Take a Look, It's in a Book...

[Kristi Meeuwse]

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss

I thought it was appropriate to start this post with a quote from Dr. Seuss as it is his birthday month.  There is nothing better than getting lost in a good book.  In fact, I’m often sad when I finish a book.  I miss the story and the characters.  As a teacher, I want to instill that love of reading into my students.

I’ve spent most of this school year in a Literacy Leader cohort through the State Dept of Education of SC.  Through this cohort, I’ve reflected and changed my teaching of reading.  My goal for this year was to re-vamp my reading center and make it a place students want to go.  The transformation is very Barnes and Noble-esque…we even have free Wi-Fi.  I’m only missing the coffee bar. Hmmm…something to work toward!

Students have leveled books for Just Right Reading, there are baskets of different genres, a Featured Book section featuring books from our current unit of study, a featured author basket, a New Arrival basket complete with baby blanket and stuffed animals, a big book section and a poetry section.  Students have comfy chairs and pillows to snuggle into and get lost in a book.  Oh yes…they can also get lost in their iPads.  The students have leveled readers on their iPads as well as other books of interest.

As a life-long reader, I have just transitioned to e-books in the last 2 years with my iPad.  I was concerned at first that I wouldn’t like the feel of reading a book on the iPad.  After all, strong in my memory of childhood, is curling up with a stack of books and enjoying the pictures, the pages, and the smell of my favorite stories.  I have long run out of room in my house for any more books but my iPad is ripe and ready for as many books as my iTunes gift card can support. I’m on board the e-reading train! My students also love reading from their iPads.  They even create their own stories in a wonderful app called eBook Magic that I can then share with the other students in the class.

I am a voracious reader…a walking-down-the-hall-trying-not-to-bump-into-things, head-under-the-cover-hiding-the-flashlight-will-even-read-the-cereal-box-when-I-have-nothing-else-to-read reader.  I want my students to find that love in whatever way they can. The iPads are helping transform even my struggling readers into life-long readers.

What kind of reader are you?

I Teach with Ipads

[Camille Johnson]

I would love to see the photo!  I am at [e-mail]

 

I really appreciate your help!

Camille

[Kristi Meeuwse]

The iPads are numbered and stored in a charging cart.  The cart holds 30 iPads and each teacher has one in his/her classroom.  We have a syncing cart with a MacBook for each grade level to share.  Last year, when the other 2 teachers and I were doing the initial pilot, we used Rubbermaid tubs to store and lock them up at night because we had no other means.  The charging carts are great.  If you want me to send a picture of it tomorrow when I'm at school, just give me your email address.

[Camille Johnson]

Kristi,  Thank you for the details!  How do you organize your iPads?  I think mine (IF I get the grant) will be in a cart, but this is all so new to me that I don't have a clear vision yet.

Camille

[e-mail]

[Kristi Meeuwse]

Camille,

The header on the blog shows a wide view...I have the 3 tiered cart for leveled books, I have book baskets (the white ones) that hold a variety of genres and the tiered book shelf holds featured books that we are discussing currently.  I have a rack that holds our poems, and a big book cart.

[Camille Johnson]

Whoops!  I just found your blog and I see the photos.  Never mind!  Thank you for posting the photos!

[Camille Johnson]

Kristi, I would love, love, love to see photos of your reading center!  I just applied for a district grant to get 25 iPads for my class.  So exciting and so overwhelming and so wonderful and so scary!  I teach 25 students in a K/1 combination so look forward to reading more of your posts!

Camille in California