Looking for engaging ways to enhance written assignments for students? Listenwise offers a unique solution by bringing podcasts and videos into the writing process. Our standards-aligned lessons help students develop writing skills while building listening comprehension and critical thinking. How Listenwise Supports Written Assignments for Students Creating written assignments for students that incorporate different types […]
Looking for engaging ways to enhance written assignments for students? Listenwise offers a unique solution by bringing podcasts and videos into the writing process. Our standards-aligned lessons help students develop writing skills while building listening comprehension and critical thinking.
How Listenwise Supports Written Assignments for Students
Creating written assignments for students that incorporate different types of media can be challenging, especially when teaching English Language Learners (ELs) or striving to meet diverse learner needs. Listenwise provides a wide range of resources that make it easier to design meaningful writing tasks using audio and video content.
Find Relevant Content for Any Writing Assignment
With Listenwise, students can access current, real-world content to support their written assignments. Our library features up-to-date podcasts and videos on a variety of subjects—from history and science to social studies and current events—making it easy to find sources that enhance student writing.
I always find relevant content to go along with my lessons as a supplement. The ease of use and the already identified standards make using Listenwise so easy!
Middle School Teacher
Missouri
Benefits for Student Writing
- Access to current events for research papers
- Easy source material for bibliographies
- Primary and secondary source integration
- Standards-aligned content for any subject
Lesson Resources That Build Strong Written Assignments
Every Listenwise lesson comes with built-in resources to support written assignments for students, including:
- Comprehension and quiz questions that can double as writing prompts
- Discussion questions are ideal for essay starters and long-form writing tasks
- Graphic organizers that help students plan, outline, and structure their written work
Teachers can assign quizzes digitally or use the provided questions to guide students in writing summaries, opinion pieces, and analytical essays.
Listenwise is a beneficial addition to my curriculum. We listen and respond as a whole group to the lessons before students begin to work on individual writing assignments. I also like that students can work at their own pace.
ELD High School Teacher
Pennsylvania
Using Listenwise Stories as Sources for Student Essays
Listenwise podcasts and videos come from credible, well-known news outlets, making them strong sources for student writing assignments. Each story includes:
- Full transcripts for easy citation
- Built-in vocabulary support
- Speed-adjustable audio for accessibility
- Lexile-leveled texts for differentiated instruction
Students can use Listenwise stories as evidence in argumentative essays, research projects, or multimedia synthesis assignments that require diverse source types.
I use Listenwise stories when teaching the Bill of Rights to help connect current events to class content.
Middle School Teacher
Massachusetts
Differentiated Support for All Students
Listenwise is designed to support all learners—from advanced writers to English learners who need additional language scaffolding for their written assignments. Features include:
- Lexile-leveled texts
- English language learner (ELL/ELD) supports
- Subtitled transcripts
- Native language translations (on select lessons)
This ensures that every student, regardless of language proficiency, can complete their written assignments with confidence.
Creative Ways to Use Listenwise for Writing Practice
Here are some examples of how teachers use Listenwise to create engaging written assignments for students:
Multimedia Essay Writing
Ask students to synthesize information from a podcast (audio), a news article (written), and a video (visual) to explore how different media formats present similar information.
Summarization Practice
Younger students can listen to a short podcast and write a summary, using graphic organizers to capture the main idea and key details—perfect for building early writing skills.
Evidence-Based Writing
Students can quote from Listenwise transcripts to strengthen their arguments in persuasive essays, research papers, or opinion writing.
I see Listenwise as a valuable resource for building engagement with students who increasingly gravitate to podcasts over written texts.
Supervisor of Humanities
New Jersey
Bring Media-Rich Written Assignments to Your Classroom
By integrating Listenwise into your curriculum, you can create dynamic written assignments for students that meet academic standards while boosting engagement and comprehension. Help students build essential writing skills using real-world audio and video content today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using Listenwise for Written Assignments for Students
How can Listenwise help improve written assignments for students?
Listenwise provides engaging, standards-aligned audio and video lessons that serve as high-quality source material for written assignments for students. Each lesson includes comprehension questions, discussion prompts, and graphic organizers that help students organize their thoughts and develop stronger writing skills.
Can students use Listenwise podcasts as sources in their essays?
Yes! Listenwise podcasts come from reputable news and educational organizations, making them excellent primary or secondary sources for essays, research papers, and other written assignments. Full transcripts and citation-friendly information are included with each lesson.
Are there writing prompts included with Listenwise lessons?
Absolutely. Every Listenwise lesson includes discussion questions and quiz questions that teachers can easily adapt into writing prompts. These resources are ideal for jumpstarting written assignments for students, whether for short responses, summaries, or longer essays.
How does Listenwise support English Language Learners with writing assignments?
Listenwise offers ELD-specific lessons with additional language supports such as slowed audio, built-in vocabulary definitions, and transcripts with keyword highlights. These features help ELL students comprehend the material and confidently complete their written assignments in English.
Can Listenwise be used for different types of written assignments?
Yes! Teachers use Listenwise to support a variety of written assignments for students, including:
- Summaries
- Persuasive essays
- Research papers
- Opinion pieces
- Multimedia synthesis assignments
How does Listenwise support differentiation in writing assignments?
Every Listenwise story comes with a Lexile level and adjustable audio speed, helping teachers choose content that matches student ability levels. With graphic organizers and scaffolded questions, teachers can modify written assignments for students to suit emerging writers, advanced students, and everyone in between.