I’m impressed by the results so far. The group just completed its pilot program, which involved 10 students, and comprehension rose 43 percent in three months. Even more impressive, total time reading jumped 123 percent.
The project has received press coverage as well. In a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, reporter Emma Macdonald highlighted the reading growth of 11-year-old Yulcaila Hoolihan-Mongta, who has read six novels over the past 12 weeks. “It’s been pretty good to have it because now I can practice reading and read a bit faster. The books are really good, too. I think I am reading more,” Yulcaila said.
One important feature separates the IRP from the KCP: The students get to keep their Kindle if they take care of it and demonstrate significant reading growth. That’s not an option for students in my project, although I love the idea.
In fact, it makes sense that a few students — perhaps the one who reads the most, or the one who grows the most — would be able to keep their Kindle at the end of the school year. Do you think this should be a feature for The Kindle Classroom Project? Please let me know your thoughts.