Thursday, May 3, 2012

What Rhymes With Schmiveaway....

....Why that would be....

GIVEAWAY!

 I was given the opportunity to test out the Easi-Speak USB Recorder from Learning Resources...

Click Picture to Visit Product Page

My first graders have come unglued.  You know when one of your "on target" kids turns around with one crayon in each nostril that you've hit an all-time low...

I found myself wondering what I was going to do to rein these kids back in.  I can't teach magenta nose over there who's putting on a show for her cronies.  I seem to have lost my super powers - I've got to mix things up... but what on earth am I going to do?!?! 

Then the mail arrived late last Friday afternoon...


With just a push of the red record button you can record yours or your students' voices!

This little something has been the best little something to enter Room 8 in a long while.  You want to talk about a nice little incentive for good behavior {Even magenta nose was able to keep her crayons where they belong}.

Like a good many of you, we've been busy testing - unfortunately this testing cuts into instructional time.  Nature of the beast.  I've had to cut Daily 5 short because of it.  When I shared this little gadget with my kids they could NOT wait to get their little hands on it. 

Enter bribery {Incentive...if you will}...

I have one little guy who reads soooooo softly during read to buddy and in a guided reading group setting that I cannot hear him. Seriously, thought at first I had potatoes in my ears, but no - he just reads REALLY REALLY softly.  I've gently encouraged him to read so others can hear {Namely me during assessments} but he just can't do it.  Try as he might, his little anxious self can't muster up the courage to read loudly enough to be heard. 

The first time he read into the Easi-Speak he came up to me telling me that it didn't work.  I have to tell you, the features on it are very user-friendly.  It's literally a push of a {red} button and you're recording yourself with such ease and clarity {soooo clear}.  I knew before playing his recording that it was him not the recorder.  We listened to his recording together and low and behold it was there...soft, really soft, but there. 

We had a really nice conversation {one we've had a million times before} about how important it is to read out loud so others can hear us.  How would you like it if I read so softly that you couldn't hear me?  Of course you wouldn't like it.  Well, others want to hear you...blah blah blah.

AND...

Wouldn't you like to be able to hear yourself read in the easi-speak?  He shrugged. He smirked.  He finally nodded emphatically.  I know what stops him from reading out loud in class.  He's self-conscious and anxious.

We had some serious success and now I can easily assess him without guessing at his miscues.  Thank you Easi-Speak!!!!

I've had kids {who were on-task and focused during Daily 5 of course!!!!} do re-reads of familiar texts and then listen to themselves with this checklist: 

Click to download for yourself
I've had them do a "cold read" and I was able to do a quick running record.  They've read their sight word lists into it...SOOOOOO cool.  I would still pull my strugglers over to assess the high frequency words, but my kids who I know will read most if not all of them I just handed the list, sent them out into the hallway, and had them read them into the Easi-Speak.

You know that little one who barely whispered his reading?  I've mentioned this to mom time and time again and she's been so frustrated over it because it doesn't happen at home. I just plugged the Easi-Speak into my computer with the USB in the base of the microphone {covered by a cap when not in use} uploaded the files and very easily attached and sent her the recording of her little darling via email with the title "Guess What I Heard Loud and Clear Today"?!  She was thrilled! Best of all - our little man thought he was pretty darn cool!

I bet your wheels are turning for how you would use this in your classroom.  Well, keep those wheels a turnin' because you might just win one!!!

Learning Resources would love to give one away to a lucky follower of my blog.  We'll call it the....



Here's how to enter:

1. Follow my blog {One Entry}
2. Like Learning Resources on Facebook {One Entry}
3. Leave a comment for how you would use Easi-Speak in your classroom {One Entry}

BONUS ENTRIES:
*You can blog about this giveaway if you'd like {One More Entry!}
*You can "like" me on Facebook {One MORE Entry!!}

Here are some other great links to find out more about other Learning Resources products:
https://www.facebook.com/learningresources
http://twitter.com/#%21/learninghandson
http://www.youtube.com/user/LearningResourcesInc
http://pinterest.com/learninghandson/

Good luck!!!!

93 comments:

  1. I would use Easi-Speak during quiet reading when I have a reading group.
    Sorry for all the typos above -- good grief!

    ❀Barbara❀
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

    ReplyDelete
  2. Silly Rabbit, of course I'm a follower!!!
    Staci

    Going Nutty!

    misssquirrels@yahoo.com

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  3. I follow your blog! This would be wonderful to win! I teach struggling readers and this would be so motivating for them. :)
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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  4. This would be great for so many things: reading fluency, assessment, publishing a book, motivation...

    Corinna
    Surfin' Through Second

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  5. Holly, I don't have a clue how I would use this, but it looks very interesting, and I'm up for the challenge tonfind a great way to use it. Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!

    Patty

    Second In Line

    Prutenba@sturgisps.org

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  6. I "like" learning resources!

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  7. I would totally add this to my "listen to reading" component of daily 5 and have children listen to each other reading!

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  8. I like Learning Resources!
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com
    meadowt@msn.com

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  9. We use Literacy First as our Literacy Process- There is a fluency conponent. I would use is as a center for students to practice and critique each others fluency, rate and expression.
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com
    meadowt@msn.com

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  10. I follow your blog!

    Danielle
    dnll.brown@gmail.com

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  11. I like Learning Resources FB page!!

    Danielle
    dnll.brown@gmail.com

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  12. Oh my gosh! There are so many possibility for using this in the classroom. I would use it for fluency practice. I would love to be able to send parents recordings of their child reading.
    kheinrich9@gmail.com
    Ms. Kerri and her Krazy Kindergarten

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  13. Wow!! I'd love to try it for problem solving tasks. The kiddies could record their thought process, replay it... or I could use it for assessment. Oh I want to play too!
    Daydreams of a Student Teacher

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  14. I follow your lovely little blog.

    emmeline.degreslan@gmail.com
    Daydreams of a Student Teacher

    ReplyDelete
  15. I follow Learning Resources on Facebook.

    emmeline.degreslan@gmail.com
    Daydreams of a Student Teacher

    ReplyDelete
  16. I follow your blog!:o)

    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  17. I "Like" Learning Resources on FB! :o)

    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  18. I teach many strategic reading groups and this would be a great motivator for them and a fantastic tool to help with their fluency!

    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  19. I follow Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade on FB! :o)

    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  20. I follow your blog:)

    learnplayandhavefun.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow your cute blog.

    First Grade Delight
    imgoingfirst@gmail.com

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  22. I like Crisscross Applesauce on Facebook.

    First Grade Delight
    imgoingfirst@gmail.com

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  23. I would definitely use it for motivation!


    First Grade Delight
    imgoingfirst@gmail.com

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  24. I follow your blog and would love to win an Easi-Speak USB Recorder from Learning Resources.

    amelias.schaeffer@gmail.com

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  25. I LIKE Learning Resources on Facebook and would love to win an Easi-Speak USB Recorder from Learning Resources.

    amelias.schaeffer@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I LIKE Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade on Facebook and would love to win an Easi-Speak USB Recorder from Learning Resources.

    amelias.schaeffer@gmail.com

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  27. The Easi-Speak USB Recorder from Learning Resources would would definitely motivate young readers and help tired teachers with assessment.

    amelias.schaeffer@gmail.com

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  28. I happily follow your blog! Thanks for offering this giveaway!

    Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
    Teaching With Love and Laughter

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  29. As a writing teacher, I know this will come in handy. My students will adore reading their stories!

    Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
    Teaching With Love and Laughter

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  30. I follow your blog with google Reader :) LOVE IT!

    treblesand@optonline.net

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  31. I "Like" Learning resources on Facebook.

    treblesand@optonline.net

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  32. I follow your blog!
    Brianne - bmiller@lockport.wnyric.org

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  33. I would use this to help my little firsties gain confidence in reading out loud and helping them hear their own fluidity. There's nothing like self-evaluation to help you improve quickly!

    treblesand@optonline.net

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  34. I "Like" you on facebook :)

    treblesand@optonline.net

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  35. This would be a great motivator for those kiddos that like to rush through their reading. It would also be wonderful to use for reading/sight word assessments.
    Brianne - bmiller@lockport.wnyric.org

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  36. I follow your blog...and I especially love the name you chose for it :)
    Melissa
    Mandmyoung@chartermi.net

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  37. I would use the Easi Speak for Author's Chair and Reader's Theatre...and boy do my kiddos love to TALK!
    Melissa
    Mandmyoung@chartermi.net

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  38. I follow your blog.
    Marcy
    marcy-sundling@hotmail.com

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  39. I'm a follower! :o)

    Jennifer
    jennkeys @ gmail . com

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  40. Oh my gosh - I would love to use this with my little ones. This would make a great addition into my Daily 5 reading rotation! LOVE IT! :o)

    Jennifer
    jennkeys @ gmail . com

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  41. I shared your giveaway on my giveaway's page. :o)

    http://keys4education.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html

    Jennifer
    jennkeys @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow your blog!

    Linda
    Lnetzeband.at.gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I like learning resources on Facebook!

    Linda
    Lnetzeband.at.gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I liked Learning Resources on Facebook too!

    Tales of An Elementary Teacher
    eangelakos@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I follow your blog.

    tokyoshoes (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I just liked you on Facebook as well!

    Tales of An Elementary Teacher
    eangelakos@gmail.com

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  47. I would love to have the recorder to let students record themselves while I am working with the others. Hearing is believing, as you noted!

    tokyoshoes (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  48. I follow your blog, and would love to use easi speak with my basic skills students to make reading practice more exciting for them!

    I love the Reading Rubric self-assessment slip that you shared, too!

    primary practice

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  49. I would have my ELL students use Easi Speak to record their answers to assessments and to practice speaking fluency :)

    Stacy

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  50. I teach small-group pullout ESL students in a high poverty elementary school. This would be a great tool for my students to record themselves speaking and listen to their pronunciation and fluency. This could also be a center where students could listen to my recorded voice and repeat the words and sentences or practice writing what I say in English. I can think of a million uses for this tool!!

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  51. I follow your blog, and am grateful for the opportunity!

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  52. I would probably use this tool during my writer's workshop time. I find that it is much easier for my firsties to edit and revise their work when they have heard it out loud...but it's not always easy to find a partner to listen to your writing! I'm excited:)

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  53. Would love to use this for share chair during writer's workshop.

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  54. I would use it for assessment and for recording my students reading some of their writing journals!
    Rowdy in First Grade

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  55. I follow you blog!
    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First
    sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com

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  56. I would use this during read to self time during the Daily 5!!! I would be able to conference with them after!
    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First
    sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com

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  57. I like ya on FB!
    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First
    sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com

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  58. Love this! I am already a follower of course!

    Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten

    ReplyDelete
  59. And...I "like" you on Facebook!

    Elizabeth

    Fun in Room 4B

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  60. My interest in this is growing. I would lovevto win it.
    Patty Patty

    Second In Line

    Prutenba@sturgisps.org

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  61. How have I not seen this in FIVE days?!?!
    Of course I follow you!!
    jenross1018@yahoo.com

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  62. I like them on FB
    jenross1018@yahoo.com

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  63. I would use it for reader's theater! :)
    jenross1018@yahoo.com

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  64. I like you on FB too!
    jenross1018@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. I follow your blog. (kidzread)
    yvonneeyrg@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  66. I liked the Learning Resources FB page.
    yvonneeyrg@gmail.com

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  67. I would like to use it as part of a "retelling station".

    yvonneeyrg@gmail.com

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  68. I have signed up to follow you & liked them on fb. I would use this when kids reading & then play back after they finish- I think that would be extremely motivating. I love the idea of using it to practice for a play or Reader's Theater.

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  69. I follow your blog.
    mgnreynolds@yahoo.com

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  70. I "like" learning resources of facebook.
    mgnreynolds@yahoo.com

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  71. I can think of so many ways to use this! One is that I'd use it to have my kids reflect on their reading after listening to a playback.
    mgnreynolds@yahoo.com

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  72. Ok, so I'm following the blog, liked both you and learning resources on facebook, and the list is endless with what to do with this. For one, I can make an audio companion to any of my harder to read books in my class library for the listening center. I can even get folks in my building to record Spanish translations of the material for my ESOL students. I can have "guest stars" like different folks in building admin to read stories for the kids to listen to. With the kids themselves, what a great opportunity to keep an audio portfolio of their fluency. And they could practice with a buddy reading partner to make audio versions of their favorite books. Or make a special CD for their parents of them reading a favorite story.

    I have a blog that I just started recently, so I'll mention this giveaway, but I'm new to the blogging game, so I'm not positive on how to make it all "linked up". I'll give it a go though.

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  73. I hope I'm not too late! I follow your blog!

    BLongschool@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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