Content+Area+Resources

= Content Area Resources =

** THE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON READING/WRITING! **

**//__ Concern #1: __//** ** It is imperative for students to continue their practice with reading and writing outside of the classroom. Most especially at a young age, students need continuous practice with reading in order to strengthen their skills. In order for students to fully grasp reading, they must constantly hear models of reading fluency; exemplifying the correct intonation, pace, and prosody. It concerns me that parents simply do not have the time anymore to sit down and read with their children. **

**//__ Concern #2: __//** ** Many students have trouble understanding basic grammar concepts; most especially students with a language barrier (which we are seeing more and more of.) Grammar itself can be quite challenging for elementary students to grasp, and standardized testing requires ALL students to be good at manipulating and taking apart sentences. It concerns me that students with language barriers are expected to simply understand the ins and outs of grammar without outside remediation. **

**//__ Concern #3: __//** ** Although the use of technology can be extremely helpful with reading and writing, I am concerned that the over-use of technology will make books seem more and more unappealing. I am concerned that students will lose interest in regular books, which can deprive them of many things including learning the concepts of print. **

**//__ Suggestion #1: __//** ** Technology can assist in countless ways when creating opportunities for children to learn on their own time. Because more and more parents are spending more time at work, children aren’t being read to as often. This website is a wonderful way for students to hear the correct model of fluency, prosody, intonation, expression, and pace; which is proven to be imperative for students to become proficient readers. **
 * Listen to the following actors read stories online and follow along at [|Story Online] **

**//__ Suggestion #2: __//** ** Technology can be extremely helpful for bilingual students. It is important for these students to get the extra attention that they need, and I have found just the website for that! **
 * This website starts with the basics, even as far back as teaching the ABC’s, so that each user can address their individual need and grow from there at their own pace! Visit [|Starfall]. **** Once students have started to understand the basics of grammar, use this website to polish what they know! Go to [|Scholastic]. This website is extremely helpful for students that are learning a new language! I strongly encourage the utilization of this website, as it is especially useful for ESL students in the general classroom. Use [|Literacy Center]. **

**//__ Suggestion #3: __//** ** The growing use of digital books in the lives on children everywhere is both exciting and scary! Although it is extremely important for students to learn the basic concepts of print, there actually are some benefits to using this type of technology for reading. This article expresses both views, and is very interesting! It also includes hyperlinks to examples of useful digital reading sources. Read [|Digital Storytime]. **
 * You can also watch a video covering this topic! **

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 * Although sometimes controversial, it is proven that technology can introduce several different avenues of teaching, as well as meet the individual and unique needs of numerous students. If you are still on the fence about the integration of technology with education, here is a piece on the importance of technology in the classroom! Read [|this article]. **