How to Use CDs in a Listening Center

Listening centers make learning enjoyable.

Classroom centers helps teachers break up the monotony of the day and excite children about learning. For a well-rounded set of centers, you should include an audio center. Cassette tapes can stretch and break, so investing in CDs is smarter and easier for kids to use. Whether needing an activity for just a few minutes or an entire hour, a CD listening center is a good place to introduce kids to audio books and musical learning.

Things You'll Need

• CDs
• Large zippered storage bags
• Read-along books
• Permanent markers
• Tracking sheet
• Clipboard
• Pens
• CD player
• Headphones
• Timer

Instructions

1. Remove CDs from their cases. Save the CD cases for storage later.

2. Put individual CDs into large zippered storage bags, individually.

3. Add read-along books to the bags, matching the book titles with the CDs. If you are using worksheets instead, add them to the large storage bags.

4. Number the bags with a permanent marker. This will help listening center users to keep up with which CDs they have completed.

5. Create a tracking sheet that lists each CD and book. As children use the center, they should "check out" CDs first by writing their name and the appropriate CD number on the sheet.

6. Place the tracking sheets on a clipboard and place it in the listening center.

7. Position the CD player and several sets of headphones on a table in the center.

8. Place a timer in the center. Set the timer for the time you have allotted for kids in the center.

References

• A to Z Teacher Stuff: Forun
• ReadWriteThink: Literacy Centers