If you think a 9.56-inch teacher wouldn’t be very effective, you’d be wrong.

Especially if that teacher is equipped with Wi-Fi and the latest apps and placed into the hands of Straughn’s extended day students.

As a matter of fact, there are 15 of them – iPads, not flesh and blood teachers – in use at the school, said county schools federal programs coordinator Ricky Messick.

Their purchase was made possible through a 21st Century Learning Grant, a grant program designed to enrich students though extracurricular activities that complement their regular academic programs. Grant funds also provide for the technology needed to meet that goal.

Hence, the iPads.

Nikki Guilford, SES reading coach and extended day coordinator, said her reasoning behind choosing the iPads was simple.

“Kids love anything they can play on,” Guilford said. “It’s important for them to be familiar with new technology, and it doesn’t get much newer than the iPad. The way I see it, these devices are the way to go and the gateway to technology everywhere. Students can play games and use the learning apps. They’re doing math and spelling, and they love it and don’t even realize they’re learning.”

Case in point – Taylor Castleberry used her iPad to do spelling, all while listening to Train’s “Hey Soul Sister.”

“These things are so cool,” she said.