RAZ-Kids Kindergarten Trial (One Month of Use - March to April)

Raz-Kids is a web-based library of leveled texts, quizzes and data collection and reporting services offered through Learning A-Z.  I use these resources to support independent reading, partner reading, shared reading, read aloud and even small group work and guide my reading instruction.

The service mimics a leveled book library where the children browse through a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts.  There is the option for students to listen to the story,  read it themselves (with touch and tell support for various vocabulary words), and take a comprehension quiz.  Students earn stars (points) for every story and quiz.  The stars are used in the reward redemption are called Raz Rockets.

My kindergarten students began using this about a month ago and within a week there was a noticeable  improvement in the amount of reading they were doing as well as an excitement about reading. In the first 30 days, my 22 students read  91 hours  (mostly outside of the classroom). Raz-Kids runs on computers via the internet and runs on iPads with the download of the free Raz-Kids app from the iTunes app store.

In class the children use Raz-Kids when the children finish eating lunch and when they complete other tasks.  In class, the children have access to four computers.  This past week, the children  had the option of reading on Raz-Kids during their library workstation rotation time.  I knew the children would love this option in reading.  An unexpected surprise was that the younger (borderline struggling)students voluntarily have been spending the most time using this resource.  I do not set goals for any of the students, this is a choice based system in my class for both in and out of class reading.  It seems that my struggling students gravitated to this medium and in doing so have made significant gains from in moving forward to meet grade level expectations in reading.  It has really boosted their confidence and willingness to take risks in their reading and rather than shying away from reading out loud or with a partner, instead they are eager to read and they readily exclaim, "I can read by myself!".  Another delightful surprise was how animated and fluent the children were when they sent me recordings of their reading.  When they were at home, relaxed and choosing to read for themselves, they are quite entertaining in the way they use expression and voice when they read.  We talk about this as we listen to the children's reading as part of our Read Aloud and Shared Reading time.

The Basics:  

First, the teacher enters their student's names and assigns each student a icon password, a specific level of reading and choices on whether they have access to the whole book room (levels aa to Z) or just to a specific range of texts, the teacher controls the amount of time the students spend in  Raz Rockets and can assign specific reading records.  I found the initial setup extremely intuitive to follow and within a hour I had my whole roster setup, assigned each student a text to send me as an IRR and had sent individual emails to parents introducing the reading option and giving them written instructions on how to access the website. Within two days all my students had logged on and using Raz-Kids.

Next, the students read, record their reading to send to the teacher, take quizzes and begin earning stars.  As the teacher, I monitor what they are reading, how they are doing on their quizzes (detailed reports are given) and listen to their practice reading recordings they send me as well as the reading records that I assign them.  I toggle through the various tabs and choose the type and format of the report I want.  Each report is available either by class or by student.  There is also an option to have weekly report automatically sent to the teacher and parents.

These are some of the reports you can generate for each student. Below is a sample of the Skills report for one student.  I use this data to determine what small groups or individuals to pull for followup instruction and what type of instruction is needed.

The same type of reports are available for the whole class. Below is the report selection and then a copy of a class report.

Class Report on Class Skills for first month of use (point of interest - we have not covered Cause and Effect and just started Reality/Fantasy.  I will keep on eye on these over the next six weeks to see if these scores increase after formal instruction.)

Below is a sample of a Running Record - note the child sends me their recording of a text I designated. If you look toward the top of the picture you will see the triangle replay icon.  While the child reads the program calculates rate, I see the text and follow along.  If the child miscues, I simply click on the word and a pull down menu appears for me to record the type of miscue.  I can also write anecdotal notes on the reading.

Below is the recording of the student's Retell to go along with the recorded running record.  This is recorded as well and the teacher scores the retell using the Raz-Kids rubric.

Next is a copy of the quiz the student took for this same running record.

In addition to the formal Running Records that students can send to the teacher.  The children can opt to record any story they read and send it to the teacher as well as hear it played back to them for fluency (and fun).  My students ask that we use their recorded reading for read aloud in class!

When I listen to the children read their stories, I can correspond back to them with encouragement, praise and coaching - I can also give them additional stars!  I often will write to them and let them know that I will be asking them about the text - something like the main idea, the problem, the sequence of events, etc.  This personalizes the experience for the children and they are delighted to see messages waiting for them when they log in.  In addition to sending encouragement to the reader, I make notes on what I hear and need to work with them on - again, I use this for my guided reading time as well as conferencing.  I can print a report with all my anecdotal notes.

Below are samples of some of the leveled "tubs" that the children select books from.  The children can click on the icon with the ear to listen to the text, the eye to read it themselves, or the ? to take a quiz.

Below is the library of leveled texts the children can explore as part of the "On Your Own" option.  If the Reading A-Z package is added there are more than 1,100 texts to choose from.

Having this option in my class has helped me to work smart rather than hard in my reading instruction.  I find that having accurate and in-depth data at my fingertips give me the gift of extra time to devote to reading instruction.  The children and their parents love the option of having texts that are directly connected to the type of texts the children use in the classroom.  It takes the guess work out of what books to read at home and the parents are thrilled with how their children are excited about reading.

There are many reports and features that I didn't cover, sooooo ... I have saved the best news for last.  Learning A-Z offers free week-long trials for all of their products.  Raz-Kids is only one of a whole suite of product offerings (Reading A-Z, Vocabulary A-Z, Writing A-Z, Science A-Z and Reading Tutor A-Z).  The cost for each ranges from $29 - $90.  For a one year subscription for 36 students Raz-Kids is $89.95 -- there are discounts for bundled options and multiple classrooms.

The Learning A-Z website is rich in details, videos and plenty of information to help implement their variou products.

For more information and for free trials of their products click here: