EPIC!
WHAT IS IT?
Epic! is a digital library platform for kids 12 and under. Think of it as Netflix with books. You have access to an extended number of high-quality e-books, audio books, comics, and videos, which are Epic!’s originals or digital versions of more popular books.
There is also a built-in dictionary, which helps kids with more complicated words, apart from having some already explained on the book's pages. They offer an app for iOS and Android, which makes reaching for e-books more accessible. Moreover, everything is categorized by age or interests. A teacher or parent can choose the books and customize the library keeping the kids' interests in mind.
What I love most about Epic! is the series READ TO ME, which is great for kids with dyslexia, younger readers, and language learners. It helps with pronunciation, as well.
Some books have quizzes to check what the reader remembers or learned from the reading. They are all created by other teachers; hence unless you have made a quiz yourself, you will see a randomly selected one.
There are plenty of features that you discover once you start using it. The most important aspect, in my opinion, is that the content is engaging for kids. They truly want to do some research and select the book they want.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Here it gets a bit tricky. In theory, the platform is FREE for educators and librarians, but only in the US and Canada. Therefore, for a FREE account (Epic! School), you must sign up with a school email and the given code.
Nevertheless, there is hope. Epic! offers their services around the world, and, from what I understood, if you write to them, they will help you set up a FREE school account. On the downside, kids can only access it from Monday to Friday during school hours unless they subscribe.
There are two plans FOR FAMILIES:
FREE - Epic! BASIC gives access to a limited digital library and permits a child to read one e-book a day, including the Read-To-Me series.
PAID - Epic! UNLIMITED gives options to an endless number of e-books, videos, audiobooks, and comics. It allows you to download them onto your device and read it whenever you want, offline.
Both plans require the tutor's personal information and supervision.
TEACHERS:
Teachers sign up with the school’s code. They can create personal profiles for each student or load them on a roaster, making it faster than manually. Then they can assign books, or categories to narrow kids’ choices down. They can base them on age, interests, reading ability, etc. On top of that, you can create quizzes, track students’ progress, how much time they have spent reading, and receive feedback.
STUDENTS:
Students go to the app or website and sign up by writing the provided class code. Once in, they should search for their profile (name). If they do not see it, they scroll down the page, create a profile themselves, and start investigating. Unfortunately, they can read only during school hours, from Monday to Friday. If they want to do it after hours, they should create a FAMILY account. As they read, they earn badges and surprises. An interactive Buddy encourages them to finish what they started. On top of that, students can create customized collections of books that they love.
PARENTS:
To encourage children to read at home or on the weekends parents should create an account. There are two options: BASIC and UNLIMITED. At first, I would go with the BASIC alternative to see how it works. Parents can create up to four accounts. They are able to assign books and receive notifications on their child’s progress, how much time they have spent on reading, and if there was a quiz, its result. They get question suggestions to ask their kids orally.
IS IT USEFUL?
PROS:
It is free*.
It is like Netflix, but with books.
The series Read To Me is perfect for kids with dyslexia, language learners, and younger readers.
The books are divided into different categories and ages.
There are also comics, videos, and audio books.
You can check and control what the kids read and how much time they spend doing it.
Some books have tests or questions to answer at the end.
You can assign books or specific series to read.
It can be done at home or in class.
CONS:
It is FREE* for teachers in the US and Canada.
Unless your school provides you with a code, you cannot create a class or add students.
The FREE BASIC account is limited to one book a day.
Parents can create only four accounts.
The assessment tool is limited.
HOW DO I USE IT IN MY ESL CLASSROOM?
As I live in Europe, the FREE TEACHER’S PROFILE is quite complicated to obtain. However, it should not discourage you.
Below you can find some ideas on how to use FREE BASIC ACCOUNT with your young language learners.
IN CLASS:
10- to 12-YEAR-OLDS:
- Create a BASIC PARENT account and four KIDS profiles.
- Select a book you want to work on.
- Divide your class into four groups.
- Give each group a different part of the book to read (like from page to page) (on the phone/ tablet/computer)
- Make them work together to write down the main ideas of the assigned part.
- Then they have to present it in front of the class.
- Afterwards, make them play a previously prepared Quizlet or Kahoot to check what they understood.
7- to 9-YEAR-OLDS:
- You can make them read the story aloud one by one, passing a tablet or making them sit at the computer.
5- to 7-YEAR-OLDS:
- Choose a Read-To-Me book.
- Project it on the screen and make them listen to the story.
- Stop from time to time to revise what they understood.
AT HOME 1:
- Ask parents to create a BASIC account for their kids.
- You can tell your students (or parents) to find and read a specific book.
- Set a deadline by which they should finish it.
- Check it out in class.
AT HOME 2:
- Ask parents to create a BASIC account for their kids.
- Create a 10-book challenge.
- Select books you want them to read.
- Print out the covers of the books and place them somewhere in the classroom.
- If a student has read one of the books, they write their names below the cover. You then have to send or give them a test to check what they understood.
- The student who first reads ten books and answers most questions correctly wins the challenge.
BOTTOM LINE:
The importance of reading cannot be underestimated. It benefits a child’s education, social and cognitive development, and mental health.
Although privacy issues and screen time bother me a bit, Epic! helps foster a love of reading and learning in children. The high-quality books, designs, and attractiveness of the platform inspire kids' curiosity and encourage them to discover and explore their interests.
Besides, it is within the reach of our and their hands! It’s easy to use, and, to be honest, there is no better tool to work on young children reading skills than this.
Check out their website and see yourself whether it works for you, or not. Kids will definitely love it.
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