App: StoryChimes Stories (There are multiple titles)
Company: StoryChimes LLC
Cost: Free
Device: Apple or Android Devices
SAMR Model: Substitution
Description
StoryChimes LLC put out a large number of e-books available on Apple and Android devices. These stories range in complexity which makes it a great resource for any listener to listen to fluent reading. This app provides the student with choices to read the story independently or listen to a narration while the words are highlighted. Many stories have an instrumental background that may or may not distract readers, but it can be turned off. Students can turn the pages themselves or autoplay can be turned on when the student is reading along with the narrator.
Differentiation
StoryChimes e-books are beneficial for elementary readers because it allows any leveled reader to listen to fluent reading and expression. Words are highlighted as they are read by the narrator, helping students build word recognition. Being able to listen to the reading helps students build comprehension skills and become familiar with print.
Students who are not very fluent with reading can still build skills through the narration. This also helps build listening and reading skills for students who are English Language Learners.
Students above grade level may benefit from these e-books as they include fairy tales, fables, and other stories that are longer in length with complex characters and storylines. Students can also read the stories independently without any narration.
Comprehension
StoryChimes e-books will help students build comprehension skills. Being able to read along with a narrator allows students to focus on what is happening in the story instead of getting slowed down trying to decode words and losing track of what happened in the story. StoryChimes helps EL students build comprehension skills because they can hear the story and use the illustrations to help comprehend the text.
Students who are above grade level can build comprehension skills through more advanced readings that fall under multiple genres. They can listen to the story and build comprehension skills based on reading along with a reader. They can read it independently and practice recalling information. There are also many fairy tales, fables, or well known stories that can be used to compare to other versions of the same story.
Possible Downfalls
The music in the background of these stories may be distracting for some students. If a student is struggling focusing on the content of the story due to the music, it can be turned off.
When a student is reading independently, students are not given the option to click on an unknown word and hear it be pronounced. This could be used as practice for looking up unknown words in a dictionary or an online dictionary. Merriam-Webster has an online, kid's dictionary that can be found here.
This app does not include an in-app comprehension check. Teachers could assign comprehension activities to be done digitally through Seesaw, MyStory, a word processing program, or other digital resource.
Merriam-Webster Incorporated (2017). Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary [website]. Retrieved from http://www.learnersdictionary.com/
Siena Entertainment, LLC. (2010). StoryChimes (1.3) [Mobile Application Software] Retrieved from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/three-little-pigs-storychimes-free/id396799226?mt=8