Listenwise

Listenwise is an award-winning online listening skills platform. Listenwise harnesses the power of listening to advance literacy and learning in all students grades 2-12. The collection of podcasts and public radio keeps teaching connected to the real world and builds student listening skills at the same time. The curriculum aligned podcasts are paired with learning tools and listening comprehension assessments to transform them into rigorous academic content. Students are motivated by the interesting real world stories, and Listenwise provides the literacy supports and differentiated instruction necessary for diverse classrooms including ELLs and reluctant readers.

Podcasts for Kids to Get Them Interested in Listening

For Ages 5-12

  • Story Pirates – This show asks a kid for a story and then produces it into a lively audio drama. Also recommended, The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, Eleanor Amplified, and The Fina Mendoza Mystery Podcast

  • The Big Fib – Do you think you can tell fact from fiction? Each episode brings on an expert and a liar and asks a kid to make the call about who is telling the truth.

  • Science: Earth Rangers – Follow Earth Ranger Emma as she explores the natural world. This show takes kids on an audio adventure. Also recommended, WOW in the World and Brains On!

  • Circle Round – A cast of voice actors retells some well adapted folktales from around the word. Also recommended, Flyest Fables and Grim, Grimmer and Grimmest.  Item description

For Ages 13-18

  • Serial – A true crime story about solving a high school student’s murder

  • Dear Hank and John – Kids will know these brothers (the Greens) from their novels and YouTube channel. They answer teens questions about anything.

  • Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me – A quiz show full of humor and news.

  • Welcome to Night Vale – Set in a fake town where strange things happen

  • Mic Drop – From the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, this show gives the mic to tweens and teens to talk about their inner lives and passions.

Podcasts That Students Will Enjoy In and Out of Class

For Elementary School Students

  • The creators take kid’s story ideas and turn them into funny comedy sketches.

  • Curious kids get their questions answered, like why we need sleep and how money works.

  • Can you tell truth from lies? This podcast puts kids on the spot to uncover the liar and learn about some interesting jobs in the process. 

  • Professional athletes share their stories about when they were kids.

For Middle School Students

  • A Peabody Award-winning serial mystery podcast about a middle school kid, performed by middle school kids.

  • A science podcast for kids that’s also interesting for adults because it explores cool scientific questions like what’s at the center of the earth.

  • Learn about a new book from the students who read it and hear them interview the author who wrote it.

  • A fictitious town’s fictitious news makes for a creepy podcast.

For High School Students

  • I always learn something fascinating from this podcast.

  • The podcast picks a theme and shares several stories around the theme in “acts” during each episode. Some of the subjects might be inappropriate for teenagers.

  • A weekly news quiz show that will make kids laugh and learn something.