The students in my class are always welcome to bring their own device for reading, but I notice most often that the kids gravitate to book books. Yea! I have iPads loaded with rich literature available for students to checkout during Read to Self, but these kids also seem to enjoy turning the pages in a book. Research has shown that turning those pages helps to internalize learning. My kiddos practice the skill of tracking their thinking in their books, and that is much more fluid with a book in hand.
I will continue to offer a variety of access to text for my students. I believe it is important to offer my students choice, not only in what they are reading but also in the way they choose to receive the text. I just will not be one of the many educators I hear of who throw so much technology at their students it becomes fake or forced. Our kids deserve authentic experiences with text, and sometimes that means letting them decide - even if that choice is a good old book!
Sincerely,
Tara Reed
I LOVE this post and love that your students prefer a "good old book!"
ReplyDeleteI still love good old books! It's nice to know some kids do too.
ReplyDeleteBTW: I recently finished a fantastic novel in case you're interested. It's called The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Here's the link to it online: http://www.amazon.com/The-Nightingale-Kristin-Hannah/dp/0312577222. Literally finished it three days ago and can't seem to start anything else because the characters are still living inside my head.
I cannot imagine a world without printed text to smell, touch, and experience. I read on my Ipad sometimes, but I too prefer turning pages. Unfortunately, I have found myself in a book slump during this spring break. Hoping to find my mojo soon. Makes me think of Donalyn Miller's post from this time last year.
ReplyDeletehttps://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/guilt-trip-accepting-my-reading-slump-by-donalyn-miller/
P.S. I hope you were able to find The Energy Bus. I have heard it is a great book, but I've never actually read it. I think Yesi has.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
ReplyDeleteThe sound of a turning page delights me to my soul, but I'm becoming more appreciative of my secret bookcase housed within my kindle.
Love sharing books with you, my friend!!
I'm still a book fan too...for writing as well as reading. It's been a transition for me to blog on the computer without writing it out first. Time constraints have pushed me directly to the computer. It's getting easier, but I will always keep a journal.
ReplyDeleteI teach seventh grade and find that most of the kids prefer a real book. As for myself, I like reading off an ebook, especially with the lights turned off at night. There's something comforting about this, but the reality is i much prefer a real book.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have found that once the novelty of being allowed to use a device to read has worn off they prefer physical books. This year our librarian has been trying to push ebooks with my students and hasn't had any takers!
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