Yesterday, I was in the first grade classroom where I work as a reading tutor. I was reading with one of my students and she said that she didn't feel like reading right now. I responded by telling her that even though you don't feel like reading at this moment, you are always reading. Literacy is everywhere, and this article really touched on how print isn't only in books anymore, but has transferred to technology. However, reading isn't the same in a book as compared to reading something on a laptop. The article mentioned, "teachers may be 'less literate' than their students", which means that children are being exposed to all different kinds of literacy models that include technology. We as teachers, need to be educated on the latest devices in order to teach students how to analyze and synthesize information on the Internet.
I liked how the article explained that print in a book is easier, because there is a structure to how read the text (left to right). However, print on the Internet is so complex with all of the hyperlinks, labels, websites, text and illustrations that students really need to be informed on how to navigate and read them. I think teaching students about the Internet and how not all information on the web is credible is very important, because some students might think that, just because something is on the Internet it must be true.
The slogans the article presented were also very helpful. My favorite was "Know Your Destination", because I think it is so important that students have expectations set out before they are free to navigate the Internet. The Internet has so many resources and information; and not all of it is appropriate for students. Students need to be set with a guiding question so that they have a clear reason as to why they are the Internet looking for the answer.
I really like your comment about your student and how she is reading all the time. That's something I never really considered because sometimes I don't think of reading as something when its just a word here or there, but as a more structured activity. I know in my paper I also talked about what you did in your last two paragraphs. It is concerning about helping students understand credibility and be able to navigate through internet sources since there's so much out there and anyone can put it there. Then there is the destination part, it is so easy to get 'lost' when searching on the internet and you can waste so much time if you really don't know what you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteI also like the way you responded to the student. Many times people say they don't like reading when they're in school or they are required to read something. But in reality, everyone is always reading. Literacy is a crucial skill that everyone needs to learn. I agree with the statement you referred to about reading print in abook being much easier than reading on the internet. When I read articles on the internet, I find myself getting lost in the order and structure of it all. It is definitely something I want to improve on!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agreed with the article about print being easier to read! I would rather read a book then read something online any day! I think it's important to consider this when we are teachers one day.
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