As I watched this YouTube video on being literate in the 21st century, it really got me thinking about how literacy has changed since I was in school. I agree with some of the teachers in the video about the definitions of literacy. When I think about when I learned to read, I think about learning letters and sounds. We had big alphabet books (about 12x12). Each book was a different letter. We practiced tracing, writing, and picking pictures that started with that letter. Nowadays, I think about how my 3 years old does so much with technology. There are so many apps out there to help our kids read. How can we use these avenues to enhance our children's learning.
Also while I was reading about blogging, the thought that it's really more about reading than writing struck me. I had never thought about that before, but it's so true. Before you begin writing a blog, you need to know the ins and outs of blogs you enjoy reading. It's a great way to get students reading and writing in a different manor. It's different than the routine of writing essays. It's a way to get their creative juices flowing and allows them to branch out a bit more.
Being literate today is so much more than what it meant even just a few short years ago. As technology emerges, we as teachers need to keep up with those trends. It is our responsibility to teach our students in ways that they understand, and as they use technology more and more, why not use those avenues to get them to learn?
It really is amazing how much has changed as far as kids learning to read from an early age. I feel that kids who have technology access at home are at an advantage over other kids as far as learning to read. I have seen several 3 and 4 year olds use an iPad and it amazes me how much they can do on their own. Just by playing educational games, they are able to recognize shapes, letters, numbers, etc. I couldn't agree more that it is important for teachers to keep up with the latest trends of technology and use it in our classrooms. It really helps to keep kids engaged which will help them to learn the material as well as allowing them to be more creative. I would love to find creative ways to use blogging in my math classroom in the future.
ReplyDeleteAndrea - Like you said, I had never really thought about how blogging is more about reading rather than writing until now. It is so important to expose children to exemplary blogs, so they know what is expected of them. I think too many times children are confused about blogging, so if we show them great examples, they can get started on the right track. I truly think that many students would enjoy blogging because they have the ability to follow others, and they can personalize their page. Great post Andrea!
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