Carleen Cannon, a 12th
grade English teacher, assigned four students to use the
Listening Center to read Hamlet. They came to Intervention
and worked with a peer tutor for five days, listening
to the play and writing summaries and discussing the text
with the tutor. At the end of the week, those four students
were the only ones in the class of 25 who were caught
up in the reading. When Sonny, a 12th grader who reads
at least two years below grade level, was asked how it
felt to be at the top of the class for this assignment,
he said, “It feels cool.”
Late in the spring semester, eight students were assigned
to read To Kill a Mockingbird. Although not one of the
Recorded Books titles included in the original grant,
two copies of the book on CD were purchased from the local
bookstore to accommodate these students. Each student
was teamed with a peer tutor, who was assigned to listen
along with the student and then stop the tape at the end
of each chapter and fill out a worksheet answering questions
about that chapter.
Randy P., a senior, was assigned to read 1984. While
in the library one day, I overheard him complaining
that the book was difficult to understand and that he
had fallen behind. I suggested he come in and listen
to it on CD. He was reluctant until I offered to make
him a cup of cocoa! The next day, he came in with two
friends, who also wanted to listen (and to have some
cocoa). True to my word, I made him cocoa every day
he came in and listened, and he continued to come in
until he finished the book.
“I know I got a better grade,” said Randy
of the experience. “It’s easier for me to
understand. Before, we would read it in class, but I
would doze off or start getting distracted. When I started
listening to it, I was able to pay attention to it way
better. The book is so dry, but the reader gets the character
real good. Some of it is a little confusing, but for
the most part I got it. My friend Eric and I did it
together. We would stop and talk about it and take notes.
I participated in the discussions in class. Oh yeah,
I would definitely recommend it, especially when you’re
struggling and trying to get your grade up, it helps.”
Written by Hillary Wolfe,
former Learning Specialist at Northview
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