Getting Fifth grade struggling readers who are already below level to read is a tough task. Using e-book readers as an incentive to get preferred reading material into the hands of my students in order to help them catch the "reading bug" just may do the trick.
My students face many challenges in their home environment.
We are a Title I school where more than 75% of the student body receive free or reduced lunch. They want to read and technology may be a huge factor in turning the corner for some of my students. My students rarely get visits to local bookstores to purchase appropriate or fun reading material.
My Project
Students who need to be reading books their friends might consider "baby" books often refuse to read books that are just right for them to improve their reading abilities due to a fear of "being made fun of." Book selection for my students in our media center is sometimes not the best for them and books they prefer are often already checked out. With a Nook, I will be able to download "choice" books at a much cheaper price than what I pay at the bookstores.
My children do not get taken to popular bookstores to purchase books very often. They see me reading my favorites on my e-reader and they are excited to read! Anything innovative will encourage my struggling readers to read which could really make the difference between graduating from high school or not and at this point doing well enough on standardized testing in order to be promoted to Sixth grade!
I am willing to try all kinds of methods and materials and travel many avenues to encourage and instill the love of reading in my students.
Right now they love reading some titles that are on a computer program. BUT, I have only two computers in my room and they need to be used for a variety of purposes. With some Nooks handy, I can set up a literacy station for at least five students at a time and select books they crave to read that are not available in our media center.
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