Learning Resources Giveaway: Part II

Hey friends! I am excited to bring you another giveaway from Learning Resources. But first, let me tell you a little bit about this amazing tool! It is called an Easi-Speak Recorder and it looks like this:

Seriously, this thing is awesome! The kids think it is too because it's a microphone and they all think they are rock starts while they are using it! HAHA If that isn't motivation enough to use it, I don't know what is...

I just recently acquired a new student from Oregon. That's pretty far away from South Carolina and she's totally shy, doesn't know anyone, and I have only heard her speak a couple of times. I needed to benchmark her to put her into a reading group and I didn't want her to feel too uncomfortable or put on the spot so I whipped out this bad boy and asked her to read the story into the device. I instructed her to read the questions from the story printed on the sheet I had given her and answer them orally into the microphone after she read the story. I showed her how it worked (which was short, sweet, and easy as pie!) and then I walked away and left her to it to attend to the rest of the class. She raised her hand when she was finished and played it back for myself later in the day when I was by myself. I was able to assess her fluency and her comprehension, ALL without making her feel overwhelmed, judged, embarrassed, etc..

I often find it difficult to find students who are willing to share their writing aloud with the class, but this is great for your reluctant readers because you just let them step into the hall or in a private part of the room and read it into the recorder without feeling like all eyes are on them. Then, you can embed the sound file into a powerpoint or slideshow with artwork or pictures and enjoy a fun presentation of students oral readings!

You can play it back right then and there or you can upload the file to your computer and listen to it that way. AND it doesn't even need batteries! I hate batteries! All you have to do is plug it into your USB and it charges!

There are so many other ways you could use this, I can't even list them all. All I know is it totally has a special place in my classroom from now on.

For more information on this resource, please visit  this youtube link HERE. 

You can WIN this amazing resource by doing these four simple things:

1) Follow my blog and leave a comment (WITH YOUR EMAIL) letting me know how you would use this in your classroom.

2) Follow Learning Resources on Facebook.

3) Follow Learning Resources on Pinterest.

4) Follow Learning Resources on Twitter.

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