In an effort to boost literacy rates in the 21st century classroom, Wendy Heeren, an elementary school teacher in Danville, Illinois, recently introduced e-readers to her fourth-grade students, the News Gazette reports.
According to the report, Heeren is the first teacher in the district to utilize the technology in the classroom. Thanks to a $1,500 grant from the Danville Public Schools Foundation, Heeren was able to purchase 13 Kobo wireless e-readers, which she shares among her 19 students.
Heeren lets her students use the e-readers in class for 45 minutes each day. They also have the option to use the technology independently and with partners, the News Gazette reported. The students have a number of titles to choose from using their e-readers, including some advanced titles, such as Moby Dick, Call of the Wild and Great Expectations.
Many educators have implemented cutting-edge technology in the classroom to boost student achievement. For example, teachers may use a laptop computer or a media tablet in conjunction with an HDTV, LED monitor or
DLP projector to encourage student involvement in lessons and independent studies.
"These kids are part of the digital generation, so I knew they would be a big hit," Heeren told the news provider. "I just didn't realize how big. The kids can't put them down."
