quickly:

DIRECTIONS:

[a] Preparation: In contacting GoldenArk.org on the Internet, be sure that you use Microsoft's Internet Explorer that probably came with your computer originally. With this IE Browser, the REAL Audio Player will stay open once the audio content has be downloaded even after Internet Connection has been broken.

[b] First Step: Download the MiniBook of your choice to your desktop.

[c] Second Step: While still connected to the website, click on the Audio File (Green Headphone). It is a STREAMING AUDIO FILE. This means that it is not saved individually to your computer. Instead, REAL Audio Player will instantly open on your screen and the loading process begins automatically. Once LOADED, the audio file will begin to play immediately; make sure that your speakers are turned on.

[d] Third Step: At this point you can push the STOP BUTTON on the Player since it has been fully loaded into the Player.

[e] Fourth Step: At this point close your Internet connection by clicking on the X in the upper right hand corner of the internet screen.

[f] Fifth Step: NOW double click the Blue Circle of the MiniBook you downloaded to your Desktop. It will take up most of the screen. Using the top menu arrows or clicking on the page edges, turn to the actual beginning of the story. Then click on the edge of the REAL Audio Player to bring it to the forefront. Push the PLAY button. Now highlight the MiniBook again and turn pages until the audio catches up with the page that you are on. At this point you have synchronized the voice and the reading of the MiniBook!

Keep in mind that the REAL Audio Player has excellent controls that permit you to move forward or backward in the audio file. You can also pause it, continue, or start again. Just a little practice will show you how flexible this combination proves to be.

At this point you can EASILY burn the audio file to a CD - Read about how in AUDIO TIPS.

 
     
     

E-mail the Publisher:  publisher@goldenark.org  
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