This activity provides an opportunity for children to use visual representation to improve comprehension and interpretive abilities. By sequencing main story events and organizing key elements, children will learn to identify key elements of a story, better organize details and their own ideas about a story, and understand sequence.
Educators
Use Tales2Go with or without physical books in hand to give students access to literature beyond their current reading ability and develop critical listening and comprehension skills.
Audiobooks are a proven resource for teaching reading, at all reading levels, which is why they've been used in classrooms for decades. Among many the benefits, listening builds critical vocabulary, comprehension, fluency and listening skills; in fact, adding a listening component to reading instruction has been shown to improve student achievement. Instructional methods such as The Daily 5 do just that, and the Common Core Standards spell out specific listening requirements by grade level.
Audiobooks are also an effective tool to reach and motivate struggling readers. The use of audiobooks is a creative and inexpensive way to help bridge the achievement gap for students with learning differences, those who are learning English as Second Language, and those who lack the background knowledge to succeed in many content areas.
Among the many benefits, audiobooks:
- reinforce literacy skills.
- supplement reading instruction to develop a positive attitude towards literature.
- develop understanding of content area material when decoding or other literacy skills are delayed.
- model the appropriate use of oral vocabulary, fluent reading, and use of phonics.
- bring literature from the classroom to home and back on a portable device.
Using inexpensive, practical, and research-based approaches to address the major challenges in reading instruction can help to bridge the gaps of achievement experienced by those who are rarely read to.
Featured Resource
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tales2Go?
Tales2Go is an award-winning mobile kids’ audiobook service that streams thousands of name-brand audio books and stories from leading publishers and storytellers to play on desktops, laptops and mobile devices in the classroom and beyond.
What are the benefits of listening to audiobooks?
Audiobooks have been used in classrooms for decades because listening builds critical listening, comprehension and fluency skills. Oral language precedes written language (i.e. developmentally), making listening an important component of language acquisition. In fact, there are reading methods such as The Daily 5 which include listening as a component of reading instruction. As well, the new Common Core Standards spell out specific Listening and Speaking skills required of all primary grade students. And, oh yeah, kids love listening to books and stories.
What is the age range of titles on Tales2Go?
Tales2Go has thousands of audiobooks and stories perfect for students in Pre K to 8th grade (or kids three to pre-teen). And there is a wide selection of stories appropriate for the whole family. Tales2Go even has a selection of parenting titles for moms and dads.
How do I start listening to Tales2Go?
Any new user can initiate a free 30-day trial on a desktop, laptop or Apple mobile device (i.e. iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone). Visit our home page (www.tales2go.com) and follow the appropriate links within the big green burst "Start a Free Trial Now' at the top of the home page. When prompted, login with an email address and password of your choosing. This will allow you to add up to five devices on an account using the same email/password combination when logging in new devices.
Can I listen to Tales2Go on a plane?
Yes, you can listen to a single Tales2Go story or chapter without any WiFi or carrier signal (e.g., AT&T or Verizon). Tales2Go 'caches' or temporarily stores the story you're listening to on the device. Begin listening to a story within a WiFi or carrier signal setting and as it begins to play it will store the entire story on the device—just watch for the blue buffering bar on the player page; once it's filled in completely, you can continue listening to a story without a signal (e.g., listen on an iPod Touch in a car). Buffering usually takes seconds, but can take as long as a minute or two depending on the length of the story or chapter, or the strength of the signal.
How do I subscribe after the free trial period?
You will be prompted to subscribe to Tales2Go after your initial 30-day free trial. You can purchase a subscription to Tales2Go as an in-app purchase (from within the app) or visit our store. If you're interested in a bulk purchase for a school, please visit our school purchases area or email schools@tales2go.com.
Why should I log in and create a Tales2Go account?
Creating a Tales2Go account is easy and allows you to manage up to five users/devices on one account. Click on the 'More' button on the app home screen and then click on 'Log-In/Log-Out'. Provide an email address and password of your choosing for security. Log-in other devices using the same email/password combination. Schools interested in bulk purchases (i.e. more than 5 licenses or devices) should email schools@tales2go.com.
Can I operate more than one computer or mobile device on a Tales2Go account?
Yes, you can connect up to five devices on a Tales2Go account, desktops, laptops and/or Apple mobile devices (i.e. iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). To download Tales2Go on additional devices, login when prompted, using the email address and password combination you used to login your first device (i.e. your email address names and creates your Tales2Go account). Schools interested in purchasing bulk licenses should email schools@tales2go.com.
How do I manage a large group of users or an entire school on Tales2Go?
Tales2Go sells to schools around the country, and offers bulk accounts ranging from 10 devices to hundreds. We also offer ways for school districts to purchase for entire districts. Please email schools@tales2go.com if you're interested in learning more.
Why won't a story play on Tales2Go?
Occasionally, there is a problem with a story—most often because of a signal issue. Rebooting the app (closing it down and then restarting it) will often correct a problem. If not, please email us at feedback@tales2go.com, or use the feedback email function from within the app itself (in the 'More' section).
What is the Tales2Go weekly newsletter?
Tales2Go sends users a weekly newsletter on new and/or interesting titles within the library. If you do not want to receive this newsletter, swipe the switch to 'no' in the Log-In/Log-Out area of the More section. You can also just unsubscribe from the email itself.
What if I can't find the stories I want on Tales2Go?
If you can't find a story you want on Tales2Go, feel free to put in a request. Send a message to feedback@tales2go.com, or use the feedback email function from within the app itself (in the 'More' section).
How do I set a bookmark or favorite?
While playing a story you want to bookmark for later, just click the bookmark or favorite (star) icon to the left of the duration bar on the player. You will see a bookmark animation play to confirm the bookmark has been set.
How do I remove a bookmark or favorite from my list?
When you no longer need a bookmark or favorite story, simply swipe your finger over the specific story on the bookmark/favorite page and a delete button will appear. Click the delete button.
Can I look for new stories while a current selection is playing?
Yes, you can browse the list of stories your initial navigation choices generated while you are still playing a previously loaded story.
Do you offer a discount for bulk license purchases?
Tales2Go offers bulk purchasing options for more than 10 devices, including volume breaks on price and the ability to manage groups of devices on one account/email address. Email us at schools@tales2go.com to learn more.
Parents Choice Award Winner
Mom's Choice Awards Honoring Excellence
National Parenting Publications Awards Gold Award
Parents Tested Parents Approved Media Winner
W3 Awards
Silver Winner
Silver Winner