All links in the Symbaloo below will take you to the iTunes page so that you may learn more information about each app or install it on your iPad.
Listen to Reading Apps
If you are thinking that some of the apps on the right look familiar, well, ya got me! About half of the apps are the same ones I shared on the Read to Self page. I love when apps have more than one purpose.
Also, I tried including mostly apps with multiple stories for the students to listen to. I could spend days in the app store researching and adding free individual story apps. There are MANY Collins Big Cat and Storychimes books that can be added to the iPads for students.
And, don't forget about having students record themselves reading books in the classroom and having other students listen to those
recordings like Kayla Delzer does with her students.
What about guest readers? Maybe a sibling or parent can record themselves reading stories. How fun would it be for kids to hear their own families reading to them. Instant celebrity!
Or perhaps you can twist the principal's arm to record a story. The sky is the limit. Don't count yourself out. Kids love to hear you read to them too!
Let's take a look at the apps. First off, I included the app QRafter and a link to the QR Code Generator website. If you are going to have guest recordings, you might want to use Ms. Delzer's fabulous idea of incorporating QR codes for kids to access the stories.
Epic! is by far the most expansive app to use for Listening to Reading. Book choices can easily be sorted by whether or not they have audio. Teachers get free accounts that they can keep logged in on the iPad. The teacher is also able to add 36 separate profiles so that each student has his or her own space to read books. In the teacher management tool, you are able to see what each child is reading. Best of all, the book titles offered are in many different genres. Picture books as well as chapter books can be found too. Can you tell that I love what Epic! has to offer?
We talked about iStorybooks, Storychimes, and Collins Big Cat books in the Read to Self section. Click here to look back.
K12 Read Aloud Classics Lite has 7 free stories to choose from. While that may not be a lot, it is a Lite version. I do like how the storyteller reads the story. It will keep students engaged and following along.
MeeGenius is an app with a limit of 1 free book per day. However, WOW! Can I tell you how much I enjoyed listening to the storyteller? If I didn't have to purchase a license for every iPad in the class, I would most definitely think about buying the full version.
Farfaria is similar to MeeGenius where you get a free book each day. There are a lot of different choices in terms of book genres. The narrators do a good job of sharing the stories with the listeners as well.
Bookshelf Kids Books has 20 different stories that students can listen to. It is well read and engaging.
DK Readers only has 5 sample books to read, but since I am familiar with the DK print books I figured I'd keep it on the list. These books are very primary in nature and definitely geared to K-2 students.
Speaking of primary, SAS Read Aloud is also geared for the K-1 crowd. Books can be added from within the app. It's VERY primary :)