Guys, quick question:
How many of you have one of these (or have used one)?!
I keep seeing commercials for the Kindle Fire and want one SO bad!
I've always wanted an iPad, but they seem a little pricey. :(
But the Kindle Fire can do SO many amazing things for your classroom! You can download educational apps for the kids to play. You can download tons of children's books and chapter books for them to read!
I'm going to ask the hubby for this as my birthday present, play with it, and get it ready for my classroom! If all goes well, I plan on getting a second one.
Please let me know what your experiences are with the Kindle Fire. And if you are lucky enough to have an iPad, let me know your experiences as well. I want to hear it all!
Feel free to leave comments below!
I keep seeing commercials for the Kindle Fire and want one SO bad! I've always wanted an iPad, but they seem a little pricey. :(
But the Kindle Fire can do SO many amazing things for your classroom! You can download educational apps for the kids to play. You can download tons of children's books and chapter books for them to read!
I'm going to ask the hubby for this as my birthday present, play with it, and get it ready for my classroom! If all goes well, I plan on getting a second one.
Please let me know what your experiences are with the Kindle Fire. And if you are lucky enough to have an iPad, let me know your experiences as well. I want to hear it all!
Feel free to leave comments below!
I have the Kindle Fire....it is fantastic! I teach ESE students who don't like to read....but when I pulled out the Kindle....they got so excited and insisted on reading the book WITHOUT help.....this was the first time this every happen!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, that's awesome!!!
DeleteI have the Kindle Fire and I love it for myself and for reading books!!! :)
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know, I don't think purchasing apps can be set with a password! I don't let my daughter play with it because I'm afraid that she will purchase apps {she's 5!}!
If anyone knows if and how to set a password, I would love to know!
If there isn't a way then I wouldn't want it in my classroom {too afraid the kiddos would be going to the store}
:) I WANT an iPad!!!
❤ Sandra
Sweet Times in First
sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com
I can def understand about the security issues. But like Cassandra said, hopefully they'll stay away from any issues if they know it will be taken away from them. But getting an iPad would be awesome!!!!
DeleteI think that you cannot purchase apps without an internet connection, so if you make sure to turn that option off, you should be good!
DeleteI have an ipad - pricey, but lots of great apps. If you watch you can get many for free or low cost. Not sure about the educational apps on kindle. On ipad, before you can buy anything at the itunes store, you need to put in the password. Not sure about in app purchases. Our school bought 4 ipads for each grade level for next year, so I am excited to try things out.
ReplyDeletemhorn@adrianschool.com
That's amazing...4 iPads per grade level?! Woohoo for y'all!
DeleteI have one, but it's my personal kindle, so i'm a little wary of the kids using it.
ReplyDeleteThe few times I've taken it out at school for kids to use it has been magic. One boy I couldn't get to read a book during independent time no matter what I tried. If he did well all week on friday I let him read on my kindle. That was enough incentive for him.
The only app I have on it is for class dojo (I have an article about it on my blog.) It's a behavior management app, and I can add/take away points remotely from my kindle. Recess/field trips you name it. It's pretty amazing.
I want to use it more next year. But I also worry about the store. However, the kids know that if they don't follow every rule to the T they won't be using it again. So they wouldn't dream of going to the store.
I need to get some more books on it! I think I'm going to make reading a book on it one of my classroom rewards.
Adventures in Room 5
The Dojo app sounds cool! And using the Kindle as a reward sounds awesome! Thanks for the insight, Cassandra!
DeleteI just got an iPad after using my sister's for a week. I am loving it! You can download books on it and has lots of apps. So far I have found that it is easy to view the web/blog, create my own fonts with iFontmaker ($6.99), and record my own smartboard lessons on Educreations (Free).
ReplyDeleteKathy
First Grade a la Carte
I have been busy posting projects on Donors Choose in hopes to receive a Kindle Fire. I had my first project funded last week so we should be getting it in the fall. Now, I hope to have 4 more funded. Ideally, I'd like to have 5 in the classroom to use during reading center rotations, but we'll see. They are great for fluency. You can borrow virtual books from the public library, the text can be highlighted, and the kids can read along while they hear the words. I can't wait to try it out this year!
ReplyDeleteI have an IPad but only for personal use...I haven't gotten brave enough to let the kiddos use it yet! I'm currently on the lookout for a Ipod touch to use in my classroom because they do pretty much they same thing just in a smaller format...but they are MUCH cheaper!
ReplyDeleteThirdGradeIsAHoot
I just wrote a grant for an iPad and it was approved! I am getting the iPad next week and taking a class about classroom apps in early July. I love the idea of using it for a reward. I think the Apple website is having a special right now - if you buy an iPad you get $50 worth of apps for free. I think this is good for teachers and college students.
ReplyDeleteJane
learninginthelittleapple.blogspot.com
I would love to know more about what company you used to get the grant?? I finally gave up and bought my own iPad but I would love to get either an iPad or iPod touches for my students to use!
DeleteI have two iPads. I won one and used bonus points from Scholastic to get the second when they were 20,000 points. I let the kids use them at fifth grade. They use Pages app for word processing, numerous skill review apps, and take A.R. tests on them. I am excited about some new apps coming soon. Kids rotate like computer stations. I have mostly free apps, but have purchased a few because of personal use, but realized how they could benefit kids. So many great sources out there for ideas. My son has Kindle Fire. He loves it!
ReplyDeleteI got a Kindle Fire for my birthday last year. I love it. There is a paid app offered for free each day, and tons of already free apps. I used it in my classroom this past year as a "waiting" tool. When I pulled kids during math centers to do a quick assessment, instead of having their partner unattended, I let the partner sit near me and read a book or play an educational game. Then the kids switched places. That way they were close enough for me to make sure nothing hinky was going on.
ReplyDeletehttp://themeekmoose.blogspot.com
I love the iPad!! I'm so excited! This year we had 30 for the whole school and next year we will have 30 per grade level!! The iPad has lots of great apps! Get an iPad :-)
ReplyDeleteAshlee
Www.funin2.blogspot.com
I wanted an iPad for so long, but my husband kept telling me that I wouldn't like it. Of course I didn't belive him, but he took me to play with it and I HATED it! Then I played with the Motorolla Xoom and I LOVED it! It was so much easier to work with...and the price was much more to my liking. It can be completely customized with anyting you want which is not the same with iPad because of Apple needing to sanction it all. And with the Google/Motorolla Mobility going on, I can only see great things happening with it.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely go with a tablet of some kind (because you can still download the Kindle app to read), but I suggest playing with them all and seeing what you like best and what would work best for your needs.
I have had my Xoom for almost a year now and I love it more and more everyday!
Erin
erin.lamay@gmail.com
I have my own personal iPad and I love it! There are so many things you can do with it, it's almost overwhelming. I have never taken mine into the classroom but our school recently purchased a cart of 25 iPads and there are a lot of good games on there that the kids can use for skills practice, etc. You can also download the kindle app, nook app, and there is the iBookstore for reading in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI got the Kindle Fire for Christmas this year and I absolutely love it! Now, it's no iPad, but if you're looking for a cheaper option, this is the best of the best! I'm super excited to get edu. apps! I even downloaded my Daily 5 and CAFE books to read on it! It's a lot cheaper than the actual book! I would definitely set rules when students use it though.
ReplyDeleteAllie
The Gypsy Teacher
I have an iPad and use Kindle on it. I would NOT go without my iPad but I'm in the Apple family (MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPod, iPad) so I'm relatively familiar with it all. With the iPad, though, you can get the same from an eReader, but the cost doesn't equal up. With an iPad, I paid a loooot more but can do a lot more than I could on the Kindle or Nook.
ReplyDeleteI recommend if you're not interested in looking at other apps, go with the Kindle - but if you're in the market for games and things that are educational, then maybe look into an iPad! Like Erin said though... play with various types to find the one that fits you. An iPad just fit me because I'm already in the family!
Sara
Miss V's Busy Bees
It is so exciting to read that many of your school systems have embraced tablet technology whole-heartedly! I have a personal Kindle (as does my daughter and husband - my son has a tablet). I really love the Kindle for all it can do. I'm a pre-service teacher and love technology. I have no idea to what extent I'll be able to implement it once I get into the classroom full time.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a Kindle Fire a few days ago & I love it!! I already downloaded apps for my preschooler & I was thinking about how to use it in the classroom! I just found your blog & I'm your newest follower! Looking forward to following along. :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
I love, love my Kindle Fire. Not only are there great aps but I also have all my books on it as well as all my Itunes music (in the cloud) so I can listen to my music too. The big advantage is the price of course but I also like the size and lighted screen. Hubby has an I pad but I prefer my Fire:)
ReplyDelete