Kindling a spark for reading at Jackson-Milton

By kristine gill

kgill@vindy.com

north jackson

Students in Sheila

Braman’s class at Jackson-Milton Elementary School took turns reading an Encyclopedia Brown novel by Donald J. Sobol. But in a mysterious twist worthy of the boy detective’s attention, the kids weren’t holding books.

Instead, the second-graders this week were reading a digital version stored on the school’s new set of e-book readers called Kindles. Braman’s class is one of five using the 50 Kindles purchased by the school this year.

Braman said the devices have been in use for only two weeks, but already the students love them.

“They’re really good for reading,” said Joseph Catanzaro, who liked just having to press a button to flip pages.

“It’s exhausting for your hands,” Catanzaro said. “With the Kindles, we just have to look at them.”

Paige Campbell had seen Kindles on TV before using them in class, but quickly learned how. “They’re easy,” she said. “They’re kind of similar to a TV remote.”

Braman said the devices have helped her students pay better attention during reading lessons.

“It makes them want to read, it makes them want to write,” she said.

One feature allows students to increase font size on each page if they have trouble reading. Another reads the text to students at an adjustable speed. If a student has trouble sounding out a word or understanding a definition, they can place the cursor before the word, and a pronunciation key and definition will appear.

Jackson-Milton made the investment because

e-books can be cheaper. In addition, Braman said using technology better engages some students who are considered low-achieving under the U.S. Department of Education’s standards.

For $3 or $4, a teacher can purchase a book and distribute it to up to six Kindles, which can then be shared among students. Physical books can cost as much per individual copy.

Principal Joseph DiLoreto said the district bought them at $140 each, for about $7,000 total, using federal funds and money from the district’s general and tech funds.

“Braman’s Buckaroos,” as they’re called, are prime examples of students with the tech know-how newer generations are known for.

“They are so savvy,” Braman said. “They pick it up real fast.”

Technology is no stranger to Jackson-Milton Elementary where each classroom in kindergarten through sixth grade is equipped with a SMART Board — an interactive, electronic white board — among other gadgets.

Braman’s students use older portable keyboards called AlphaSmart Pros that allow them to type at their desks before hooking the devices to a computer to print assignments.

“I think we are really advanced in technology here,” DiLoreto said, adding that several classrooms have been outfitted with new voice enhancement systems used by teachers to better engage students.

Braman is in her 30th year of teaching and said much has changed since the days of overhead projectors and cassette players. Braman’s students recently Skyped with her son who was in Ethiopia this summer for a service project.

“We lost the connection ,and the kids were going up to the SMART Board saying, ‘Hello, hello, are you there?’” Braman said.

While popular in her classroom, Braman said Kindles haven’t replaced physical books. Students are still required to take books home to read and summarize with a parent each night. Braman said her students still read books in the classroom and learn how to read top to bottom and left to right on a page using real books.

“I don’t know if I prefer (Kindles) over books,” Braman said. “I’m old-fashioned. I still like a book in my hands.”