Audio Homeschool
Learning with Your Ears
We all have our own preferred learning style whether it be visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.
But did you know that learning is always enhanced when more than one learning style is used?Adding audio books and stories to your home offers many learning advantages. Don't listen when people say that audio books are cheating; they are legitimate learning tools.
So spice up your lessons by adding in some auditory elements! Photo Credit
Free Online Stories, Songs, and More - for your audio homeschool
These are my favorite sources for free audio especially for children.
- Kiddie Records
This site is so fun! Old records have been put into MP3 format for free download! You're sure to find an old recording you had as a child! - Story Nory
Natasha reads an audio story every week! The choices are varied -- classics to modern tales. - Librivox's Files for Children
Librivox works like this --volunteers record audio files of books in the public domain. There are lots of classic works here that are great for kids -- Black Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, Aesop's Fables, Peter Pan, and so much more! - Educational Songs
These are delightful songs that teach. You can't save them, but they are free to listen to online! Topics include: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Foreign Language, Geography, Geology, History, Language Arts, Life Skills, Math, and Physics. I just fo - Kid's Corner
Classic stories that you can listen to with RealPlayer: Beatrix Potter, Grimms fairy tales, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Kipling's Just So Stories. - Internet Archive
This site has loads of wonderful old radio programs converted into digital format. This link is to Cavalcade Of America. Other great historical programs can be found at Frontier Fighters, You are There, and American Trail. - Old Time Radio Catalog
Remember the golden age of radio? With detailed descriptions of classic radio shows, OTRCAT.com offers thousands of old time radio episodes online. In the 'daily downloads', there are new broadcasts of the day throughout history. More information ab - CHILDREN'S VINYL RECORD SERIES
Old records converted into MP3 format, free for download! There are purely fun stories such as Snow White and Cinderella as well as more educational topics such as jazz, ballet, instruments of the orchestra, multiplication, and Shakespeare. - Books Should Be Free
Pollyanna, The Secret Garden, the Oz books.... so many classics to choose from.
Learning Styles
In my opinion, this is the best book about learning styles. Use the tests on everyone in your family to discover your favorite ways to learn.
Using Audio Resources in Your Homeschool
- Listen while traveling! Buses, cars, trains, or planes -- invest in an MP3 player for your child and load it up with stories and songs that you approve of!
- Listen while doing chores or crafts.
- Listen when sick in bed.
- Instead of reading aloud to your child, find the book in audio format. Your child still gets the benefit, but you get a break.
- Supplement your history curriculum with extra novels.
- Add in educational songs and listen daily to painlessly reinforce the facts. My favorite are from Audio Memory. These really work!
Characteristics of Auditory Learners
Thirty percent of all people are auditory learners (their preferred style of learning is through auditory channels). So how do you know if your child is an auditory learner? Here are some characteristics.
- remember what they hear
- learn by listening, especially through music
- find phonics useful
- remember names well
- easily distracted by noise
- talk while they write
- read outloud rather than silently
Free Literary Selections in Audio Format
- LoudLit.org
Categories include poetry, novels, short stories and a children's section! - Lit to Go
Free MP3 files of classic literature from Florida's Educational Technology Clearinghouse. - Audio Titles from Gutenberg.org
This is the Gutenberg catalog of audio classics told by human voice.
Auditory Learners
- The Auditory Learner
An article from Parent Center that explains what it means to be an auditory learner and how a parent can help that learner. Be sure to click through the links that take you to specific age and subject related tips. - Learning Styles
This simple article breaks down learning styles in an easy to understand outline.
A classic series that every child (and adult!) must read!
