Setting up the Kindle Fire for Checkout in the Elementary Classroom

Now that my classroom has Kindle Fires to use, I realized that I needed to have some kind of policy of how to check out the kindles and what ground rules needed to be followed. You can click on the picture below to download the ground rules that I established with my students.

   

After discussing the ground rules, I introduced the students to the check out sheets that we would be using on a weekly basis. It has a spot for the student's name, the day of the week the student would use it during our Daily 5 reading block, and a place to write down the books that were read by the student. Since I have four Kindle Fires (and each has a different color case) I made four charts. This way all of my students would get to use the Kindle Fires at a minimum of twice a week during our reading block. Click on the picture below to access the check out sheet.

At each Kindle Fire check out station, I have an accordion folder that contains two folders. One folder contains the names of the students who will share a particular Kindle Fire throughout the week. This is not only for the students to know who is in their group, but also for me to keep track of which students are using each Kindle. The second folder contains a list of all the books on the Kindle Fires with a brief summary of each. I have found this useful for students to look at and read through before browsing the books on the Kindle. They are able to make a decision more quickly on which books to read.  

Underneath each folder is a clipboard with the Kindle Fire check out sheet as mentioned above. I have these copied onto card stock and then laminated. Students use vis a vis pens so that they can be easily washed off at the end of the week.

Below is an example of a template for Kindle Fire groups. Since I have four in my room, that is how I divided my students. Obviously depending on the number of Kindles you have in your classroom, your chart would look a little different. This is a management piece for me that allows me to see which students are using each Kindle.

 

If you are a teacher who uses any electronic reading devices in your classrooms and have some hints or tips of what works in your room, I would love to hear them!

Stay tuned for future blogs on exciting ways we will be using the Kindle Fires in my classroom!