Overall Conclusion
The results of this study suggest that there are differences in student responses to reading aloud and to audiobooks. The reading attitude surveys showed that read-alouds resulted in a more positive attitude towards reading than audiobooks. Student behavior was also different during the different sessions. Observations revealed that the students were much more attentive during the read-aloud sessions, yet students stated in their interviews that they preferred audiobooks.
It would not be prudent to generalize too much from such a small and non-representative sample, but I believe that this study suggests that teachers and librarians should be aware that students may respond differently to these two methods of oral transmission of literature and should observe their own students to see which method is best for their students. My students appeared to like audiobooks better than read-alouds because they were “in control” of the experience. However, they were more engaged and attentive during the read-aloud sessions which suggests that at this age they may need the double stimulus of hearing the story and seeing a reader to remain focused.
Answer to Research Question
Question
What are the differences, if any, in student reading motivation between reading aloud and listening to audiobooks for students at a small urban school in the Southeastern United States?
Answer
The answer seems to be first, that there are indeed differences and second, that reading aloud seems to motivate student reading more than audiobooks.
Supporting Evidence
- Student reading motivation increased more (or decreased less) when students listened to read-alouds than when students listened to audiobooks, according to the survey.
- Observations showed that students were more engaged, attentive and focused during the read-aloud sessions than the audiobook sessions.
Conclusions: What I learned
- There are differences in student response to reading aloud and audiobooks.
- Some of these differences affect their reading motivation. Others affect their engagement and attentiveness.
- In the group interviews, the majority of students stated that they prefer audiobooks to read-alouds.
- Observations showed that the students were much more focused and engaged during the read-alouds than during the audiobookss.
- Student reading attitude surveys showed that read-alouds had a more positive effect on student reading attitudes than audiobooks.
- None of the students visualized at the beginning of the study but half of them stated they did by the end of the study.