Kindle Fire has HELPED my struggling reader!

[Princess Nancy]

I kept reading on here about the Kindle Fire. My 12 year old DD struggles in school. She doesn't like to read and it is always a challenge.

She begged for the Kindle Fire. I read all about it and finally we got one for her. All of a sudden...she is a reader!!! I was thrilled but a little skeptical that the novelty would wear off!

Last night she started reading the Hunger Games. I thought, this will not work, it is above her head...Then I saw something amazing...as she came to words she was unsure of, she would click on them and the definition would pop up!!!!!!!!!

I admit I was unaware of this feature. It has made her an independent reader who is understanding so much more than ever before.

Thank you Kindle!!!!

 

[Doodlebug939]

That is wonderful to hear. I have been thinking about one for our family as well. My son is 13 and only likes certain books (Percy Jackson type) but I think that the kindle would open him up to other types of books because he loves technology

 

[kinntj]

That's fantastic! Is that a function of all Kindles or just the
Fire? My 10 year old would love that. She'll have to wait until Christmas, since she wants a desk for her birthday this year.

 

[Aulika]

This feature also exists in other modèles of the kindle. I use it very often on my kindle keyboard as I am a non native English speaker who loves English novels.

 

[clm10308]

My reluctant reader likes to read on. My iPad.
I just checked, and I can't get my Kindle app to show definitions. The iBook app does. Scholastic has a great reader app called Storia. We have only used the free books so far, but if the word in question is in the dictionary, it will speak the word as well. Some of the books have interactive games built in to them.

 

[bumbershoot]

...as she came to words she was unsure of, she would click on them and the definition would pop up!!!!!!!!!

I admit I was unaware of this feature. It has made her an independent reader who is understanding so much more than ever before.

You should write into amazon with your praise. I'm sure it would make people happy.


The Kindle people have noticed that kids who are struggling have gotten better with the electronic book. It worked for DH, too (who works for the department). He could probably be diagnosed with some sort of dyslexia, though he never has been (bad school system and unsupportive parents who preferred to call him stupid despite a near 4.0 GPA), but as soon as he started reading on the Kindle he got better and faster. He doesn't get as confused. And, like you noticed, the definition is a click away (so you don't have to go find a dictionary and lose the thread of the story).


And yes, that feature is on all, I believe, of the Kindle models. DH has a first generation one and it has it on his.

 

[heartsy77]

This make me so happy! We are getting DD 13 in April, a fire because she is a reluctant reader! I hope this works for her as well!

 

[Cindy B]

I am a reading teacher. Ereaders do help struggling readers. All students in my class are struggling readers.

For some students, the ereader doesn't look as intimidating as 300 page book. To some it seems more like "pushing buttons" instead of reading. It is more fun that actually reading.

I only load classic texts on the ereader. I was so happy that one of my more challenging students sat down and began to read Robinson Crusoe. Not the kids graphic novel or the abridged version, but the actual version.

The do like the definition feature. Some use it and some just gloss over it. To me I am using technology in the classroom and students are gaining experience in something that they do not have.

I had a student that was legally blind. (but I didn't know it at the time). He would set the text at a very large print so he could actually read instead of fool around.

 

[sookie]

the other part is probably the fact that the hunger games is an awesome series!!!

 

[MrsPete]

That's fantastic! Is that a function of all Kindles or just the
Fire? My 10 year old would love that. She'll have to wait until Christmas, since she wants a desk for her birthday this year.

All Kindles have this feature, even my old no longer made Kindle has the dictionary feature. I like this feature better than I ever would've expected.

 

[ceemys]

That's great! I bet it helps with her self esteem also.

 

[gk90]

Good for her! Another book series that has reluctant DS hooked (after rushing through Hunger Games) is 39 Clues.

 

[Princess Nancy]

I am so glad to hear that others have found the same thing!

The other feature that is so great for her is the suggestions from Kindle. Since she is not a good reader she tends to read a series and then is stuck until she figures another to read.

The suggestions really help guide her to her next book.

I was hoping my feedback might help other who have struggling readers decide if they should make the leap!

 

[bumbershoot]

I am a reading teacher. Ereaders do help struggling readers. All students in my class are struggling readers.

For some students, the ereader doesn't look as intimidating as 300 page book. To some it seems more like "pushing buttons" instead of reading. It is more fun that actually reading.

I only load classic texts on the ereader. I was so happy that one of my more challenging students sat down and began to read Robinson Crusoe. Not the kids graphic novel or the abridged version, but the actual version.

The do like the definition feature. Some use it and some just gloss over it. To me I am using technology in the classroom and students are gaining experience in something that they do not have.

I had a student that was legally blind. (but I didn't know it at the time). He would set the text at a very large print so he could actually read instead of fool around.

What a good point about the size! After all, even War and Peace is the same size in your hand as a pamphlet on an e-reader.


My cousin and her kids had congenital cataracts and wear very thick glasses b/c of the surgeries. I know my cousin is legally blind (not sure about her kids), and she really likes reading electronically. It's so much easier for her.

 

[mom23boys]

For some students, the ereader doesn't look as intimidating as 300 page book. To some it seems more like "pushing buttons" instead of reading. It is more fun that actually reading.

This is exactly why I got my DS 12 the Kindle Fire, for him who struggles with reading. Looking at books that were really long to read was daunting. But now he loads the books on his Kindle and he reads more.

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

I just love to read everyone's sucess stories here! My 4th grader has a LD & has always struggled with reading. At this point, everything at his reading level is way too babyish which creates a viscious cycle--he doesn't want to ready those books & everything that interests him is way above his skill level. As a result he is completely turned off to reading.

I just got a Kindle Fire so I will be actively searching for some books that I can download to kickstart his love of reading now that I hear how well it is working for the rest of your kiddos! I think he will love having the pop up feature as well. Does anyone have any recommendations for a lower level reader to get his interest in reading started?

Good luck to all of you & continued sucess for your kids!

 

[Ginny Favers]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a lower level reader to get his interest in reading started?

I think the most important thing to get a child interested in reading is to find a book suited to what THEY like. So, what does he like? Here is a great list of good books for boys, based on their interests:

http://guysread.com/books/

It includes all levels... but actually, the whole site is awesome and includes some great tips on getting boys to read more.

 

[branv]

It's turned my reluctant reader DH into a reader too DH had never been a reader. And actually, when he went back to college in his late 20's, he really struggled with reading/writing. He worked and he worked at it, but it was a challenge. I started noticing some questionable things: reading comprehension issues that were fixed by my reading the passage to him; writing becoming "odd" the more tired and stressed he became (letters missing from words, words missing from sentences); missing test questions, not because he didn't know the answer, but because he misread the question. I encouraged him to get tested for learning disabilities, and DING...poor guy had gone his whole life with various forms of LD.

He's much better now ("A" student!) thanks to some university accomodations for test taking and figuring out learning/reading techniques that work best for him. But he STILL couldn't get into reading for pleasure.

Then along came the Kindle. He reads every night now. I asked him once why he could read on the Kindle but not a regular book. Like a PP, he said that there was something much less daunting about taking it one page at a time versus facing a big thick lump of pages. He also said the smaller amount of words on the page, as well as the ability to make the words larger, made reading "feel" easier. Also like PP, the ability to look up unfamiliar words is an amazing feature for him. He also likes that if he gets a little lost (i.e. gets mixed up with characters, side plots, etc), he can do a keyword search to reread a previous passage for clarification or to jog his memory. Another thing -- he can read more than one book at a time With a touch of ADHD, he can sometimes get bored with something he's been reading for a while (to be fair, so can I -- and I'm a voracious reader). He'll switch to another book for a little bit, then come back.

The system just works for him, and I love it Even though he's 35, I notice a difference in the way it's improved his abstract thinking skills. And I really love how we can read the same books now and discuss them. I imagine it's the same for you parents. What a great little tool!

 

[Ginny Favers]

I also meant to add that as a novelist and BIG lover of books, it's SO NICE to see all these people, both young and old, finally getting turned on to reading! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!!!

 

[kinntj]

Thank you to those who replied about the other Kindles having the dictionary option. I love that! I want to get DD the Fire, but DH might think it's too much right now. I can order the basic model and she'll get the same thing.