Books on Tapes

Books on Tape for Kids:

A Language Arts-Based

Service-Learning Project

by Gino Sangiuliano

I truly must begin this blog by extending my highest praise to the author, the students, teachers and supporters of the Barrington elementary schools of Rhode Island for their ingenuity and hard work. Their unique literacy venture not only fosters students' reading development and fluency, it creates true and lasting positive changes in countless lives through the social impact of their endeavor. Their commitment is truly inspiring and the impact far-reaching as it touches the lives of children across the country.

"Books on Tape for Kids" is a brilliant, ongoing community service project whereby elementary students choose children's books and practice reading them. The students then record their well-rehearsed verse onto a cassette tape with the intent to share it with children in hospitals, in other schools across the country and for their school library. To accompany the tape, students create book-inspired artwork, include a photograph of themselves and compose a pen-pal letter explaining each participant's role. The package is then mailed with a return-addressed postcard for feedback. Moreover, the students' projects are showcased online for families, for the community, and for the world to enjoy. Sangiuliano offers, "students ought to be motivated to investigate the world around them, need to be able to communicate with that world and have an opportunity to contribute to it, and want to share their efforts with that world." (p 16) This worthwhile project reaps a multitude of benefits: it fosters multi-literacy, supports technology skills, embraces humanitarianism and nurtures empathy.

Students are certainly very motivated when given a voice in their learning. Mr. Sangiuliano obviously recognizes this when he allows his students to choose their favorite book for the project. An astute educator knows that students are apt to be more invested in their efforts when they have some say, some input into the learning process. So whenever possible, and as often as possible, students should be involved in the educational planning process. Their voices must be heard and valued. I'm sure you can imagine, "as part of [this] project's authenticity, the students [were] very motivated to take part and develop expertise in the process." (p 14) That's what it's about. Give the students something to do that has meaning, something with a purpose and they'll run with it. No one likes to learn without relevance. How many of us were motivated by these infamous words: "Just learn it. You'll need to know this when you get older. . ."

Not my students. That's why I strive to invent ways to address my curricular demands through technology-saturated, purposeful lessons. Kidspiration, Inspiration, PowerPoint, MovieMaker, Photo Story, WebQuests and the like, all provide the tools not only to motivate students, but to enhance the learning experience, while still addressing curricular demands and the standards. ". . . computers and related technolgies can be tools of inquiry, communication, creation, and sharing. They can be tools of change." (p 16) Should this not be the hallmark of every school across the nation?

"If students did not use the technologies meaningfully in concert with the existing curriculum, and if students viewed computers simply as auxiliary equipment, educators would not realize the full potential of their effectiveness. Technology instruction should be presented in a manner that allows students to apply what they learn to real-world situations. The students need to be aware of that fact and buy into it as well. The best way to accomplish this is to provide students with genuine experiences that both meet existing curriculum guidelines and motivate students to realize their full potential." (p 19) Hallelujah! I couldn't have said that better myself! This is how we can, no, must inspire our students to become life-long learners. Now, if we could only get more educators to embrace this philosophy. . .

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Mahatma Gandhi