Listening Center Proposal

1. Listening Center Proposal Gozaugen Elementary School Media Center

2. What is a listening center? A listening center is comprised of a computer with multiple sets of headphones. It allows several children to simultaneously listen to an audio book.

3. Why do we need a listening center? • Teachers have asked for assistance in developing a program to improve fluency in reading in all content areas. • The National Panel of Reading has identified fluency as a main ingredient in successful reading instruction. • Fluency is important because it effects students’ reading comprehension and efficiency. • Recorded books increase fluency by verbalizing printed words with the correct pace, phrasing, and expression.

4. Why do we need a listening center? • The needs of students with learning disabilities and impaired sight, as well as those that are English Language Learners, are under-served by the media center's current materials collection. • research confirms that listening centers help struggling readers and English-language learners attain higher proficiency. • Listening centers will make it easier to provide accommodations to learning disabled students

5. Why do we need a listening center? • A media center based listening center directly addresses the following Ohio Academic Content Standards: • K-12 English Language Arts • Phonemic Awareness, Word Recognition and Fluency Standard • Communication: Oral and Visual Standard • Acquisition of Vocabulary Standard • Library Guidelines: • 02. Collection Development and curriculum • 03. Literacy and Reading Support • Information Literacy

6. Goal of the Listening Center To create a media center-based listening center that can be utilized by all elementary school students and teachers as a tool for developing competency in listening, reading fluency and comprehension and visual literacy.

7. Objectives • Students in grades K-1 will utilize the listening center as an introduction to literacy, phonics and pre-reading skills. • Students in grades 2-6 will utilize the listening center to reinforce listening and literacy skills.

8. Objectives • Frequent use of the listening center in all grades will reinforce grade-level curriculum goals, promote independent reading, and increase reading and comprehension skills, especially among those students reading below grade-level. • The listening center will make the media center more appealing to students with disabilities and to ELL students. Use of the listening center will assist these students in improving fluency, comprehension and literacy.

9. Implementation • The listening center will be located within the media center's existing space and will serve all students in grades K-6. • The listening center will be designed to accommodate a class of up to 30 students but can also be used for individuals and small groups.

10. Implementation • Scheduling and material selection will be a collaborative effort between classroom teachers and the library/media specialist. • The library media specialist will maintain a current list of available materials and regularly distribute that list to classroom teachers and intervention specialists

11. Public Relations & Marketing • A news release and pictures will be distributed to the local papers • An article will be placed in the school newsletter • Pictures and a description of the listening center will be added to the media center website • The library/media specialist, library staff and volunteers will create a bulletin board or display case promoting the listening center.

12. Evaluation General Student Assessment Retells and Reader Responses Venn diagrams and graphic organizers Predictions and modifications of story elements Student Self-evaluation by recording themselves reading and listening to the playback. • Spreadsheet to keep track of usage by grade level • Online survey for feedback from students & teachers

13. Evaluation • A quarterly report analyzing the use of the listening center and the comments and suggestions made by teachers and students will be submitted to the school administration and the school board.

14. Equipment and Supplies Existing • Computers • Internet access • Tables & Chairs • Electrical outlets Need to purchase • Caliphone 6 Port Jackbox • Headphones – • Audio Book/CD Collection • 1 yr subscription to online audio book database

15. Equipment and Supplies • The proposed hardware will allow for the greatest flexibility. The following formats will be playable: • Compact discs • MP3 • Streaming audio/video • In addition teachers and students will be able to record and listen to themselves.

16. Role of the Library Media Specialist • The library media specialist will develop, maintain and evaluate the listening center and audio collection. • The LMS will have intricate knowledge of the collection which will enhance collaboration with classroom teachers. • The result will be a learning experience which allows all participants to not just meet the standards, but exceed all expectations.

17. A listening center will be a great asset to the Gozaugen media center. It will enable our students to become stronger, more confident readers the results of which will be reflected in the classroom and beyond. A small investment now will reap benefits that will last a lifetime!

18. Thank you!