Using QR Codes for Read Alouds

My colleague and I have been in the midst of writing an online Professional Development module on Using QR Codes in the Classroom for the teachers in our district .  We outlined countless ways to use them and you can access a presentation of ideas here:  https://goo.gl/gq0y3i

One of my favorite ways to use QR codes is leveraging YouTube read alouds of children's books.  Teachers can create a QR code with the YouTube video link and attach the QR code to the book in their listening center or library.  I've seen teachers glue it to the front or back cover of the book or on the inside cover.  Then students are trained how to use a mobile device to scan the QR code and access the read aloud.

With budgets the way they are, funds for purchasing books on tape or CD are difficult to come by--why not take advantage of FREE videos on YouTube that still allow the students to hear a quality story read aloud?!

If you're new to creating QR codes, here is a quick step-by-step guide for how to do so:

1. Browse YouTube for the video read aloud you like and copy the hyperlink.
2. Go to to a QR code generator on the web, such as www.qrstuff.com or www.qr-code-generator.com
3. Paste in the YouTube hyperlink
4. Right click on the QR code that is automatically generated and "Copy" or "Save as" and paste it into a document to be printed off and attached to a book or card. 

Earlier this week I was in a kindergarten classroom at one of our elementary schools.  I was thrilled to see this teacher used QR codes in her listening station.  I loved her idea of keeping laminated cards containing the QR code and picture of the book in a little pencil box for easy organization and quick access.