- Subjects:Reading, Classroom Management, Teacher Tips and Strategies, Technology
The idea of using e-readers in my classroom came to me several years ago. As textbooks become more expensive and school budgets continue to shrink, e-readers and e-books have become a popular option for schools. After researching e-readers and programs at other schools, I decided to put a proposal together for my school.
Before launching a schoolwide program, I proposed that my school board pilot e-readers in my English classroom. As I prepared my proposal, I realized that my proposal revolved around three key questions: 1) Which e-reader best fits my school's needs? 2) How will e-readers be used? 3) How will e-readers benefit students in my classroom? These questions, along with a discussion of the benefits of e-readers, possible outcomes of the program, and the replacement cost of current materials, were all included in my proposal to use e-readers in the classroom.
Which E-reader Best Fits My School's Needs?
During the last several years, hundreds of e-readers and tablets have been introduced. As I researched, I began to note the pros and the cons of these devices. One helpful resource was a comparison sheet compiled by Michael Hyatt, the chairman of Thomas
How Will E-readers Be Used?
The e-readers will be used a variety of ways in my classroom pilot program. I plan to read novels, informational texts, and short stories, many of which we can download for free. One organization that provides e-books with a noncommercial Creative Commons license — which means they can be downloaded for the classroom for free — is the CK-12 Foundation. In addition, hundreds of novels and short stories can be downloaded into various e-book formats at Project Gutenberg. Barnes and Noble's Nook and Amazon's Kindle 
Our district plan is to go with e-readers over textbooks at some point in the future, and I've found that everything from supplemental to foundational materials are available in electronic format.
How Will E-readers Benefit My Students?
E-readers and other mobile devices will benefit my students a couple different ways. For instance, vocabulary is one area that I'm focusing on this year, and the Kindle will be part of that effort. By improving vocabulary, students will hopefully improve their reading comprehension skills and understand more difficult texts. As my proposal explains, with a Kindle, students will be able to put the cursor on a word they do not know and the definition will pop up on the screen. In the past, students would not have taken the time to look up the word, and the meaning in the text would have been lost. With technology, there is a possibility that students will be more engaged in the reading. Research has shown that engaged students are the students that learn the most. In this way, e-readers in the classroom have the potentital to change student attitudes and performance.
Web Sites for Initial Research of E-readers in the Classroom 
As I researched the use of e-readers in the classroom, I found myself revisiting several Web sites, including The Unquiet Library by Buffy Hamilton. Hamilton has put together a very helpful site for schools that want to introduce e-readers into the library. The Web site provides resources and forms to get your e-reader program going.
When I was narrowing down which e-reader to purchase, I consulted the MobileRead Forum. The MobileRead Forum doesn't necessarily focus on schools, but their comparison charts and other informational posts are useful. Probably the most helpful online resource was the eBook Educators Group, which is sponsored by eReadia and discusses issues surrounding e-readers in schools.
Is your school looking to implement an e-reader program? What Web sites or resources have you found helpful?
Comments
Add comment
Sign up to get these great teaching ideas delivered automatically.Subscribe now >
About this Teacher
Special Interests: Free web-based tools, professional development, reading comprehension, strategies for reaching millenials
E-readers looks great and very easy to use,it is a advanced tecnology and very helpful for the people.memory foam mattress
From where you are getting help for vocabulary i also need this... wedding lighting
I am really impressed from your immaginative thinking and impressive stated information, i am glad.
official | link
best cable tv & internet promotions
I was just imagine about it and you provided me the correct information I really bookmark it, for further reading. But it would be great if you provide more details about it.
hi
Hey buddy,this is one of the best posts that I’ve ever seen; you may include some more ideas in the same theme. I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post. power point presentations
It is very important to use their E-reader. This is not just to be updated the technology but also to relax your mind especially if you are reading educational articles or books. As a chiropractor, I suggest my patients to read and enjoy while reading. Sam Royerson
Why aren't e-readers or kindles being formatted for school use? E-reader can be used to take exams and can prevent test copying, which is prevalent in many parts of the world. E-readers can aid teachers to organize students work for grading. E-readers can open the door to students' access to long-distance learning, which can open up many opportunities to the endeavoring student.
There an updating method where they convey to you of any one updates or mandatory things about personal computer called Compaq Connections. And when they have the click here like the a particular I have chosen.
There an updating method where they convey to you of any one updates or mandatory things about personal computer called Compaq Connections. And when they have the click here like the a particular I have chosen.
Thank you for posting a great article which is really interested and useful too.auto transport is really helpful.
Very informative post. Thanks for taking the time to share your view with us.
http://isitdownforjustme.com/
Thanks for sharing this information, i truly love your weblog. Keep this good work & enlighten us with your new post. Thanks.
new york hotel
I have just started the company Teaching2020.com we have put together some deals fpr e-readers. The goal is to have these in students hands nation wide by the end of the next school year. This is at no cost to the student or parent. This is the way schools will have to go to stay green and lessen the cost of lost text books. So take a look at us, at www.teaching2020.com
I haven't been able to find any kindles or e readers that will offer a discount on a large ammount purchased. I am looking to find the best price for about 150 kindle's, nook's, or any ereaders.
Barnes & Noble offers a discount on bulk device purchasing along with local support, training, and account management. Joliet District 86 in Illinois has added a bunch of nooks into some of their schools and the program has been wonderful. Contact a local B&N store and they can get you all of the information you need.
I can get a great price on e readers. My company teaching2020.com might be able to help you. Also do you need textbooks for the readers?
I like the idea of using eReaders in the classroom. With the new Amazon Kindle coming out, it's harder to decide between a traditional eReader and a tablet, though. This guide for teachers on the difference between eReaders and tablets is really helpful.
I am the mom of a boy with dyslexia and we've used an ereader at home for a while now. It's been fantastic. He can bump up the font and focus on one page at a time and not be intimidated by a thick book - there are lots of other benefits too - I blogged about them here - http://www.jennascribbles.com/kindle/are-kindles-good-for-struggling-readers/
These are just my thoughts - a mom. But hey, he's doing REALLY well in middle school and I'd like to think part of that success was from the ereader.