Technology these days has become so important to the younger generation that I feel having a Facebook is more important than reading a novel, or any sort of book. Kids will never be interested in reading unless they really explore the joys of diving in to a good book. Most children who enjoy reading, do, because they had a good exposure to a book when they were younger. ( http://www.sdkrashen.com/articles/childrens_lit/index.html )
How can we expose children to books these days when its hard to pull kids away from the computer and TV? One idea that a literature program is doing is leaving random children's books at local places for kids to read. (http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/10/1858895/childrens-literature-conferences.html)
What are some other ways that we can get children interested in reading? What about some sort of novels or books that are accessible on Facebook for the younger generation??
Thoughts, ideas, comments??
So true. Kids are getting Facebooks, Twitters, and all the other social networking sites, at younger and younger ages. There is nothing wrong with wanting to use technology, but I really hope it's not interfering with time alloted for reading.
ReplyDeleteThinking about this in terms of writing, do you think kids are having a hard time spelling? Is there a correlation between the time spent on Facebook, reading "internet lingo", and incorrectly spelling vocabulary?
Going back to your question about what can be done to promote reading among kids... I think that teachers need to have large, diverse libraries that appeal to ALL children. A child will probably not want to read a book about a topic that doesn't interest him/her - and vice versa - a child WILL probably want to read a book about something that interest him/her.
I agree facebook is taking over. Personally I find myself on facebook and twitter up to 10 times a day. When I am bored I tend to resort to checking facebook and twitter. I have a brother who is 12, and he has a facebook. When he is supposed to be doing homework on the computer half the time he is on facebook. The privilege of being able to do homework on the computer is constantly abused because facebook is so distracting. When I was his age I never had anything like facebook to distract me. I remember having things such as AIM, but parents were allowed to set parental control on it. My brother rarely reads books, and if he is reading an article online he is more likely to get distracted by the temptation of opening facebook Overall, facebook creates a negative distraction, and since everything is becoming electronic, it may create bigger problems in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I sit down to read a book, and need a quick break I find myself checking facebook. Facebook as well as texting has created a network where you can see whats going on instantaneously. When you read a book it takes a while to get into the plot and kids may become bored easily because the plot isn't said right away. I feel that the only way a kid can become interested in reading is by learning themselves that not all books are boring. They need to find books that will interest them and keep them turning the pages. Teachers could set aside reading time everyday during class. This guarantees reading for at least a short amount a time a day, which could be enough time to show a child that they may actually like reading. Its hard to make kids like reading, and the only way they will like reading is if they realize on their own.
I think that it is insane that such young children have Facebook accounts. This really demonstrates how important technology is becoming, and how it is taking over even the way young children spend their time. I think it is unfortunate that Facebook may be having such a negative impact on kids. For example, choosing to go on Facebook over reading a book. It is crucial for young children to enjoy reading, and Facebook should definitely not interfere with that.
ReplyDeleteAs I future teacher, I will try my best to interest kids in reading. I think it is important to have a classroom library with a big variety of books. This ensures there are books in the classroom that every student will enjoy. Also, I think designating time during the school day for reading is important. As well as reading a variety of books to my students, so they have the opportunity to listen and enjoy different stories on a regular basis.
I truly believe that technology and social networking are getting out of control. I think it is okay for younger children to want to feel older in the way of partaking in social networking on Facebook and such, but they are doing so in all the wrong ways. Personally, I have a few friends on Facebook that are younger kids, and I think they are so extremely annoying. Th3yy sp3ll 3v3rythingg w3irdd <3333 and are online 24/7, constantly updating their statuses and writing on other people's walls. I really think that social networking is negatively affecting these kids and potentially making them dumber. No one should be spelling things in the way they do, and all they are reading is the crap that is all over Facebook. I think it is really important for children to read informative material, and since it's going to be way too difficult to make them get off the internet, maybe we should incorporate reading material on Facebook for them.
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