Incorporating Book Trailers and Audio-Books in the Classroom

Kajder, S. (2008). The book trailer: engaging teens through technology. Educational leadership. 65 (6), 1-4.


“When we teach creatively with emergent tools in mind, we stand a better chance of engaging reluctant students by giving what we teach real meaning. Each day is an invitation to examine, play, invent, reinvent, and join the conversation.”


In “The Book Trailer: Engaging Teens through Technologies,” Kajder explores the ways in which introducing technology, specifically the creation of book trailers, can invite even the most reluctant students to become engaged with literature. I was particularly struck by the above quote, pulled from Kajder's article, because any strategy that looks to draw students in and increase their motivation is something that I wish to become familiarized with. Above all else, supporting engagement and confidence in students is the most important thing I look to realize, and I spent a lot of time last year trying to think of ways to give what I was teaching “real meaning." As Kajder’s article explains, incorporating book trailers into our curriculum will not only accomplish this, but get students excited and invested in their work. The class featured in the article, with many students reading below level, demonstrates how this can be done. Kajder reveals how this formerly disengaged class experienced tremendous success with projects that involved an innovative product for a newly “invested, real audience.” Stemming from their success, I am eager to incorporate book trailers into my class projects next year.


Weiss, M.J. (2008). The sounds of stories. The alan review. 35 (3), 79-81.


“Letting students read aloud from their favorite books, emphasizing dramatic techniques and interpretation, is a practical way to develop fluency, listening skills, and oral interpretation.”


In “The Sound of Stories,” Weiss investigates the place of audio-books in the classroom. The above quote reflects his belief that audio-books provide an excellent format for students to develop their literacy, particularly fluency, listening skills, and oral interpretation. Weiss offers an extensive list of quality audio-books for young adult readers that includes: Melting Stones, Twisted, Airborn, and On the Wings of Heroes, among others. He further provides categorized lists of notable audio-books such as biographies, short-stories, and cultural diversity. I found his article, and particularly this selected quote, to leave an impression on me because it re-affirms the essential need of oral reading in the classroom. While I was aware of the benefits of read-alouds for students, this article reminds me just how important and advantageous oral reading is for students as they seek to develop literacy skills. The dramatic interpretation of a text can not only aid comprehension, but may engage students that otherwise would become disinterested by silent reading, alone. With this in mind, I am excited to introduce audio-books into my classroom next year, and in doing so, present students with another tool that may spark or enhance their love of literature.