'A is for Apple' on iPod
MP3 players used as vocabulary tools in Carrollton-Farmers Branch schools
The Dallas Morning News - CARROLLTON – Even kindergartners are bringing iPods to class these days. But schools in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch district aren't confiscating the portable music players. They're paying for them.
The district's kindergartners jack up Apple iPods during class to help master vocabulary. In all grades, English as a second language students use the devices to learn the language.
"They beg for it," said Katie Stemmermann, a kindergarten teacher at Country Place Elementary. "They don't think of it as homework. It's a good connection between school and home, taking the classroom home."
What started in August as a pilot program in five schools could extend to all 27,000 students as part of the district's plan to use leisure technology to engage kids.
The district already has programs that give computers to families. It also lends PlayStations to elementary students for math games.
"It's a good way to break down those classroom walls," said Andy Berning, the district's chief technology officer. "Plus, it's inspiring and relevant to the kids, using tools that they use."
Carrollton-Farmers Branch is one of a handful of districts across the country finding ways to use iPods in schools. The idea came from Duke University, which gives iPods to all incoming freshmen.
The district bought 100 full-size iPods in August as part of a $31,000 pilot program involving two middle schools and two high schools. A private foundation bought 16 smaller iPod Shuffles for three kindergarten classes.
At Country Place Elementary School, ESL and native English speakers take turns bringing home 16 iPods. The iPods play 10 sing-along songs with familiar tunes but altered lyrics, such as "Hippo Hop," which is sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle."
Henrietta Hippo and Harvey too, went to the hop at the Zippity Zoo. They wiggled their hips and their tummies too, as they danced the hoola hoop at the hullabaloo.
"Phonemic awareness is the No. 1 tool for reading success," Ms. Stemmermann said. "Playing with the language is so important, being able to manipulate words."
There's no consensus in Ms. Stemmermann's kindergarten class on which song is best. " 'Marvin the Monkey' – it's so good," said Leo Cortez, 6.
Benito Otiniano prefers "Apple Annie." It helped him learn such words as apple, alligators and astronauts, he said.
Students do agree on one thing: "It's good homework," said Nicholas Omar, 5. "I feel happy when I take it home."
As the students progress, teachers change the content. The kids pick up the new vocabulary quickly but struggle to comprehend one of the rules.
"We have to tell them, 'You have to bring it back,' " said Lisa Stewart, another kindergarten teacher at Country Place. " 'You're borrowing it. You have to bring it back so your friends can use it, too.' "
The pilot program includes four other teachers at two middle schools and two high schools. Most of the iPods are used for English language learners.
At Newman Smith High School, a French teacher loads lessons onto iPods for his students, demonstrating Dr. Berning's goal: Get every student access to course lessons on MP3 files – the sound files used by iPods and other music players.
The idea is to get siblings and parents involved so that learning becomes a family affair. There's no way to monitor the content, so students could download other music files. But that's fine, so long as kids are also listening to the lessons, Dr. Berning said.
The concept is too new to gauge its effectiveness. In the spring, Dr. Berning will evaluate the iPod program through interviews with students, teachers and parents. If it's a hit, he'll push the school board to buy more, he said.
