How We Audio Book
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Our recent Homeschool Hack is a favorite for many, many homeschoolers - Audio Books! (Check out our podcast episode Homeschool Hack: Audio Books for more tips and ideas.) Audio books are a gift to the homeschool family in so many ways, which we discuss on our podcast, but I am here to tell you how we do audio books in our home.
For Me
I read dozens of books this year - books I wanted to read - using audio books! Here’s where I do it:
In the shower (the acoustics make it loud enough on my phone’s speaker)
While I get ready for the day (really any bathroom time)
While doing dishes with AirPods
When I am trying to fall asleep at night (using AirPods and the 15 minute timer)
Putting groceries away
Prepping dinner
In the car with AirPods when my children want to do their own car activities (you can still hear the necessary driving safety needs)
Watering plants
Cleaning my room or house
With all those opportunities, I turn the mundane into enriching entertainment! Also, I can use that time to pre-read future books and decide if and when my favorite dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels would be appropriate for my future teens. It is a fulfilling practice and utilizes the time that no one else wants anyway.
For My Spouse
He does it too. He does it way more than me. He used to listen to a number of podcasts, but now he has redistributed that time to audio books. He can read up to 75 books in a year! It’s truly amazing. He drives about 50-60 minutes daily, and he does chores around the house, so with that, he gets in a good amount of reading, audibly of course. What I like best about his practice though is that he always pre-listens to every book he wants to read aloud to our children. He purposely looks at his recommended children’s book list and works his way through pre-audio-book-reading every book he introduces to our children. This is why:
It clues him in to the maturity level of the book and if it is appropriate for our children of multiple ages
Along the same lines, it alerts him to passages or language he may want to skip when he is reading aloud
He can see if it is a storyline that would interest our children of multiple ages
He can decide if any background knowledge is needed prior to the book. He can note that and teach that (or read aloud other books to our children as foundational knowledge) or recommend a unit study or theme day to me as the main homeschool teacher in the house.
He can be ready to flesh out anything that requires deeper understanding in the moment
Our time is limited, especially the working parent. So, choosing quality books that meet our children’s needs is an important piece of our homeschooling life.
For My Children
Together
It’s probably my favorite way to spend down-time with my children. I look forward to this part of the day when we can all listen to audio books and still play, complete chores, or drive to gymnastics. This is how we do audio-books together in our homeschool day:
I pick a book that goes with our current unit study (i.e. Human Body Unit Study - Pollyanna or Wonder), a place we will be visiting (museum exhibit, national park, etc.), or a book that fits with one of their main interests (animal as a main character).
Every once in a while, I pick a book that is part of a co-op book club or our family book club (but save the majority of the discussion for the book club meeting)
I use our outdoor bluetooth speaker inside my house so that my children can even play in their rooms and hear the book
When in the car, I hook my phone up to the AUX outlet (you can get a AUX cable for your phone if your car isn’t smart) so that all my children can hear the book throughout the car speakers. If you do not have an AUX option or a smart car, you can buy a small blue-tooth speaker and put it in the middle of your car for all to hear.
I instruct my children to make sure they are somewhere that they can hear the book and be part of the discussions as they happen
I pause the book whenever there seems to be a bridge to an organic parenting discussion - whether it is about building compassion, owning up to your responsibilities, or making good choices. Wherever the characters are on the spectrum of right and wrong, we discuss their choices, their actions or lack thereof, and “what if it was you” possibilities.
My children can play quietly with whatever they want - as long as they are listening. Be it slime, Legos, throwing a ball against the wall, their dolls, putting on our indoor golf mat, etc.
Sometimes I set out special activities, themed for the book or information we are learning. I set them out in stations that they can rotate every 10-15 minutes (or when they say they are ready to rotate). It keeps them engaged and focused since it keeps their hands busy.
What do I do during this time? I listen too. I’m either driving, doing dishes, folding laundry, or my favorite…laying on the couch listening with my eyes closed. It’s a wonderful break in my very talkative day.
Individually
Out of my three children, I have one child that cannot get enough of books. So, she uses the iPad and her kid-proof headphones to listen to audio books. She does this a lot.
She does this just sitting on her exercise ball, rolling around and bouncing while she listens to an entire book.
She listens in bed at night.
She listens in the car when my other two are asking for their music playlists.
She listens in her unending free time.
When we are waiting for an appointment, like at the doctor’s office, she listens.
It’s a major gift to her and her friends. Her friends recommend books to her and visa-versa.
Audio books are a gift to the entire homeschool family. For your own personal enrichment and for your homeschool experience too. Now you just need to pick the right books!
Resources
For more resources regarding audio books, you can peruse read-aloud resources, since many times they serve the same idea as audio books and provide great book lists. They also give you quality questions to ask to promote discussion. Also, listen to our Homeschool Hack: Audio Books podcast episode to learn how to listen to books for free!
Click on image to buy the resource!
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