"I'm a real book!" said the audiobook.

I had a revelation in my 10th grade ELA class today.  I was talking to a student that just last week during our Literature Circles (see videos below) asked if he could get the audiobook of the novel his group was reading and listen to it.  I emphatically said, "Of course!"  He was shocked and excited as were other students who had overheard this discussion.  Obviously in this student's other classes he was not allowed to listen to books because listening to books was not the same as reading books.  This really made me think....a great deal.  I guess I had always thought that considering that each student has different learning styles that the audiobook was just another way to teach that student that learned a little differently. 

Today, that young man was telling me what chapter he was on in the book and how he could not put it down last night.  His excitement at getting to the end of that book made chills of happiness go up and down my arms.  Then he said, "When I finish this book it will be the first novel I have ever read!"  Success!  My job here is done =)