1. Why Audiobooks Don’t Work
And All the Reasons
Why They Do
This is the Archdiocese of Denver program training session for Learning Ally. Due to the amount of people here today, we ask that you wait until after the presentation to visit our site and “play around”. Thank you! (or however you want to state that)
Jennifer Dougherty, Program Manager,

2. KWL Chart
What do I already know about audiobooks and their use in the classroom?
What do I want to know about audiobooks in the classroom?
What have I learned?
What do I still have questions about? ?
Active Learning: Talk about the KWL chart, and how this is used in classrooms with students to determine what they already know and what they want to know at the beginning of a lesson or unit of study. At the end of the unit or lesson, students answer What have I learned in order determine their comprehension of the material, and address and unanswered questions.
For this slide, have teachers answer the first 2 topics of the KWL chart. The 3rd topic will be discussed at the end of the presentation. -

3. 68 80,000 6,109 LL Fact Writing Active Learning:
Ask audience to write down/think about the following numbers, and have them guess which numbers align with the following:
(read aloud)
Percentage of students in a classroom with dyslexia
Number of books in LA collection
Number of years LA has been around
Percentage of 4th graders nationwide reading at grade level

4. Agenda Defining Learning Ally Audiobooks Learning Ally Audiobook
Listening Options
Demo
Teacher Ally -Online student management portal and resource center
Resources

5. “I am not afraid to try to read anymore, thanks to Learning Ally”
Archdiocese of Denver Schools and Learning Ally Student Success Stories…
“I am not afraid to try to read anymore, thanks to Learning Ally”
This is a student success story. Giselle learned to love to read by using Learning Ally. She was able to read her favorite book, Matilda in only 3 weeks!
Gisele, a sixth grader at Guardian Angels School in the Diocese, who had never been able to read her favorite book, “Matilda,” by Roald Dahl, was able to finish the book - all 230 pages - in three weeks, using Learning Ally audiobook technology.

6. Defining Learning Ally Audiobooks
Human voice
Accessible on mainstream devices
Unlimited downloads
No expirations with an existing
membership
VoiceText available
80,000+ library
Chart, picture, map, graph descriptions
Link
LA Link
Learning Ally is different than other audiobook reading programs because of these.

7. Do students learn the same way?
Ask the audience to look at this cartoon, and then ask them what it means to them.

8. Certification & Eligibility
“Qualified Individuals” are those persons who exhibit the characteristics of a learning disability as certified by a Competent Authority in accordance with 17 U.S.C. § 121 (commonly known as the “Chafee amendment”), and other applicable copyright laws, which may include persons having a learning disability,  such as dyslexia, visual impairment, or other physical disability that limits the ability to effectively read standard print.

9. What is better? Eye or Ear reading?
According to a 1977 study by Walter Kintsch and Eli Kozminsky,two groups of college students were presented with text. One group read the text and the other group listened to the text. The students were asked to summarize the readings. Results indicated no discernible difference in the content.
Whether a student reads with their eyes, ears, or fingers, all 5 components of reading instruction are reinforced!
“No discernable difference in eye reading vs. ear reading”
Summarizing Stories after Reading and Listening W. Kintsch and E. Kozminsky Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol 69 (5), Oct 1977,

10. How Learning Ally Audiobooks support the
5 Essential Components of Reading
Phonemic Awareness
Phonics
Fluency
Vocabulary
Comprehension
Out of 3000 educators that were surveyed across the United States:
76% agree that students who use Learning Ally show improvements in fluency
77% agree that students who use Learning Ally show improvements in vocabulary
83% agree that Learning Ally audiobooks help students to comprehend assigned grade level materials
Discussion Points:
Phonemic Awareness is the understanding of the discrete sounds that words make.
Phonics – the blending of sounds to make words
Fluency- speed, accuracy and expression
Comprehension – putting it all together to create meaning from the text
Vocabulary – understanding words and their meaning
Vocabulary
The number of vocabulary words a child hears from birth to 5 predicts their overall academic achievement. (Meaningful Differences, Hart and Risley, 2004)
(5 components from: National Reading Panel, 2000)

11. Teacher Ally: www.learningally.org
This is a short video from an Illinois teacher. I tried searching for the link, but it was sent to me by Lindsey 2 years ago, and she just sent it to me as a slide. If this does not work, try this one (download to your computer). YouTube is supported at Archdiocese schools.

12. Things to Accomplish:
1. Log into Teacher Ally Digital Learning Day account
2. Create a fake student account
3. Certify that student account
4. Find the parent letter to download in the Resources Tab (to share student login information with student and parents)
5. Create a fake educator account
6. Add a book to the student’s bookshelf
Link:
1. Log into Link with your Teacher Ally account or the new student account you created
2. Download and listen to the audiobook
3. Navigate to a page/chapter
4. Add a bookmark
5. Add a book within the Link software
This is a short video from an Illinois teacher. I tried searching for the link, but it was sent to me by Lindsey 2 years ago, and she just sent it to me as a slide. If this does not work, try this one (download to your computer). YouTube is supported at Archdiocese schools.

13. LearningAlly.org/GreatReadingGames
Sign up to participate!
LearningAlly.org/GreatReadingGames

14. LearningAlly.org/GreatReadingGames
Sign up for the Great Reading Games!
➤ DOWNLOAD the educator guide with stats, tips, book lists and more!
➤ GET your welcome kit, with incentive prizes for students, for the first 300 educators who sign up.
➤ WATCH the “Get in the Games” webinar to hear from past top 10 school’s teachers on how to win.
➤ PREPARE for social media contests and chats. Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney to judge the student contest!
➤ LEARN about school and individual student prizes.
➤ DOWNLOAD classroom resources and templates to share your status.
AND, prepare to broadcast Learning Ally’s Read Across America Day Meet the Author webinar with Lauren Tarshis of the I Survived series to your entire student body as we celebrate
the closing of the games!
LearningAlly.org/GreatReadingGames

15. KWL Chart
What do I already know about audiobooks and their use in the classroom?
What do I want to know about audiobooks in the classroom?
What have I learned?
What do I still have questions about?
Active Learning: Now, have teachers share something they have learned, and something they have a question about. Keep it brief if short on time. -

16. Next Steps: Go to www. learningally
Next Steps: Go to for guides, step-by-step instructions, videos, webinar information, and more on how to get started! Learn more about Malcolm Mitchell’s connection to Learning Ally! Explore 1 in 5: Learn about LA’s YES! (Youth Examples of Self Advocacy) MA program Share your stories of success with us! to share how your students are making gains using Learning Ally Questions? Do you need additional help? Contact Jennifer Dougherty,