Technology in the Classroom - Simple Apps with Big Impact

This is the first in a series of posts about using technology in your classroom to support all learners. While it will mainly focus on iPads since that's the technology we have at our school, many of these apps are also available for Android and some even have computer versions.

Technology is a wonderful thing. Used judiciously, it can enhance the learning environment in your classroom, challenging stronger students and supporting those who are struggling. I have discovered that some of the simplest apps can have the biggest impact, a fact that was highlighted for me last year. 

One of my students, a young man in grade 6, hated to read. Hated it so much, in fact, that he would do anything he could to avoid it. Quickly getting irritated with his antics, his teacher asked me what she could do to help him. I took this young man aside and offered him the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of any book he was interested in on one of our school iPods. Within days, he was coming to me with suggestions on new books we needed to have, in both paper and audio versions. He became, in the words of Donalyn Miller, a wild reader, devouring books, often having 2-3 on the go at any one time. He always followed along in the paper copy, but the audio gave him the scaffolding he needed to really get in to books. Although this was not the first time I had provided a student with the audio version of a book, this was the first time it literally turned a kid around.

Here, then, are my top picks for simple reading apps that can have a big impact:

Audible is an easy-to-use, cloud-based provider of audio books. They have thousands of titles available for purchase and a number of different purchase plans. I love that their titles are read by professional readers, often by well-known actors. While this may not seem like a big thing, it really changes a student's enjoyment of a book when it is read by an actor versus being read by a computer. Both novels and picture books are available, and new books are added regularly. Another cool thing, if you happen to be working with Kindle devices, is WhisperSync; when you own both the audio and Kindle versions of the book, they will automatically sync to your last read spot, regardless of whether or not you were listening or reading. A great tool for kids who want to listen to their book on the walk home and then pick the kindle version up at bedtime. 

How I use it: This app is a definite must for kids with learning disabilities in reading. I also find that it works very well for reluctant readers who just don't want to read, as well as for fluency practice for younger readers. It can be used on its own or paired with the paper copy of the book for maximum effect.

Available for: iPad, iPhone, Android,Windows Phone, PC, Mac

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e-Readers. There are many different e-readers on the market today and most are downloadable to your iPad or Android device (Kindle is also available for Windows and PC/MAC). We use Kindle and iBooks at school because I have found them to be the most user friendly. You can purchase books through both apps but we also discovered a great source for free e-books - www.tuebl.ca. While the copies are not always perfect (one of mine had a glitch with the letter h), they are good enough to read easily and they are FREE! You can download the books directly in to iBooks, making it easy to find them again later (apparently you can also download them to most e-readers as well, although I haven't tried this).

How I use it: Through exploration with one of grade 6 teachers, we discovered that some of our boys preferred to read on the iPad. Whether this was because it was cooler than reading a paperback or because something about the screen actually made it easier for them I'm not sure, but whatever it was, it worked! They were reading. The app is also great for your voracious readers as they can get new books instantaneously and, if you use a site like Tuebl, free. One other bonus that I have discovered using e-readers is that you are better able to make use of those fringe times to read - my husband often reads his book while waiting in line to grab his lunch! Great for students who are notorious for leaving their books at home too! 

Available for: iPad, iPhone, Android, Windows, Kindle, Windows, PC, Mac (other e-readers are available and use their own software)

Ruckus Readers. These semi-animated books on the iPad are just wonderful! The illustrations are bright and colourful, with just a little bit of animation. They have tons of titles, both fiction and non-fiction, that kids really enjoy (lots of TV and movie tie-ins but more than enough that aren't) and the books are levelled so you can tailor them to the needs in your class. Each one has the choice of read to self or read to me and the pacing of the read to me is well done, with the words highlighted in yellow as you go. Another neat feature is the incorporation of simple games that allow readers to win virtual stickers; my favourite game is the pop-up sparkles that appear after the text has been read. Once readers tap the sparkle, a word appears, which they then have to find in the text. Kids love this! Unfortunately, most of the books are for in-app purchase, so you do have to be prepared to spend some cash if you want to use this app.

How I use it: At the moment, Ruckus readers are used primarily in the Lit Pit as an option at the Love to Read station. I would love to buy more as the kids seem to have made their way through all of the free options I initially downloaded. The librarian (who, thankfully, is also tech focused) and I are going to have to make some decisions about how options such as these factor in to our budget!

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RAZ-Kids. If you are not yet familiar with this site and app, you need to be! RAZ-Kids is the online, levelled library of Reading A-Z, who produce a variety of reading, vocabulary and writing materials, most notably printable levelled books both fiction and non. Once you have purchased a very reasonably priced subscription, you are able to give your students access to colourful books that can be read to them (well-paced, with word tracking), read on their own and with a brief comprehension quiz at the end. The books are engaging and the reading is well done. My students love earning points to help them build their rocket and they also enjoy completing a level and moving to the next one. One of the great features of this app is that students are able to access this app/site easily at home as well. I love that their log in system is simple, even if multiple classrooms are using the same iPads - once you've entered the teacher's name once, it becomes a button on the main login screen, ensuring that no one has to remember their rather complicated login and password information.

How I use it: This app gets used pretty much everywhere in our school: classroom, Lit Pit, intervention room, home. Many classroom teachers use it as a center or to help students who need fluency practice during silent reading. I use it to engage some of my struggling readers while I work with others in their small group. With the great diversity of non-fiction titles offered, I can also easily find books to support a classroom theme or help a student with material for a research project that I know is at their level. The printable books are fabulous for being sent home as home reading (it's really not a big deal if they get lost) and also allow students to mark them up as we search for specific sounds or practice a particular reading strategy. Definitely get some parent help to put the printables together though - it's a lot of work!

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Have you got any favourite apps you use to get kids reading? I would love to hear about them!