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Audio Books Improve Literacy In More Than One Ways

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:04:00 -0400

The benefits of parents reading out loud to their children are established facts in the field of education. Yet, the use of audio books has not been received with the same enthusiasm. Often we are told that using this technology is “not really reading”, that somehow it means we are “cheating”. With the use of audio books in classrooms on the rise research and experience has disproved this perception. In fact, the use of audio books has been shown to improve children’s literacy skills in some very important ways.

What are the four main benefits?

Audio Books provide a model of fluent reading
Audio Books teach critical listening and thinking skills
Audio Books give children access to above level texts
Audio Books provide children with an example of reading as entertainment

What exactly does that mean? Let’s take a closer look.

A Model of Fluent Reading
Like parents reading out loud, audio books provide a model of fluent reading. The proper pronunciation of words, use of inflection and rhythm help children better understand how a story should sound and provides them with a sense of narrative.

Critical Listening and Thinking Skills
Listening to stories out loud helps readers to better remember what a story is about. When recalling the information later they have more memory clues to tie to a particular scene. The addition of audio gives readers more context in which to understand a new word and the overall story, improving their ability to digest the information presented.

Access to Above Level Texts
Many texts may be too difficult for young readers to read on their own. Audio books mean these stories are no longer off limits. Children are given access to a wider variety of content and are introduced to new vocabulary words along the way. Hearing and seeing the word gives readers a better understanding of the new word and provides them with an example of proper pronunciation.

PARENTING TIP:
If you think your child is memorizing texts and not reading, ask them to point to the words as they listen. This shows that they can identify new words and will make it easier for them to remember those words in the future.

Reading as Entertainment
The narrative embellishments added by voice actors emphasize reading as entertainment, not something that feels like homework. Character voices, inflections and emphasis on various parts of speech provides variety and makes reading more fun. This allows children to develop enthusiasm for reading.

FarFaria’s “Read to Me” was developed with these benefits in mind. We’ve partnered with great voice actors to provide children with an enhanced reading experience. “Read to Me” is available for all our stories, which means any story at any level is accessible for your child. Not only does “Read to Me” provide children with the above academic benefits, it makes FarFaria’s stories more entertaining, encouraging children to develop a love of reading.

Try FarFaria’s “Read to Me” feature today and let us know what you think. Email us anytime at feedback@FarFaria.com.

Sources:
http://nbclatino.com/2013/03/06/using-audiobooks-to-boost-your-childs-literacy/
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/developing-reading-skills/literacy-benefits-listening
http://ezinearticles.com/?8-Teaching-Benefits-of-Audio-Books&id=384636
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/64/

New in FarFaria for the Week of May 13

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:15:00 -0400

Greetings Explorers!

This week, FarFaria has some amazing new stories for you. Here’s a sneak peek at what to look for!

Moms: You Rule!

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:49:49 -0400

More than flowers or gifts, the most important thing you can do this Mother’s Day is tell your mom that you love her. Think about all the truly awesome things she has done for you.

Think about how grateful you are for all those diaper changes. Think about all the times she came running into your room when you were scared of the dark, the emergency trips to the hospitals. Think about how happy you are to see her face everyday. Think about all the wonderful memories you have with your mother. We did.

Moms, we love you. These are the moments we will never forget:

“In Ukraine, my mother would drop me to pre-school before she went to work. One day when she picked me up, it was somehow determined that I had lice. Well there were no special shampoos or remedies then. Instead my mom took me to a barber who shaved off ALL of my hair. I remember the buzzer being so hot that it burned my ear. I cried my eyes out and I distinctly remember my mom standing there feeling sorry for me. I think I even blamed her for the devastation of what had just happened to me!
But the next day I remember her holding me as I was crying and telling me that it was going to be all right.
I have very few memories from my time in Ukraine but this one is stuck in my head (pun intended). ”

-Gennady, CTO

“It’s hard to think of a single, distinct memory of my mom from when I was a kid. But, I do remember her patience and kindness coming through so many times. One frequent occurrence around bedtime was me being unable to sleep… because I was scared of the dark. (I won’t mention how old I was when I outgrew this need.) She never failed to calm me with a hug and the rhythmic patting of her hand on my back until I finally dozed off. The comfort of her hugs is something I will never outgrow and am still lucky enough to get from time to time.”

-Ajay, CEO

“There are certain things about my mom that I know I will always remember: the way her clothes smell, her laugh, the way she blows her bangs out of her eyes, the comfort of her touch. She is someone that I will always be able to laugh with and learn from. Even when things got rough, she never gave up on me. I think that in my entire life I have never had nor will ever have a better friend than my Mom.”

- Katia, Director

“I was home sick from preschool one day. I sat at the kitchen table, with my mom right next to me. She was trying to give me a spelling lesson. I guess I wasn’t that sick. She asked me how to spell a word, and I had no clue. I didn’t like not knowing how to spell, so I turned the tables on her.
I asked my mom, “Does QSRB spell a word?” “No, it doesn’t,” she said.
“Does PSARW spell a word?” I asked again. “Well, no, that’s not a word either!” she said. I repeated my questions over and over again, making up nonsensical spellings each time. She gently said no each time.
Finally, a little bit of frustration showing on her face, she said, “Jon, I think you need to study your spelling a bit more.”
“What about ‘D-O-G?’ Does that spell a word?” I asked one more time.
She smiled and said I had spelled DOG.
I had no clue that the word I spelled was dog, but it felt great to finally be right! I’ll always remember her gentleness and patience that day!”

-Jon, Director

Happy Mother’s Day!

Download FarFaria to read our new stories for Mother’s Day!

If You Can Read this Blog, Thank a Teacher

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:04:31 -0400

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day!

Most of us remember one special teacher. Someone who took the time to help us perfect our book reports, cram for the science exam, or figure out the oh-so elusive solution to that horrid word problem.

There may also be some of us, like me, who can’t pick just one moment to share. But I know that so much of what I have today I have because of the teachers in my life. How do you know if a teacher has made a difference in your life? Well…

If you can read, thank a teacher.

If you can write, thank a teacher.

If you can count, thank a teacher.

If you don’t use safety scissors anymore, thank a teacher.

Even if you still use the safety scissors, thank a teacher.

If you know how great paste tastes and can live to talk about it, thank a teacher.

If you know how many s’s are in the word Mississippi, thank a teacher.

If you know that class sizes are growing, funding is decreasing and that in spite of this teachers refuse to give up, thank a teacher.

If you do nothing else today, thank a teacher. It is because of their efforts that we are able to achieve so much in life.

Thank you teachers.

Download FarFaria to read our new story for Teacher Appreciation Day, “A Note for Miss Miller.”

New in FarFaria for the Week of May 6

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:44:00 -0400

Greetings Explorers!

This week, FarFaria has some amazing new stories for you. Here’s a sneak peek at what to look for!

Create Your Own Adventure in Oz with FarFaria’s Activity Pages!

Fri, 03 May 2013 18:38:00 -0400

Download FarFaria’s Activity Pages

The Wicked Witch of the West has set some traps for Dorothy and her friends. Uncover the hidden words in our word search and help Dorothy defeat the Witch.

Help Dorothy and her friends reach the Emerald City by finishing FarFaria’s “Wizard of Oz” maze.

Create an Emerald City of a different color with our “Wizard of Oz” coloring page.

FarFaria’s “The Wizard of Oz Part 2: The Emerald City”

Join Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man on their adventure in the Land of Oz!

Dorothy and her friends arrive in the Emerald City but their journey is not over yet. There they meet Oz, the great and powerful wizard. The wizard will help the travelers on one condition: Dorothy and friends must defeat the Wicked Witch of the West.

Find out what happens in FarFaria’s “The Wizard of Oz Part 2: The Emerald City!”

Download FarFaria today to read “The Wizard of Oz”!

Kid’s Thoughts on Marriage

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:01:00 -0400

Apparently six year olds do a lot of thinking about marriage, as evidenced by a great interview in the Daily News Dig.

Chris Hughes asked a group of elementary schoolers some candid questions about their thoughts on marriage. In addition to being absolutely adorable, their comments are pretty insightful.

Couples out there, these great tips from youngsters may come in handy.

Read what they had to say when asked: How Do You Decide Who to Marry?

Make Your Very Own Ashipattle Action Figure!

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:17:00 -0400

Create your own Ashipattle adventures with FarFaria’s Ashipattle Paper Action Figure! Download the Ashipattle Printable below and start creating a new adventure for Ashipattle today.

What You’ll Need:
Scissors
Glue or Tape
Imagination and creativity!

Instructions:

Click on the link below to download the Ashipattle Action Figure template.

Cut out the Head and Body from the template. Fold along the lines. Glue or tape the folded flaps together.

On each side of the body, cut small slit for the arms. Cut out the arms. Fold the arms in half and slide them into the slits on the body.
Don’t forget Ashipattle’s bucket! Cut out the bucket. Fold it in half and glue it on to one of Ashipattle’s hands.

Now Ashipattle is ready for action!

Share your Ashipattle adventures with your friends today!

Click Here to Download Your Ashipattle Action Figure Template

New in FarFaria for the Week of April 29

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:07:00 -0400

Greetings Explorers!

This week, FarFaria has some amazing new stories for you. Here’s a sneak peek at what to look for!

Ashipattle and the Sorcerer’s Revenge!

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:11:49 -0400

In his first adventure Ashipattle defeated the giant sea monster Meester Stoor Worm. Now Ashipattle returns in a brand new story!

The Evil Sorcerer commands the power of the great volcanoes of Iceland. With his power he plans to destroy Ashipattle and all of Scotland. Can Ashipattle save the kingdom from the Sorcerer and his fire dragons, or will this be Ashipattle’s last adventure?

Read FarFaria’s Newest Story, “Ashipattle and the Sorcerer’s Revenge,” today in FarFaria!

Download FarFaria today to check out these and more great stories!

Take Our Kids to Work Day!

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:38:00 -0400

If your kids ever wonder what the heck you do all day, “Take Our Kids to Work Day” is the perfect time to show them!

Not only do you get the chance to spend more time with your children, you are also exposing them to brand new opportunities to explore career goals. It is a great way for you and your children to become closer, and to encourage your kids to reach for the stars.

To inspire our kids to do great things when they grow up, check out FarFaria’s newest story “Who Am I?”

“Who Am I?” shows young readers different types of careers. Doctor? Lawyer? Scientist? Who knows what great things the future has in store for our kids.

Download FarFaria today to check out these and more great stories!

For more information about “Take our Sons and Daughters to Work Day” check out:www.daughtersandsonstowork.org

FarFaria Celebrates Earth Day!

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:27:00 -0400

Hey FarFarians!

Today is Earth Day! Today millions of people around the world commit to helping the environment and keeping our planet healthy. FarFaria brings you some great new stories and some great ideas for you and your family this Earth Day.

FarFaria’s New Stories for Earth Day
Check out FarFaria’s great new stories for Earth Day. Each new story has some fun new tips for helping planet Earth.

You’re never too young to help save the planet! Read “My Planet and Me” for some great tips on going green.

When the creek runs dry the animals in “Growling About the Power” learn just how important it is to save water.

Joey discovers an underwater world in FarFaria’s “Penguin City.” But it is not a pretty sight. Joey finds out just how bad littering can be for our planet.

Everyday Things You Can Do
There are everyday things that you can do to help our planet. Here are some very simple things you can do each day:

Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth.
Take a shower instead of a bath.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Don’t stand in front of an open refrigerator.
Turn off the TVs and computers when you are not using them.

Things To Do With the Family
You and your family can make a commitment to planet Earth around your home. With a few new family routines, your home will be greener than ever.

Recycle - Paper, aluminum, glass and some plastics are all recyclable. Check with your local recycling center to see what items your family can recycle. There may be a few new things to add to your list.
Compost – Instead of tossing old food scraps in the trash, start composting. Designate a compost pile for the family. Then after each meal toss leftover food scraps together. Composting adds nutrients to the soil. After a few weeks of composting, your family can start a new garden!
Ditch the Car – Biking, walking or carpooling to school are great ways your family can help reduce pollution in the atmosphere. Walking or biking to school isn’t just planet friendly, it is also a great way to exercise. Ask the parents in your neighborhood if they would like to start a carpool. It’s a fun way to help the planet and make new friends.
Plant a Tree – Trees are not only beautiful, they are an important part of Earth’s ecosystem. Trees create oxygen and help keep the air clean. Pick a spot in your yard to plant a new tree. You can also volunteer with organizations that plant trees in urban areas.

Take FarFaria’s Earth Day Pledge
Want to make a year long promise to help the planet Earth? Take FarFaria’s Earth Day Pledge. Post the pledge on your refrigerator so that each day you are reminded of your promise to planet Earth.

“I pledge to help keep planet Earth healthy.

I know that it is important to do my part to help the planet. By helping my planet everyday I am making the world a better place.

This year I will help the Earth by:_______________________________.”

Download FarFaria today to check out our great new stories for Earth Day!

Coming Soon to FarFaria: Ashipattle and the Sorcerer’s Revenge

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:54:14 -0400

Get ready for Ashipattle’s next adventure!

Ashipattle has defeated the giant sea monster Meester Stoor Worm. But that was just the beginning. Now Ashipattle must face the evil Sorcerer and the fire dragons.

Coming to FarFaria April 26, 2013!

Download FarFaria today to check out this great new story from FarFaria!

FarFaria Celebrates Its First Birthday!

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:24:07 -0400

This week FarFaria is celebrating its first birthday, and there is a whole lot to celebrate! But we’re not just celebrating FarFaria. We are celebrating YOU!

Bringing smiles to the faces of young readers is something that we celebrate each and everyday. Our fans are the reason we strive to make our World of Stories even better. Thank you to our awesome fans for your support in our first year! We can’t wait to see what our next year will bring.

But before we get there, let’s look back at everything we have accomplished so far…

FarFaria’s First Year…

FarFaria’s World Expands!
In our first year, we’ve expanded our map not once but twice. Last summer we brought you Looney Lagoon, a land devoted to stories to tickle your funny bone. This week FarFaria has expanded it’s land once more to include Sing Along City. To celebrate this new land FarFaria is publishing a new song everyday this week!

Over 350 Stories!
In our first year FarFaria’s library has grown to include over 350 stories. Your family’s favorite classic stories, great new originals and wonderful children’s songs can all be found in FarFaria’s World of Stories. And we are not done yet! Each week FarFaria will continue to bring you amazing new titles. With the addition of our newest land, we have an even wider selection of stories for you and your family.

“Read to Me” in Every Story!
Users asked and we listened. Not only did FarFaria update our entire library to include our great “Read to Me” feature, we also brought you “Auto-Play.” That means parents have the option to have stories read out loud to their child. Our fantastic team of voice over artists makes each story even more exciting.

What People are Saying!
In our first year, FarFaria won the 2012 Family Choice Award and was selected as the winner of Ventbeat’s WinSXSW Contest in two categories! We’ve also received some great reviews from parents, teachers and kids. Here are just a few of the great things people are saying about FarFaria:

“Brain Expander” – Parenting Magazine

“A Solid Literacy Tool” – Common Sense Media

“FarFaria makes nightly reading exciting! I love this app… I downloaded this the second I saw it and we’ve used it every day since!” – Single Mom

“Fantastic App! My first grader loves it! She is struggling a bit to keep up with reading but this makes it so fun. She looks forward to reading and even reads more than I ask her to.” - Parent

Thanks to all of our fans for making our first year so special.

Happy Birthday FarFaria!

Sing Along with Sing Along City!

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:21:00 -0400

Hey FarFarians!

FarFaria version 2.10 is now available in the App Store. This update is one of the most exciting yet!

Sing Along City: FarFaria’s Newest Land!
FarFaria’s World of Stories has expanded! Check out our newest land: Sing Along City! Here you will find all of your favorite children’s songs including some great hits from Twin Sisters Productions.

Some of our favorites are “Green Grass Grew All Around”, “Five Little Monkeys”, and “Twelve Day’s of Halloween” (we know it’s not Halloween, but we love this one any time of year). We are so excited about this new land we decided to release a new sing along book every day this week! So stay tuned…

FarFaria’s Library Continues to Grow!
FarFaria’s library now has even more stories for you to enjoy! And with the addition of our newest land, we have an even greater variety of books for you and your family. Fables, Classics, Songs… whatever story your child is looking for, you can find it in FarFaria.

Bugs Be Gone!
Our team of Technology FarFurus (that’s FarFarian for Gurus) has exterminated some creepy-crawly, crash-bugs, making FarFaria run better than ever before. If there are any bugs still lurking in FarFaria, let us know. We will find them and fix them.

Download FarFaria today to check out these updates and more!

Apatosaurus Stomps into FarFaria

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:51:00 -0400

Dinosaurs are super cool! These huge reptiles roamed the planet millions of years ago. FarFaria’s newest story is all about one of these awesome creatures, “Apatosaurus!”

Did Apatosaurus live during the Jurassic period?
What did Apatosaurus eat?
Just how big was this dinosaur anyways?

Learn all about the dinosaur Apatosaurus today!

Download FarFaria today to check out this great new story and more!

Meet Gennady: FarFaria’s Resident FarFuru and CTO!

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:58:00 -0400

Gennady Borukhovich is CTO and a founding member of Intuary. We asked Gennady to share with us what he loves about working on FarFaria.

What is your mission at FarFaria?
Our mission is pretty simple: create the perfect story time! Who wouldn’t love that mission!?! It’s pretty amazing, and I am jazzed that I get to wake up every morning to help build FarFaria, the perfect story time.

Why are you passionate about children’s literacy?
Despite my parents’ best efforts, reading was never a big part of my life growing up. As a result, I’m a VERY slow reader. This made keeping up in school, and learning difficult over the years. I had to work harder. I personally know the challenges that children face when they struggle with reading.

FarFaria is a tool that helps kids learn to love to read. Each day we hear from parents about the difficulties their children face in school because of their struggles with reading. After trying FarFaria, these same parents are telling us that their kids are reading more often, reading better and are now enjoying reading more than ever!

How would you describe the team at FarFaria?
Over the last two years, the company has grown and we’ve put together the best team I’ve ever worked with. I believe that the mission genuinely motivates everyone, and we all work so incredibly well together.

That doesn’t mean we always agree, or get along, or never butt heads. Quite the opposite! There is not a week that goes by without passionate conversations about what direction folks think we should go in one area of the business or the other. It’s these conversations and passions that make FarFaria better everyday!

What makes FarFaria different?
In today’s world, children are born with technology at their fingertips. This marriage of tech, stories, and art, is something that is relatively new but that is key to the future of children’s reading. When I wake up in the morning, I know that everyday FarFaria is helping to move the publishing and children’s entertainment industry forward. Our model brings high quality literature to children in a world where technology is becoming ubiquitous.

When you think about what FarFaria is, you may think it’s “just an app.” But to me it is something greater than that. FarFaria is a service. We combine technology, literature, and art to create an amazing reading experience that gets children excited about reading.

What’s your favorite FarFaria story?
My favorite FarFaria story is “Donkey and Mule Go to the Fair”. This story was one of the earliest we worked on, I absolutely love the lesson of friendship, and I believe that Mule looks a bit like me :-D.

To read Gennady’s favorite story, download FarFaria today!

New in FarFaria for the Week of April 8

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:22:00 -0400

Greetings Explorers!

This week, FarFaria has some amazing new stories for you. Here’s a sneak peek at what to look for!

A Special Story for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 11:01:18 -0400

Abby is a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany. Her and her mother make the decision to flee to the safety of America. On the last night of Hanukah they sneak away. At the last moment a guard confronts them, but by some great miracle they make it to safety.

Read this touching tale with your family today.

Each year Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom Hoshoah, is reserved as a day to remember those lost during the Holocaust. This international day marks the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.

FarFaria encourages your family to talk about the tragedies of the Holocaust and to commit to a future without discrimination of people based on race, culture, gender or religion.

Download FarFaria to read “A Candlelight Miracle” with your family today.

We Have a Winner!

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:03:00 -0400

We’d like to give a special thank you to everyone who entered FarFaria’s Easter Egg Coloring contest. It was so much fun to see all the creativity of our fans.
Every egg was beautifully decorated. We had a really difficult time picking a winner.
But in the end, we could only choose one.

Congratulations to the winner of the Lucy’s Pretty Eggs Egg Coloring Contest:
Joshua!

Grand Prize Winner:

Joshua, age 7, and his Monster Eggs!

Joshua Will Receive…
A spectacular FarFaria Easter Basket full of great Easter goodies!

Runners Up:

Fan Favorite

Happy Easter FarFarians!

We can’t wait to see what we get next year!

For full contest rules and regulations, please email Lucy@FarFaria.com