What do you all think about using LeapPad systems in a classroom listening center? I will be in 1st grade next year, and am planning to really set up a listening center (I've just kind of very casually had one this year). I have 5 LeapPad systems and a collection of books/cartridges. I would probably just use these every couple weeks in the rotation. What are your thoughts??
My school bought every k-1 teacher 30 pads each a few years ago with probably every cartridge they had to offer at the time. Where are their whereabouts now? Mine are hidden in a custodians closet gathering dust. They have tons of extra cartridges are lines on nice racks in the back of the computer lab. I have yet to see anyone check any of these out let alone look at them. Other teachers have hidden them and thrown them away during summer. (I couldn't do this, so I stored mine) At first I was really excited to see this resource. I haven't used them mostly because I didn't want to take the time to teach my kids to use the leap notebook. The organizational part was huge as well. Maybe some day I will decide to tackle this. Another thing is that we have to provide our own batteries. Are you referring to the new leapster product or the old notebook like I have?
We all have them in kindergarten as a stain/center. Some of us switch between the Leap Pads and a regular listening center and some have both out. The kids like them and it does help with 1:1 and getting the idea that words have to be read in order.
I have a leap pad center, as well as a listening center. My kids were really excited about the leap pads at first, but lately they seem to be getting bored with them. The listening center, however, is ALWAYS a hot spot. I think the listening center is better and never gets old. Leap pads are ok, but I personally wouldn't put them in place of listening.
I have the old ones. Tasha & Pigeon-- Do you have any suggestions for organization? I was afraid they'd get bored with them, too. I wouldn't put them in place of a listening center, but was thinking about using them in the listening center maybe one week out of every month. What do you do for accountability? Same activity as used for listening center?
For organization, I keep them in a crate (I only have three). We talked about putting the leap pads in first, and then the headsets. I keep the books and cartridges in bags in a storage container, so they can just choose their book and take it anywhere in the room. I used to have a small trapezoid table for them to work at, but we got computers so I ran out of room. I don't do anything for accountability. I actually never even thought of that! I think it might be a little difficult, though, because some of the books aren't even actual stories-they are just interactive games and questions. So, I'm not sure how I would go about that one. I usually just look around the room to make sure everyone is on task.
I have them on a shelf and they pull them out and sit on the floor to use them. I actually change the books myself and usually change them every 2 weeks (that gives them 2 chances to read the story). I don't have a response sheet for the LeapPads because so may of them are question/answer or interactive rather than a story.
Thanks, Tasha. I really haven't thought it all the way through....but had been imagining the nightmare of the kids changing books and cartridges. Hadn't thought of changing them myself-- but that makes wonderful sense! Do your rotations last about 20 minutes with the LeapPads? Will the kids stay engaged with them for that long?
My centers are sort of free choice. Each group has a choice of about 5 activities and they are free to move between those freely as long as they are quiet and are engaged in the activity. It sounds like a lot but 2 things are a "center" and the other 3 activities are on a shelf that they can take the materials to any spot in the room - an empty table or a spot on the floor. All that said - they kids easily stay at a LeapPad for 20 minutes at a time.
I know this question isn't for me, but I used to change the cartridges myself, and they had to stay at the center for 15 minutes. They would get bored with their book after about 10 minutes, which is why I let them change their own. Most days is works out just fine. We just had to practice a lot.
I find that the ones that ask questions or are interactive in some way keep them busy much longer than the ones that are only a story. Some of the books are a story and the game/activity too. I know Bob the Builder has the story and then it has an activity for each page too like find the shapes or count the trucks.
