Zaner-Bloser, a publisher of early literacy resources, has entered into an agreement with ed-tech company Listenwise, an award-winning platform that brings podcasts to the classroom, to promote and sell its listening skills platform of the same name to the K-5 market.
Launched in 2014 for secondary grade students and in 2020 for elementary school students, Listenwise harnesses the power of listening to advance literacy and learning in all students by using podcasts as classroom texts, amplifying content and providing students practice in required listening skills. It uses a curated collection of compelling, nonfiction podcasts and stories from National Public Radio and other trusted sources, paired with learning tools and comprehension assessments, to engage students while advancing their literacy skills. Aligned with all states’ English Language Arts standards, it’s a unique listening skills platform for the K-12 school market.
“We’re excited to promote and offer this program in alignment with our mission of providing joyful learning opportunities for all students,” said Amanda Stedke, Vice President of Product for Zaner-Bloser. “Listening to podcasts is an engaging way for all students to build their literacy skills.”
Numerous research studies show a definitive link between listening skills and reading development. Very simply, students with stronger listening skills are better learners. That’s why Listenwise believes listening skills should be a core part of literacy instruction.
“We spend the majority of our time listening, but it’s hardly taught in the K-12 classroom,” said Listenwise founder and CEO Monica Brady-Myerov. “Listenwise is a fun and engaging way to improve listening skills. It’s a game-changer for improving comprehension skills and a broad solution for helping kids succeed.”
The program, which serves half a million students, has been particularly well-received during the pandemic. As schools have switched to remote and hybrid learning, they’ve been looking for digital solutions to minimize – or in some cases recoup – learning loss. Listenwise has proven to be an excellent way to support all students, but especially those in populations that have been most affected by the loss of in-person instruction.
“We look forward to introducing more elementary students and teachers to the phenomenal content in Listenwise,” Stedke said. “It’s an outstanding digital solution that will help many students become much better listeners and, ultimately, much better learners.”
About Zaner-Bloser
Zaner-Bloser is an educational-solutions company that specializes in delivering explicit instruction and a solid academic foundation for pre-K through eighth-grade students in reading, writing, spelling, handwriting and other language arts. With more than 125 years of experience, Zaner-Bloser offers several academic products and resources, including Superkids, Spelling Connections, Zaner-Bloser Handwriting and Jump Into Writing! As a member of the Highlights Family of Companies, we strive to always do what’s right for children and to make a significant contribution to their education today – and in the future. Visit http://www.zaner-bloser.com/ for more information.
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