As an educator, I’ve experienced first-hand the tireless efforts teachers invest to set up students for success in the summer and avoid the notorious “summer slide.” As we power through week after week of social distancing, I’m beginning to sense the risk of a “quarantine slide.” It’s imperative that our children continue to read, especially just for fun, and even better if they can get in the habit of reflecting on what they have read. Let’s encourage them to think about the stories, develop questions about what they’ve read and notice the different writing styles of various authors.
Many students are thriving in this new reality of virtual learning and the more fluid schedule that comes along with being home. They are excited to learn, more motivated and understand more, simply because they feel less pressured while learning from the comfort of their own home. On the other hand, unfortunately, some students are floundering and going through their days confused, frustrated and/or feeling like they can’t keep up with their new schedules. No two students are the same and we all have different learning styles. While I write this article for all students, admittedly, I want to offer strategies that will mitigate the challenges for those who are having a tough time during the virtual learning modality in a confined setting. Additionally, although math and history may be among my favorite subjects, I will speak to you through my literacy specialist hat, but I assure you that the principles can and should be applied to other core subject areas as well.
Each year as the typical school year comes to an end, teachers work diligently to come up with fun and engaging ways to motivate students to do any kind of reading and writing over the summer. There are contests and giveaways, awards and special privileges, all designed to facilitate “voluntary” reading and writing from our students during the extended time away from school. Of course, it is introduced with a smile, encouraged without pressure and praised with genuine excitement. During the current school closure, although our wonderful teachers work hard to teach as much, and as effectively, as possible virtually, it simply cannot be equivalent to the immersive educational climate inside a brick and mortar school setting. It then goes to reason that during this time away from traditional schooling, we should be thinking along a similar path. What might we do to even the playing field? What else should we be setting up for our children, to further encourage voluntary and positive literacy during COVID-19 in a joyful and motivating way?
I have been contacted by many parents, during this difficult and uncertain time, each asking a similar question: Should I bother letting my kids use a reading app, or is it just another form of screen time for them to become zombies with? Even just considering the number of programs offering free subscriptions right now suggests the importance of boosting our children’s literacy while out of school, so this is a very understandable question. My answer is twofold: Firstly, it depends on your child and how the app is introduced, and secondly, any and all reading (whether online or with a physical book), is extremely valuable if it is enjoyable to your child.
Unfortunately, we do not have access to classroom, school or public libraries right now. That being said, the number of books most of us can access is extremely limited. And so, we should be looking for as many ways as possible to have our children engaged in enjoyable reading. This will aid in exposing them to many important literary components—including, but not limited to, new vocabulary, conversational phrases, use of emotion in writing, different genre and/or author writing styles and may broaden their topics of interest.
In my opinion, reading apps can be used effectively to flex your child’s “reading muscle” and avoid a quarantine slide that might lead to an even steeper summer slide. This is contingent on selecting the best apps for your child and making sure they are used appropriately.
On all of the top apps aiming to teach literacy skills, the content for younger children is usually wonderful, mainly concerning early reading skills. Many apps for older kids also have very good content, especially for writing skills, provided they stay on the suggested “learning path.” If, however, your child chooses to focus on repetitive games or songs, they will not necessarily be gaining any new skills, thereby defeating the purpose. With all types of apps, it helps to set firm boundaries: e.g., when you have finished the learning path, or teacher-assigned content, then you may play around with the rest of what is available to you.
Some other reading apps don’t aim to teach any literacy skills but present an animated version of an actual storybook you may have read to your child many times and they enjoy. Whether an old family favorite or an exciting new book, this type of virtual reading is wonderful for relaxing and just listening to a story from beginning to end without any kind of pressure. It cannot be understated how important leisurely reading is. Not every reading experience must be accompanied by a follow-up conversation where a child is drilled to ensure full understanding of the content.
I would be remiss without mentioning another major resource that can be taken advantage of during this time: The Kindle. The library system in Bergen County has done a wonderful job of switching over to digital content with the Libby App. You can access library books on any device, including a Kindle. Younger children can read or listen to books on an iPad, phone or computer through this app. It looks just like a book, complete with turning pages; in short, it’s as close as you can get to holding an actual book. Once the child graduates to chapter books, longer novels or higher-level nonfiction works, a Kindle can become the child’s best friend. Although older children can also read library books on any device, the lighting on the Kindle’s screen is designed to simulate a book, rather than the bright lights and loads of flashing color on a computer or iPad. This will allow them to read longer texts without suffering the negative side effects commonly associated with too much screen time.
Beyond the ways to access digital books, and how to introduce them to your children, let’s discuss our role as parents past that point. I would suggest that if you want to be involved, read the books your children are reading and discuss them together in a fun and relaxed way. Creating a simple game, like a word hunt in a book, could be fun while also promoting mindful reading—which is always a plus!
Although I am a big advocate for pre-reading books to monitor content, I am not an advocate for controlling what a child reads based on your preferences. If you heard me discussing Harry Potter with an excited student who just finished Book One, you’d think I was a diehard fan. In reality, the last genre I would ever read voluntarily is fantasy. However, regardless of my personal opinions, this is about the students—our children—and we should enable them to show interest in new areas while exploring and owning their own reading experience.
When children select reading materials themselves and read for enjoyment, they receive the most gains in reading achievement, including better reading comprehension, writing style, vocabulary, spelling and grammatical development. The longer, and more often, this voluntary reading is practiced, the more consistent and positive the results. Thus, when we give our children the ability to access alternative reading materials, learn new skills and allow them to enjoy owning their reading journey, we can rest assured that we have done all we can to set them up for success.
Tamar Gafni Hardy is the owner of Tamar’s Learning Center.
