McKinna Elementary School is pleased to announce that iRead has been named an Apple Distinguished Program for the 2012 – 2013 school year. iRead is a literacy program that uses iPod and iPad mobile devices to teach and reinforce literacy and pre-literacy skills like letter recognition, fluency and comprehension during language arts and English Language Development. iRead allows for individualized instruction that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of students.

The Apple Distinguished Program designation is reserved for programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence, and demonstrate Apple’s vision of exemplary learning environments.

Principal Anne Jenks said, “McKinna is very honored to be recognized in this way.”  The selection of iRead as an Apple Distinguished Program highlights its successes in enhancing and extending teaching and learning with thoughtful and innovative implementations of technology. McKinna piloted iRead in 2010 and students participating in the pilot showed such dramatic growth that it expanded to more classrooms. The use of iPods and iPads has increased student engagement and understanding of subject matter.  “We feel that using iRead has contributed to our increased scores on the California Standards Test, and it also helped us meet both the federal and state targets,” Jenks said.