I agree with the author that we need to make time to disconnect from the internet and dedicate to reading complex text. Students are easily distracted when they have their smartphones at their side. If they are attemtping to read complex text and they receive a text, they will become distracted and disengaged from the complex text.
It is important to carve out time in our schedule to model reading. A common practice in elementary schools is DEAR reading which means drop everything and read. This is an uninterrupted time in the school day where the class reads silently. The teacher should model how this is done by explaining to the class that everything else is put away, with only their book on the desk, no bathroom visits or questions.
I also believe it is imperative to teach the class how to read complex texts. Students need to be taught the skills needed to understand how to tackle complex texts. They need to be taught to slow down, read carefully and sometimes re-read the text for understanding. They need to be taught higher level thinking skills and put them to the test. This is a challenge to teachers due to the expectation of kids to have everything done quickly. Students are used to the quick response from the internet or a text, so slowing down to read difficult material is hard for the students to grasp.
The article indicates that this needs to be done more at the high school level, but I think it should start in the elementary schools. Higher level thinking skills can be taught at a young age and continue to be taught as the children grow and begin to read harder texts. I also believe it is important to discuss the need to unplug with parents and stress the importance of reading complex text. In my district we have "unplug" nights one a month. On these nights we do not assign homework and we encourage family time with no electronics being used for the night. The kids are excited to come to school to share what they did on unplug night, ranging from being read to or playing board games to taking a walk. There is value in unplugging not just to read complex text, but to learn to slow down and enjoy those around you in conversation.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about starting to teach children how to think critically at a young age. Elementary students are capable of so much. Teaching higher level thinking is critical to the success of the students and starting that teaching in elementary school will really help the students to master the skills they need to read complex texts in the older grades.
I really enjoyed hearing about your school's "unplugged" night. That is such a great idea! Its wonderful that the whole school participates and that the students look forward to sharing what they did on their unplugged night. I think this is something that many schools and administrators would be interested in getting started in their schools and districts!
Kellie