WHY?
As Nell Duke, Holly Lane state in their respective webinars, research supports having students listen to a fluent reader read. They both suggest that this is a good use of independent time for students. Listening to a fluent reader helps emerging readers become better readers. Why is this? The act of listening to a fluent reader allows beginning readers to build language and vocabulary knowledge. It also allows beginning readers to hear what smooth and expressive reading sounds like and they will eventually emulate this. As well, if the text is highlighted as it is read, students can follow along, making sense of the phonics concepts that they are learning and, in time, will read along.
HOW?
Using iPads in the early primary grades can be a daunting task! Some students seem to be quite adept at handling technology, while others have never handled an iPad before. Some students become easily distracted and are constantly clicking on all sorts of things. And some students do not handle iPads with care. How can we use iPads as a listening center in primary? With very explicit and direct instruction!
1. Establish a purpose for iPads. I say: Today we will learn to use iPads to listen to story. You may use iPads, tablets, or phones at home for playing games or watching videos, but at school, we will be using iPads to listen to story. What are we using iPads for? Students respond: To listen to a story! If students do not respond, give them the answer and ask the question again. In fact, do this every time you use the iPads to listen to a story for the first little while! Students must know the purpose. Also, don’t be afraid to explain why listening to a story will help them become a better reader.
2. Although some students in your class may already be familiar with using an iPad because they have one at home, some will not have this experience. As a result, it is important to go over the parts of the iPad and how to use it properly. For this purpose, I’ve developed a lesson plan that takes you through each part step by step iPad Intro Lesson Plan.
3. Having clear and explicit guidelines for what you expect from students when they are listening to a story on an iPad is essential to success. As I’ve worked with various classrooms (and encountered various issues!), I’ve developed the following guidelines. I print the guidelines on cardstock and slip it in a plastic sleeve. We go over the guidelines at the beginning of each time students will use iPads to listen to a story. I start with “I say, you say”, with students repeating after me. Once they are able to do this with ease, I begin to read a sentence and leave out a word or two at the end (like a cloze exercise). This keeps their attention and engagement in reviewing the guidelines. It speeds it up as well!
4. Headphones. I have found it easiest to put 4 headphones in each bin. In the past, I had students put them into Ziploc bags to keep the cords untangled, but this year we purchased more kid-friendly headphones with thicker cords and I no longer find this necessary. Our school purchased enough headsets for half a class to use at one time, in our case, 12 headsets. We have two iPad carts in our school, so 12 headsets to go with the Upstairs iPads and another 12 headsets to go with the Downstairs iPads.
Hot Tip: print “Headphones” on cardstock, cut up and use two strips of packing tape across the front to attach to the bin…no laminating required!
Download Headphones Label in case you’d like to label your bins as well. The bins pictured above were purchased at Dollorama.
The headphones were purchased on Amazon and we have been using them all year (3 classes a day). The headphones are all still in excellent condition. I did take the time, when we received them, to crazy glue the hinge that allows each earphone to flip to the side. I was concerned that the hinge might break. I’ve only had to re-glue two out of twenty-four headsets all year, so it has worked well. Please note, I receive no revenue from recommending these earphones. I have used many other types of headphones over the years and these have been the best yet in terms of durability, ease of use by primary students, and value in terms of cost.
I will post more details next week about how we organize our iPads and also more details on how to intro iPads for those who missed my session demo at the STA Convention.
