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AmandaV
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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So I've been perusing this list :
Ambleside on Librivox
and we've been using Mara Pratt's American History, of which 2 volumes are on Librivox. I know many people here use librivox and many of the titles from Ambleside Online are common to other CM users, and also common to MA recommendations. Also there is just some great literature there! I recently joined the Librivox forum to potentially as time allows record some books as well, and I am really impressed at their organization and tackling of new projects!
My question is.. if you use librivox/Jim Weiss/other audiobook recordings, are they part of your core curriculum, or extras? Do you use them mainly during car schooling, or at meal times, or what? Ideally, I'd love to read everything to the kids. But I also like the idea that I can eat, or putter around tidying, or sit with the baby and look at him, while we all listen. My oldest can read along on the ipad or computer or our paper copy - if we have one- the six year old can listen along, and the four year olds can listen or quietly color. Right now I'm thinking it would be good to listen to our history and maybe saint stories from In God's Garden, while I tidy up the game room/school room. Kids can color quietly. In time, I'd read more, and listen less, but it would be a crutch while we get caught up in other areas. S
So, what is your experience?
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Amanda
wife since 6/03, Mom to son 7/04, daughter 2/06, twin sons 6/08 and son 7/11, son 1/2014
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 11:46am | IP Logged
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Amanda, this is a topic very dear to my heart.
As my kids get older, I am starting to believe more and more that they learn more from listening to books on cd than they do from anything else!
Take for example, Caddie Woodlawn. We recently listened to that. It covered so many topics so well (prairie life, settler/Indian relations, the value of family, the Civil War, Lincoln's assassination... and much more) that I could never hope to duplicate that in our "class room".
The information just flows effortlessly into them, and they love it and can't get enough.
We listen to audio cds mainly in the car, though my kids also like to check out Playaways from the library. My ds also goes through spells of sitting and playing with legos while he listens to books on tape and cd. Especially in the summer , when we can't play outside because of the heat, this is great for him.
I have found, though, that if I try to schedule listening to a cd into our school time, it rarely works out. The kids get fidgety, the phone rings, the dog has to go out.... it's just not the same.
So we enjoy these in the car and in our free time. The kids don't realize they are learning all the time. I just wish there were more free sources for some of the books I am looking for....
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 1:34pm | IP Logged
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Audiobooks have formed a major part of our education for years! We listen to them in the car, during more hectic phases at home (moves, births, my exhaustion), while making dinner. My younger two used to listen sometimes while they were waiting for their turn for school with me. I try to always have a book on tape going in the car. My main motivation used to be that I'd get to listen to the great classics along with my fast readers. It was the only way to avoid having them get ahead of me. It also helps pass the time in the car more quickly and with fewer arguments! Like Melinda, I don't try to schedule it.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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jawgee
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 2:40pm | IP Logged
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We use Story of the World Audio for car rides, otherwise my 10YO (who loves audio books) listens to them at bedtime since he's up quite a bit later than the other kids.
It's funny...he loves history, so that's what he listens to almost exclusively.
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Monica
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Erin
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 2:53pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
| am starting to believe more and more that they learn more from listening to books on cd than they do from anything else! |
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Do you mean more than YOU reading to them, or listening to books either on audio or read by Mum/Dad?
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Erin
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AmandaV
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 2:59pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
SeaStar wrote:
| am starting to believe more and more that they learn more from listening to books on cd than they do from anything else! |
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Do you mean more than YOU reading to them, or listening to books either on audio or read by Mum/Dad? |
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I was wondering that too, Erin :)
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Amanda
wife since 6/03, Mom to son 7/04, daughter 2/06, twin sons 6/08 and son 7/11, son 1/2014
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Oct 19 2012 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
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Hmm... I think what I'm trying to say is that they learn more, and so effortlessly, from hearing great books vs. what I try to "teach" on a daily basis.
You know how you have those "off" days when nothing you say or try to teach sinks in?
Well, with audio books (or books that I read aloud) "off" days are very few and far between. They love to hear stories. They can't wait for more- they beg me to circle the neighborhood or sit in the garage to hear the next part. There are never any protests when I say: should I read the next chapter? or let's listen to what comes next.
I'm really starting to believe that if all I ever did was read to my kids and listen to good books on tape with them they would wind up with a fine education.
And I say that because, left to their own devices, they have a natural curiosity about things and will ask me a bazillion questions on subjects that interest them. The other day my dd used a wooden US puzzle map to trace pieces and make her own map, then filled in each state and capital, and colored the whole thing.
I didn't ask her to do this, and guaranteed if I had made that a part of school work for the day I would have met with resistance.
I just wonder why I keep beating my head trying to get them to learn things *I* believe they should know, when their own curiosity and good books will cover everything pretty well.
I guess that makes me a closet unschooler... 
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Using Audiobooks/librivox for curriculum
