New Literacies

I downloaded and read the following five books: For ages 3-6 : -Everybody Gets Angry -Jaden Toussaint the Greatest, Episode 1: The Quest for Screentime For ages 6-8 : -The Light Princess -Witch School -Sunny Under the Sea I like the ease of use and transportation, and the fact that they are space efficient and don't need to be shared. I think the colors and brightness of the illustrations go a long way in engaging and developing a sense of imagination and fun while reading. One potential pitfall with ebooks is that they tend to be less consistently edited and formatted, which could cause small but stubborn problems for impressionable readers. Another slight drawback I foresee is the lack of tactile relationship between reader and book that can enhance the experience of reading for children. Touching a book, turning pages, carrying it home - these are intangible actions that augment a love of reading. A book on a desk is a reminder to read, and an invitation into a stor...

I think incorporating new literacies into my ELA instruction is an exciting way to re-frame students' perceptions of reading. In today's digital age, children adapt quickly to multiple technologies and may be prone to boredom when faced with traditional reading instruction. Especially in early stages of language development, some of the applications available on iPad and computer combine attractive imagery and sensory elements to more fully engage young minds. The first obstacle that comes to mind when incorporating new literacies is accessibility. Have you ever seen a young child readily share an iPad? It is also highly likely that certain at-risk groups will not have access to these tools at home, making their time with them during class all the more precious. Relying too heavily on digital teaching tools could also create a difficult transition for students who excel at learning through multi-media and have difficulty focusing on blocks of text. Another obstacle (that is, ...