The Future of Reading
by Kerri Brown Parker
As one of the coordinators of children's activities for the 2014 NC Literary Festival, I was asked to do a guest post for the Mom in Chapel Hill blog regarding the theme of the festival: “The Future of Reading.” So what will this future entail? Drum roll please……….the future of reading will be …. Reading! However, it may be more interactive and social than we have experienced in the past; it may involve words streaming past a reader’s eyes instead of eyes moving across the page; it may be more image heavy and the topics will continue to push the limits of what kids once may have read. All of this change in reading is due to advances in technology changing interactions with the written word.
However, as with all change and technology, moderation is important not only because of “screen time” but also to enhance your child’s preferences. Current research suggests that kids have similar feelings about reading online/on a screen and reading from a traditional book so model both behaviors and provide them with both opportunities. What does this mean for parents? Focus on simply giving children an opportunity to read and asking them to read widely, in terms of format, genre and style.
Kids will have many opportunities in school to dissect texts and practice close reading. Hopefully at home they have opportunities to read what they love and find engaging. Although the value of independent reading/free reading/print exposure is debated by educators for its influence on improved comprehension; it is generally accepted that kids who read more have a more positive attitude towards reading and are more likely to develop self-confidence as readers. Becoming a life-long, active reader helps with vocabulary development and is generally correlated with school success. So, if you are looking for some new ways to encourage reading and are looking to how technology might influence a change in the way we read, check out this handful of technology-enhanced reading tools.
Interactive eTexts:
Collins Big Cat apps – iPad – preschool/early elementary
Inanimate Alice - web-based - upper elementary/middle school
Reading Rainbow - iPad and Kindle Fire - preschool/early elementary
PopOut! Book Apps - Android and iPad - preschool/early elementary
Create Your Own:
Comic Master - short graphic novels
My Story Maker - easy storytelling/picture book creator
Nifty New Tools:
Spritz your Reading - increase the speed and watch the words go by (click on the “Click to Spritz” to try it out)
Find More:
Common Sense Media App, Movie, Book Reviews
There is of course also great web content out there for kids to read and terrible web content out there for kids to read - teach your child to read websites critically and if your child is attracted to reading online, try the websites at the American Library Association’s “Great Websites for Kids” to engage them in fiction and informational reading. In the end, it’s not about technology versus print; find what your child will read, offer choice as well as new opportunities and encourage reading in all its new and exciting formats.
Images Used under Creative Commons Usage Rights:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Young_boy_reading_manga.jpg/1280px-Young_boy_reading_manga.jpg http://geco.nu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/6917370714_164fd9e52a_o.jpg
