Easi-Speak 128MB Digital Voice Recorder

I received the Easi Speak USB Recorder to use and review in my second grade class room. I have to say that both I and my students were impressed! I love that it's so easy to use....one button to record...one button to play. My students can use it independently with just a little bit of training. There are no batteries required, since it charges on the USB port. One of the coolest uses is the ability to 'collect' students' reading, upload to your computer & then share with parents or other teachers. One (of the many) ways I am using it is to track student reading progress. It's been amazing & powerful for the kids to be able to listen to what they DID sound like compared to how they sound NOW. Bottom line....this product is a fabulous little motivator! Even my most reluctant reader is eager to read when he gets to use the Easi Speak! It's a terrific addition to your classroom!

Each week I let my students record themselves re-reading a familiar book from a previous reading conference. Then I'd go back and listen in order to plan teaching point for our next conference. Sometimes I'll record them after a quick book introduction and let them have a first read as I complete a running record. We are also using this to record our Reader's Theatre scripts during small group. We practice our scripts for a few minutes towards the end of small group time, and the students usually present on Fridays. They love using it.

I think the Easi-Speak digital recorder is a wonderful tool to use in the classroom. Children of all ages seem to enjoy using it and I believe the shape of the microphone makes it a lot of fun to use. Along with the microphone, there was also a lanyard that attaches so it could also be worn around the neck if desired. The controls are easy and color coded which makes it easy even for young children to operate this. The microphone needed to be near their mouth to hear the students speak clear but when playing it back, it could be played pretty loudly.

I am a first grade teacher and love this product. It is a great motivator for reluctant readers. Those students who might approach reading aloud with trepidation can gain confidence by first reading a new text into the Easi-Speak, and then with the smaller group. Great tool for practicing fluency and expression as the student can read their story into the recorder and listen to themselves and self-assess. Easi-speak is very easy to use both for students {to begin, end and listen to recordings} and for the teacher {uploading to computer, attaching to emails, etc.}. If I were to make one recommendation it would be to somehow "lock" the record/stop button - students easily and unknowingly push the stop button during reading and do not realize it until they have read the entire selection. All in all, it's an AWESOME product that I would recommend to any teacher at any grade level!

This product is very easy to use for both the teacher and the student. Kids love being able to speak and read into the microphone. It has added another dimension to reader's theater performances, reading to self, and reading to a partner. I highly recommend it.