I am not sure how I stumbled upon this phenomenal app called Epic!, but I am glad that I did. Epic! is an app (available for iOS or Android) that gives you instant access to over 15,00 books. Good books. Not the ones that your child doesn’t want to read. It is designed to be used in a classroom setting or at home with your own children.
Epic! is free for verified educators and $4.99/mo. for parents. Parents can even try it out free for 60 days by using the promo code: “EPICREADS” at www.getepic.com/promo
Aside from INSTANT access to ebooks, audiobooks, articles, short educational videos and ‘read it to me’ books, my kids and I really like the the variety of content available. Epic! also keeps track of what my kids are reading, how long they have read for, and the number of ‘pages flipped.’ I can even view and print their reading log by week, month or year. My kids stay motivated, partly because they know I am checking their profiles, but also because they can earn badges.
Kai is ten and going into the fifth grade. She likes that you can put in your age and multiple interests and it will help you find things that you are interested in. She says, “if nothing stands out you can just go to the ‘popular’ category and browse through what other people like.”
For educators, Epic! is completely free. After setting up a teacher profile, you can add up to 36 student accounts to keep track of student progress. The website also offers .pdf flyers to send home to families to explain the app. Students are able to read at school and then pick right up where they left off on a device at home. It’s seamless! Like in a parent account, Epic! enables teachers to view and print reading logs.
As an educator, my favorite thing about Epic! is that it gives students that struggle with reading a positive way to interact with books – by listening to them. Listening to books not only helps students build vocabulary and fluency but it also offers students opportunities to engage in reading material that may be above their reading level but is not above their interest level.
Watch this short informational video to find out about Epic! for yourself!
Get it here:
Epic! in iTunes Store
Epic! in Google Play Store.
I hope you have all taken a look at my previous post about summer reading incentive programs. You can earn free goodies just by reading!
If you have a library card from KRL, you may also obtain a card for the Seattle Public Library and/or King County Library System. All you need to do is take your KRL card to any Seattle or King County library branch with your ID and ask for a library card. I have one of each simply because it gives me access to a much greater selection of audio-books.
Looking for a heartwarming Christmas story? Try this historical fiction picture book about Allied and German soldiers in the trenches of France during World War I taking time out from their fighting to join together in song – “Silent Night.” A delightful book written from the point of view of a miserable British soldier’s letters home. A lovely story to share to put our modern lives into perspective. Text and gorgeous illustrations by 