As this is my first blog, I wanted to share my thoughts about something that has been on my mind for the past couple weeks. My class was reading in this month's Time For Kids issue about the quality of reading available for and utilized by children on the Internet. This is only a fifth grade class, but the debate that followed our reading was very interesting. We examined both sides of the argument in a respectful and orderly manner.
At the end of the discussion the students asked my opinion. I have a history of being honest and open with my students so in this instance they expected nothing but the truth. Every year that the internet becomes more and more a daily media for our students, the more I see basic reading and writing abilities deteriorate.
In regards to writing, email, instant messenging, and chatroom participation has seemingly fought against the phonic foundations that primary teachers attempt to instill. Instead of writing, "How are you?" - simple question - they decide to write in broken sounds, "How R U?" Acronyms such as 'lol' and 'omg' are examples where students feel the need to rush their writing instead of taking care in their word choices. I know this is only a basic, preliminary argument, but these behaviors have transferred into my classroom whereas some students actually forgot how to write the word, 'you.'
In regards to reading, of course there is quality literature on the internet. The question is how are the students actually utilizing it? On one side, any reading is good for a child because some are just too lazy or disinterested to open a book. Even online video games offer chances to read about the upcoming scene, short bursts of plot sequencing practice. However, does it replace the satisfaction of finishing a book after reading it page by page for days, weeks, or months? Does it offer the same variety of word choice? Does it encourage the same visualization skills we use while reading without pictures? I don't know, but it has seemed like as society has become overly dependent on technology, the students' skills have deteriorated. I mean, how many people actually read a newspaper anymore?
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I enjoyed reading your post. I teach 5th grade as well in Minnesota. (and a former ISU grad!) We also read Time for Kids. In response to your concern, I have felt that way too. I make sure anything done in class for writing, is done formally. I feel that it is okay for students to talk or write in that lingo with their friends, but when we are in class I make sure they understand the importance of "formal" writing too.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. That makes three 5th grade teachers! We have also had this discussion about how classroom writing is different from "conversational" writing. The students in my classroom do do a good job of writing properly, but they are so used to eveyrthing being quick. I find them rushing through just about everything. For some reason, everything needs to be fast? This is not true for every student. I do like to celebrate the work of students who take their time. On my wall is a poster of Albert Einstein with a speech bubble saying, "It's not that I was so smart, I just took my time on things."
ReplyDeleteSome students have started to embrace this. Unofficially, there is a direct relationship with how my students do on standardized tests, with how much time they take on their writing. The ones who finish write away, don't produce a product that is superior to a lower ability student who takes their time. Do you see this too?