Using My eReader

12 September 2011
I just started using my eReader in the classroom.  Well, it's actually my husband's, but I bought it for him, so it makes it kind of mine ... right??  The funny thing was, he was going to buy me one for Christmas last year but I told him not to bother - I wouldn't use it.  There's just something about the actual feel and smell of a book that I will never give up.  I may reconsider this Christmas.  Or, I may have to buy him a new one - I'm LOVING it in the classroom.

My oral reading time is one of my favourite times of the day - it's sometimes hard to squeeze in, but I try my best to get to it every day.  I was so excited to find out Gordon Korman had written a new trilogy (based on The Titanic) that I bought it the second I saw it, and knew it would be our first oral read this year.  I started last week on the very first day of school, and was a bit disappointed that my students didn't seem as engaged as other classes I have read to.  Sure, the language is a little different, and it's not the adventure style the kids have come to expect from Gordon Korman ... but it's a GREAT book, and I knew I had to do something different.  Thursday night I asked my husband to borrow his eReader and promptly downloaded the first book.  On Friday, I put the eReader under the ELMO, and now the kids can follow along on the SMARTboard.  Such.A.Difference!  The kids are following along, engaged, asking vocabulary questions, and recalling details.  YAY!


Our current reading focus is summarizing.  I usually find this strategy hard to practise with an oral reading novel, but the fact that the kids can now follow along has made this so much easier.  Today we made a "Gimme 5" summary together, and the kids had no problem recalling details - and we came up with a pretty great summary.  I had given them handouts similar to the chart paper pictured, and they recorded the details on the hand while I was reading.  When I was done the chapter, groups created a Gimme 5 summary on chart paper.  This was one of the better ones.  I'll be working my way through my Summarizing Package for the next few weeks - I love to give my students different strategies for writing a summary.  Tonight I'll be making Summary Bookmarks (included in my package) for my students.  They keep these bookmarks in their independent reading novels, and refer to them often.

Happy Monday!

7 comments

  1. wow! really cool idea! I love using our ladybug (similar to elmos) to show my students the picture books as I read it to them. I agree, it keeps them more engaged. I never would have thought of using an ereader for the same thing! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. I love the idea. I would probably see if I could open up my online Kindle reader on my smart board/ or in my case my computer connected to my large screen TV. Great idea.

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  3. What a great idea! I have thought about downloading the e version of our next read aloud, Tuck Everlasting. I'm inspired to after reading this post!

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  4. That is such a terrific idea!!!!

    I absolutely adore your blog and have chosen you for the Versatile Blogger Award ! Stop by my blog to check it out!
    Anne
    http://thecandyapple.blogspot.com

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  5. Jen-

    All I've got to say is WOW! I have 2 kindles (my mom bought for me) and have wanted to use them in my room, but wasn't quite sure how to! Now I know! :) I have a few questions for you (need advice):

    1. I want my kids to be able to independently read the kindles during our Read to Self time. Problem-Each night they have to read at least 15 minutes of their choice book, but I don't want to send my kindles out of room and don't really think they need to be reading 2 books at once. Any suggestions?

    2. I LOVE your summarizing hand-I told (didn't teach) my kids to write a summary last week and most of them wrote an ENTIRE page!!! So-now I know I really need to teach them how to write one. I have used the hand to teach main idea-would I just tell them that a summary would be a little more detailed than the main idea???

    I think that's all for now! :)

    Shannon
    http://6thgradescottforesmanreadingstreetresources.wordpress.com/

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  6. Love your organizer!

    I know you have been nominated already for the Versatile Blogger Award, but I still put you on my list. I love what you do with your students.

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  7. This is great. I am also reading the series to my class - read the first book last year when it came out. I didn't realize it was in ebook format. I have a Kobo and a Smart document camera and I did the same thing! I put one kid in charge of "turning" pages. They love it. You have great ideas and I have been sharing them like crazy with other teachers.

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