HEADPHONES

These right here... have made life better and quieter, which is kind of the same thing at times in a Kinder classroom.  Last year, I had an iPad and an iPod Touch for students to use to scan QR codes during Reader's Workshop.  They would listen to the books and with only 2 going at a time, they could spread out in the room and it wasn't really an issue.  

Well this year, we were given 6 iPad minis.  That's a problem.  6 different devices, reading 6 different stories while I'm trying to pull reading groups is not o.k.  I started looking for solutions and found these head phones at my local Dollar Tree.  (They don't have these particular headphones online, but I bet you could show your store the picture!)  They are retractable headphones and cheap enough ($1- duh!) that I purchased a pair for every kid in my class (and a few extra in case there were some duds, but I haven't found a dud yet!)  

On the round piece, I use a sharpie and write their class number.  This way, if they are left plugged into a device or we find them on the ground, we know who they belong to!  We also don't share them, so we don't spread ear wax germs! :)  I tell the kids (and parents) that this is the one and only pair they will get from me.  If a student breaks or loses them, I ask for their parents to send a new pair.  I also share with them that they can be purchased at the dollar store!  ...or how many pairs of ear buds do you have in drawers around the house?!  They seem to multiply because they give you a pair with every device you by these days!  

Anyway!  I was surprised by how hard it was to find inexpensive headphones!  I like that these are budget friendly, small, and we can write our names/numbers on them!  

What do you do for headphones in your classroom?  Does your district provide them? Do parents donate them?  I'm curious how others handle headphones!  ...because I'm a dork like that :)