This is a similar description to my last Ex. In Ed Grant. Yoto Player Mini opens up kids’ creativity and engagement in literacy. The Yoto Player can also build independence in choosing a book and creating excitement around reading, especially for reluctant readers. There is no microphone, no camera, and no ads. You can also record stories you read outloud and the students can listen to them over and over again. There are countless stories that you can "add" to the player. When Ex. in Ed funded my last round of Yoto players, they have completely transformed my classroom and helped in ways that I did not expect. For example larger with emotional regulation. They provide a "quiet space" in a very busy classroom to help student regulate emotions, provides incentive for struggling students, and create collaboration between peers. I would like to have 17 mini players (to make a class set of 25), so I can continue to create a listen to reading center that is student based and the stories are truly being chosen by the students for high engagement as well as incentive for reluctant learners, and a space to regulate large emotions.
With the uprise in screens and video games students are having a harder and harder time finding joy in reading and truly being engaged by literature. This is also causing eye issues, developmental issues, and of course behavior issues. There was an article written by the California Teacher Association about how listening to reading can greatly support reluctant readers comprehension. While we do have listening to reading on Chromebooks, there is still a screen attached. The goal is to have no screen at all. This helps the students be able to predict, infer, use their imagination, and truly be engaged in the story without any struggle.
New findings from my first grant is attached to the benefit for behavioral issues and emotional regulation. Each year it becomes more difficult to support students emotional needs, as the needs are becoming larger and more present. These small devices provide a small quiet space to regulate and help engage the most reluctant learners.
These players will enhance my classroom by making it even more of a safe space for students to regulate. I plan to start a Yoto Club where students of all grade levels are able to come and use them during lunch.
These players can enhance reluctant and non reluctant readers engage in a limitless amount of books and stories. Listening to reading can deeply support comprehension, fluency, ability to infer, predict, and connect with literature.
Create a lunch club where students who may need an alternative place for lunch can come and listen with friends.
Use them as incentives for reluctant learners.
Listen to reading will be a daily/weekly choice for all students in our classrooms. Focusing heavily on struggling readers. Providing the opportunity to listen to reading as well as following along with the actual book. This will also provide the opportunity for students to be able to reread books multiple times.
Yes, we can share these across grade level and within our heterogeneous groups as well as across grade levels.
Thank you SO much for these amazing opportunities to greatly enhance our classroom and our profession!!