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Douglass teacher uses tablets to make reading fun

<p>Here is a variety of books Douglass students get to choose from while they read off the Kindle Fires. They&nbsp;have hard cover books as well so there is a unlimited reading.</p>

Here is a variety of books Douglass students get to choose from while they read off the Kindle Fires. They have hard cover books as well so there is a unlimited reading.

Frederick Douglass resource teacher Amanda Morris recently raised money to add technology to her instructional day. Morris raised the money through donorschoose.org, and the organization purchased two Kindle Fire tablets and sent them to her so students can use them to read during their free time in school.

Donorschoose.org is an online service that matches teachers’ ideas with donors. Morris took the initiative to request the tablets for Douglass students.

The tablets are in Morris’ classroom, where students can sit on beanbags and relax.

Morris said she wanted to give students, who have their fourth hour free after eating lunch, a choice of reading from four books available on the tablets. Currently, the only activity available to students after lunch is free play in the gym.

“Instead of going to the gym fourth hour or just sitting around doing absolutely nothing; to actually come and do something productive like improving their reading skills and vocabulary,” said Morris.

Morris’ goal is to use technology to encourage students to read. Gym teacher Pierre Brooks said Morris’ idea has lots of merit.

“This could be a huge leap for those in need of it,” Brooks said. “There are many people who would benefit from it. Lots of people hesitate to grasp this tool, and I hope this works and more schools look to use it around the world.”

Students say they like the idea and believe this can help elevate school reading standards.

Douglass senior Michael Betty said this was a great idea “because everyone here wants to get better at something, and reading is something everyone needs ... in life.”

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