Digital Listen 2 Reading & a FREEBIE!

I love the Daily 5 and so do the kids. I think one of their favorite stations is listen to reading... however, it can be one of their least favorites as well. If done right by the kids, they'll even want to do it during free choice and early finish time. Here's how I have gotten my kids to LOVE listen to reading- make it digital! This means using technology that they know. Kids don't use CDs anymore so they certainly don't use cassette tapes. And as much as I love the LeapFrog follow along books, they don't play video games that use a cartridge any more either, and those cartridges caused a great deal of frustration with my kinders and 1st graders... so embrace two things 1. books on the internet and 2. ways they can listen on an iPad/ tablet.

NonFiction for Older Grades

Time For Kids
Scholastic Magazine I loved this one when I taught 4th grade
Nat Geo Kids, YAK News
Smithsonian Kid
 Dogo News
USA Kids
Highlights Kids 

Apps
App Store search for "story books" - my favorite is "Story Chimes"

Epic! Books App, there are really good NonFiction books here as well.
MyOn!, if your school has a subscription.
Storia
Seussville

Websites

Author Websites- Munsch, Mem Fox
Pete The Cat Books
Story Nory
TumbleBooks, if your school has a subscription.
Curious George
iStory Books
Just Books Read Aloud
Storyline Online

Others Ideas

YouTube books read aloud, create a playlist
SymbalooEDU, you can create a playlist here as well
QR codes from books read aloud- I love using QR codes in class. It's an easy way to use tech, keep kids engaged, and is quick to put together.

If you do use YouTube or SymbalooEDU I suggest you put your videos into Safeshare first. This will get rid of any adds or commercials. You can also use the Google Extension "Turn off the lights".

Now for some FREEBIES!!!! Here are some QR codes I've already made. They are books and sing along songs taken from YouTube. Click the image below to visit my TPT and get your listen to reading QR codes FREEBIE!

I hope this helps you to integrate a little tech into your classroom in an easy no-fuss way! If you use any other apps or sites in your classroom, please share them in the comments, after all educators are life-time-learners and I'd love to learn from you too. Till next time techies!

Welcome!

Hello there! I'm Morgan and I'm so glad you've found your way here. I have taught kindergarten, first and fourth grades in the great state of Texas. I love using new innovative ways of teaching and am married to a techie (we work in the same district)... so naturally he has helped me integrate technology into my classroom. Years and grade levels later, I don't know how I taught without it! It's that saying of "the kids should be doing most of the work" and with tech I've found they do so much of the work and think on higher levels. It has encouraged more collaboration and communication in my classroom and makes our days a lot more fun. Most of all I love sharing my success and failure and my kiddos "ahas" with others in the hope that it'll help others. Hopefully with this blog I can help share some of this experience with you for your own classroom. So here's to collaboratively learning together!