1. iPad
What is it?
An iPad is a tablet computer that can take video or pictures, play music, connect to the Internet, and store games and other apps.
What does the research say?
Since the release of the iPad, districts from across the country have used it to “meet various educational purposes” (McClanahan et al., 2011, p. 20). Not only do iPads provide opportunities for reading and comprehending digital texts, but they also offer apps that can "facilitate responses to text" (Hutchison, Beschorner, & Schmidt-Crawford, 2012, p. 17). Here are some apps that can be used for various instructional activities related to reading comprehension:
**You can visit this Apple resource website to see video tutorials, classroom guides, and suggested webpages for teachers on teaching with the iPad.
Lesson Example
Grade Level: K-5 (can be adapted for any classroom)
Activity: Students will sequence events of a story by creating a graphic organizer using Popplet. Popplet is a customizable graphic organizer tool that uses boxes to organize ideas and information. Size, color, and order of the boxes can be changed by students to best represent their ideas. Images and text can be added to the boxes. More information about Popplet can be found here.
Equipment/Materials Needed:
Related Common Core Standards (click here to read each standard):
K-2
RL.K.2
RL.K.3
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
RL.2.2
3-5
RL.3.3
RL.4.2
RL.5.2
1. Select a fiction text to read aloud to students whole-group. Read and discuss the story.
2. Students will work in small groups to create a visual diagram with Popplet. They will decide how to best represent the story's main events in correct sequence, being sure to use words to show sequential order (first, next, then, last, etc.).
3. Groups will share their Popplets with the class and discuss similarities and differences in the way they organized their boxes to show the story's sequence of events.
An iPad is a tablet computer that can take video or pictures, play music, connect to the Internet, and store games and other apps.
What does the research say?
Since the release of the iPad, districts from across the country have used it to “meet various educational purposes” (McClanahan et al., 2011, p. 20). Not only do iPads provide opportunities for reading and comprehending digital texts, but they also offer apps that can "facilitate responses to text" (Hutchison, Beschorner, & Schmidt-Crawford, 2012, p. 17). Here are some apps that can be used for various instructional activities related to reading comprehension:
- Doodle Buddy (visualizing; main idea and details) *FREE*
- iBooks (for downloading and organizing books) *FREE*
- Professor Garfield Fact or Opinion *FREE*
- Popplet (sequencing) $4.99
- Strip Designer (retelling) $2.99
- Speech with Milo (sequencing) $2.99
- Aesop's Quest (elements of a story) $0.99
- Stories2Go (storybook animation) $1.99
- MiniMod Reading for Details Lite (reading for details) $3.99
**You can visit this Apple resource website to see video tutorials, classroom guides, and suggested webpages for teachers on teaching with the iPad.
Lesson Example
Grade Level: K-5 (can be adapted for any classroom)
Activity: Students will sequence events of a story by creating a graphic organizer using Popplet. Popplet is a customizable graphic organizer tool that uses boxes to organize ideas and information. Size, color, and order of the boxes can be changed by students to best represent their ideas. Images and text can be added to the boxes. More information about Popplet can be found here.
Equipment/Materials Needed:
- iPad(s)
- a fiction text for read-aloud
Related Common Core Standards (click here to read each standard):
K-2
RL.K.2
RL.K.3
RL.1.2
RL.1.3
RL.2.2
3-5
RL.3.3
RL.4.2
RL.5.2
1. Select a fiction text to read aloud to students whole-group. Read and discuss the story.
2. Students will work in small groups to create a visual diagram with Popplet. They will decide how to best represent the story's main events in correct sequence, being sure to use words to show sequential order (first, next, then, last, etc.).
3. Groups will share their Popplets with the class and discuss similarities and differences in the way they organized their boxes to show the story's sequence of events.
2. Laptops: Instant Messaging
What is it?
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time communication between users on different computers. An Instant Messaging client is required, such as MSN Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger.
What does the research say?
Instant Messaging among students in the classroom can be used to pair-share during the reading of a story. Classmates can share their thoughts and answers to questions about a story to “deepen comprehension and foster engagement” (Barone & Wright, 2008, p. 292). Responding via Instant Messaging can be less stressful and intimidating for students who are hesitant to share verbally in a whole-class discussion.
Lesson Example
Grade Level: 2-5 (depending on students' abilities to use a keyboard to type)
Activity: Students will use Instant Messaging (IM) to complete a Pair-Share activity to increase reading comprehension.
Equipment/Materials Needed:
Related Common Core Standards (click here to read each standard):
RL.2.1
RL.3.1
RL.4.1
RL.5.1
RL.2.2
RL.3.2
RL.4.2
RL.5.2
RL.2.3
RL.3.3
RL.4.3
RL.5.3
PAIR each student with a partner. Partners will use Instant Messaging to share responses to teacher questions during the lesson. Choose a text selection to be read aloud. Ask students a specific question about the text and give them time to THINK about the topic. Begin reading. During reading, stop periodically and ask questions about the text, allowing students time to SHARE with their IM partner. *The types of questions that you ask will depend on what reading comprehension skill(s) you are currently focusing on* For each question asked, have 2-3 students share their partner's response with the class.
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time communication between users on different computers. An Instant Messaging client is required, such as MSN Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger.
What does the research say?
Instant Messaging among students in the classroom can be used to pair-share during the reading of a story. Classmates can share their thoughts and answers to questions about a story to “deepen comprehension and foster engagement” (Barone & Wright, 2008, p. 292). Responding via Instant Messaging can be less stressful and intimidating for students who are hesitant to share verbally in a whole-class discussion.
Lesson Example
Grade Level: 2-5 (depending on students' abilities to use a keyboard to type)
Activity: Students will use Instant Messaging (IM) to complete a Pair-Share activity to increase reading comprehension.
Equipment/Materials Needed:
- laptops or computers (one for each student)
- Internet access
- Instant Messaging client (such as MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger)
- A text for Think-Pair-Share
Related Common Core Standards (click here to read each standard):
RL.2.1
RL.3.1
RL.4.1
RL.5.1
RL.2.2
RL.3.2
RL.4.2
RL.5.2
RL.2.3
RL.3.3
RL.4.3
RL.5.3
PAIR each student with a partner. Partners will use Instant Messaging to share responses to teacher questions during the lesson. Choose a text selection to be read aloud. Ask students a specific question about the text and give them time to THINK about the topic. Begin reading. During reading, stop periodically and ask questions about the text, allowing students time to SHARE with their IM partner. *The types of questions that you ask will depend on what reading comprehension skill(s) you are currently focusing on* For each question asked, have 2-3 students share their partner's response with the class.