MightyBook

MightyBook www.mightybook.com

What the resource is, how it works and what you need to make it work

MightyBook is an American online publisher that was founded in 1999, with two of its founders being former educators with more than 20 years of classroom teaching experience. MightyBook is specialised in children’s animated eBooks and story songs for the ages 2-10. However, most children in Sweden are taught English in school between ages six and seven and therefor these eBooks and story songs are well suitable for pupils in primary school.

MightyBook offers limited numbers of free services, such as animated eBooks and story songs. However, if you want to access all services, they offer various types of memberships for a fee. As a member, you can access new additions of interactive activities every month.  You can sign up online or by mail and you will be offered the “MightyBook 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee”. In other words you can try Mightybook for 30 days, and if you are not satisfied they will give you a full refund.

Some services, such as the animated eBooks require Adobe Flash Player.

How the resource can be used by teachers

Teachers can use MightyBook in numerous ways. Just by skimming through the various links you will find inspiration of how to work with your pupils. Animated eBooks for one can help arouse the pupils’ interest in books. The animations are beautifully designed with a humorous approach. The eBooks are also a great way to introduce English literature. While watching the animated eBooks every word in the stories are highlighted as they are spoken, which gives the pupils’ a greater chance to keep up. The stories can be paused at any time you wish and if you missed something in the previous page/pages you can always jump back one or more pages.

In the main menu to the left there is a link called words and letters, which leads to a page where you can find useful animated books. Book of nouns for example offers multiple links to different slideshows that includes animals. These books could be very useful when the pupils’ are going to learn what different animals are called in English. When the picture of an animal is shown, the animal’s name in English is presented in both text and audio. This gives the pupils’ the chance to hear how the word is pronounced and how it is spelled.

                               

Another usable link in the main menu is called parents and teachers. There you will find several topics that can be used for teaching. For example, there is a link called poems with activities. When entering that page you will find poems and activities that are arranged according to grade level.

At the bottom of the page there is a link called teachers, which will direct you to a page intended for teachers. On this page several usable links are given, such as animal ABC flash cards that teachers could put up on the classroom wall.

How the resource can be used by pupils

The website is well suited for pupils in primary school. If they would have trouble understanding the English words, the pictures will help them find their way. As a pupil you can find many educational activities that are made in very creative and amusing ways. To name a few, they could:

Watch an animated eBook of choice

Watch an animated classic song

  

Watch an animated story song

Other considerations when using this resource

MightyBook can be used in many ways when teaching. I strongly believe that it is important to incorporate the pupils’ interests in our teaching. Since most of today’s kids are well oriented in terms of computers and the Internet, and appreciate the time they get to work with the computer I believe computer based activities are a very good resource. Most of MightyBook’s activities can be used by pupils individually as well as in small groups. They work very well for whole class activities as well.

When reading what MightyBook’s users have to say about them it is clear that it is a very popular publisher. The users recommend it as a great resource for special education students as well as second language learners.

I will gladly recommend MightyBook as well! Enjoy!

/ Linnea Rannelid

iPad

Ipad

 

What an iPad is and how it works
An iPad is a tablet computer and can be used for taking pictures, recording videos, playing music, surfing the internet, apps et cetera. It has a multi-touch screen as well as a virtual keyboard. It is easy to bring it with you because of its’ small size and it is therefore a very handy teaching tool to have in the classroom. 

How the resource can be used
Teachers can for example use the iPad to quickly access the internet and search for information on different subjects that students are wondering about. That way the teacher can capture the student’s interest instantly. There are many different game apps that could be useful for students. Some of the game apps are made with teaching in mind and they are learning oriented. There are English learning apps, math learning apps, Swedish learning apps et cetera. These apps are a way for students to both learn and have fun at the same time. They can also use the ipad for writing and searching the internet in an easy way. It can also be used for taking pictures and recording video. Teachers can for example use students’ recordings in their assessment of them.

Other considerations when using this resource
It is of importance to be involved when students are using a tool such as the iPad. For student to actually learn something when playing a learning app he or she has to play it the right way. Some students can tend to click on the screen until they get the right answer without really thinking about it. It is therefore important for the teacher to guide the student in how to use the iPad and its’ different apps. Since the iPad has an internet connection there is the possibility of students accessing the net for non-school related searches and web pages. Teachers need to be aware of this and as mentioned above be involved in the students’ use of the iPad so that it is used in the right way for the right things.

Sofia Wiberg
1EN30L