From Ordinary Tablet to Extraordinary Book Club

"Mom, I really want an ipod!" was pretty much all I heard from my 3rd grade daughter Ava for the few months leading up to Christmas.  "Please, please, pretty please!!!" #1 on the list.  Written nice and big.

I was hesitant, along with her dad, to think about entering the world of pictures, texting, music, and so much more.  Was she responsible enough to handle all that comes along with "being connected"?  We weren't so sure.  Both of our girls, ages five and eight, easily navigate our iphones and ipads, but it's just different having your own.  

Well, they both ended up with tablets, gifts from grandma and grandpa.  Our thinking was that they could read books on the larger screen, and we would do our best to monitor their time playing games and use these years to help to teach them about the responsibilities that come along with this technology.

Not thinking texting would be an issue, I should have known that Ava would quickly find a way around this.  She had Google Hangout downloaded on her device before the presents were finished being opened Christmas day.  The rest of the family also had to download it as well if it wasn't already on their devices.  We all started to get several messages a day...sorry aunt Susie and my cousin's girlfriend Maddie!!  They were of course adorned with pretty Emoji Art though!

Never did I anticipate what evolved over our extended winter break due to the freezing temperatures.  The Google Hangout calls to grandma turned into discussing books and what the girls had been reading.  Then, grandma decided to form a book club-genius!  Rather than pointless late night chats, now grandma and granddaughter chat about what she has been reading.  She's already an avid reader, but it has helped her to also want to spend more of her free time reading so she can tell grandma all about it!  I'm also hoping that this will motivate Ally, my five-year-old, to want to read more too!!

That got me thinking about my own 2nd grade students.  Wouldn't it be awesome to put something like that in place for them at home?  Could we get a tablet for all students so they could have their own nighttime hangout book club sessions?  What a way to help foster home/school connections and to build relationships with parents as well.  The students could even choose the clubs in which they would like to participate depending on which books interest them!    

Below is a short clip from last night's chat before bed about the Ivie and Bean series by Annie Barrows.  Thanks for the books Amy!