Listening Center

Listening Center in Preschool

There’s no doubt that the benefits of having a listening center in your classroom are many. When your students are listening to stories being read aloud they are developing critical comprehension skills.

When children have the ability to choose the books they listen to, they’ll also be more likely to remain engaged and on-task.

Listening Center Set Up

Listening Center Benefits

Out with the Old!

I used to have a traditional listening center with a tape recorder and a junction box along with several sets of headphones, but I found that it was both difficult for the children to use independently and expensive to find multiple copies of books. Don’t even get me started about the tangled headphone cords!

The children could never agree on what they wanted to listen to, so they were either fighting over the book and ripping it, or there was only one child there – all alone.

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Now we have the luxury of using devices for our listening centers, which makes things so much easier. Your kids can be so much more independent in the listening center with a device as opposed to the clunky old boom boxes with confusing buttons.

How to Set Up a Listening Center in the Classroom

iPad Listening Center

The quickest and easiest way to create a successful listening center in your classroom is to use a device, like an iPad. Watch the video above and read the full blog post HERE to learn how you can get started using an iPad as a listening center in your classroom.

How to Make a QR Code Listening Center

Listening Center QR Codes

If you want to create a listening center that your kids can use independently you’ll want to try QR Codes. This method doesn’t cost a dime, but it does require some work up front, Wi-Fi, and of course, the books. To get started with QR codes in your classroom, watch the video tutorial above and read the full blog post HERE.

Where to put a listening center

Where to Put Your Listening Center?

Good news, you no longer have to worry about having enough space for a listening center in your classroom!

Just find a quiet area of the classroom, like the library center, and place a tub with the devices and/or books there.

Best Books for a Preschool Listening Center

Best Books for Your Listening Center

You’ll have the most success with this center if you provide the children with their favorite read-alouds. Highly engaging books like Pete the Cat, No, David!, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom that you have read aloud often and they love will capture their interest and keep them at this center for longer periods of time.

Teaching Trailblazers

Having a functional listening center is awesome! But let’s face it, a listening center can’t make you a better teacher. The best place to discuss teaching best practices and get the support you need is in the Teaching Trailblazers. We have many printable lessons and on-demand video trainings to help you become the best teacher you can be! Apply now for the Teaching Trailblazers program.

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