Raz-Kids

Raz-Kids is a collection of leveled books and quizzes that users can engage to develop their reading-comprehension skills. When users engage Raz-Kids, they first select a book and Raz-Kids narrates it to them. Users are able to pause the narration on each page if they would like read it themselves or reread the page after listening to it being narrated. After reading a book, Raz-Kids presents users with a reading-comprehension quiz that consists of 5–10 questions. Users are able to flip between the book and quiz while using this option. Raz-Kids also has a “read” option that becomes available after users have read a book. With the “read” option, users can read the book independently, or they can tap the microphone icon and Raz-Kids will record users reading the book. As they read, users can pause the recording and resume it. When finished, users can tap the “stop” button and then tap the “play” button to listen to their recording. Users can also share their recording by tapping the “send” button.

Please note: To use Raz-Kids, teachers will first need to register themselves and their students with the Raz-Kids website (http://www.raz-kids.com/). Once registered, teachers can assist students in selecting appropriate books leveled to their reading ability.

Instructional Ideas

1. Once a day, teachers can make time for students to read one book in this app and take the quiz that follows it. When students complete the quiz, they can take a screen shot of their results and email it to their teacher.
2. To increase students’ reading fluency, students can first choose a book and listen to it being read to them. Next, students can reread the same book without the narration. At this point, students can record themselves reading the book and then listen to their recording. While listening to themselves read, students can identify where any breakdowns in fluency occur and practice rereading the text at those points.
3. Teachers can have students set weekly reading goals for themselves using this app every Monday. For example, elementary school students may set a goal for themselves to read five level “C” books in a week and score a 100% on each quiz. Then, on Friday, teachers can check to see if students met their reading goals.

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