Reading Rockets News

Highlights in this issue:

• In Focus: Screen time & literacy | The wired classroom | Assistive technology
• Classroom Strategy: Alphabet matching
• Books & Authors: Interview with Steven Kellogg | Louisa May Alcott and her times
• Ideas for Educators: ELLs and the school library | Exquisite Prompt writing challenge
• Ideas for Parents: BookHive | Dogeared
• Research & News: The digital promise | Dyslexia and IQ
• Take the 2010 Reading Rockets Survey!

Find links to past issues here.

In Focus: Educational Media and Technology

Screen Time and Literacy: New Webcast

In this roundtable discussion, three experts discuss what the growing exposure to media (television, websites, and video games) means for a child's literacy development. Tips on evaluating the real educational value of a program or website, "actively watching" TV with your child, integrating media into the classroom, using media to motivate reluctant learners — and much more — are tackled in this lively conversation. The presentation also includes recommended resources and discussion questions.
Watch webcast >

Reading and Writing in the Wired Classroom

Many teachers are uncertain about how to effectively integrate technology into their classrooms. Spend a day-in-the-life of this elementary school teacher who took on the 21st century technology challenge. Read about how he uses laptops and the Internet to successfully differentiate instruction, introduce kids to the "new literacies," and strengthen his students' reading, writing, research, and critical thinking skills.
To read more >

Assistive Technology for Kids with Learning Disabilities

Students with LD experience greater success when they are able to use their abilities (strengths) to work around their disabilities (challenges). Assistive Technology (AT) can help. In this overview, learn about specific AT tools that can support a child who is struggling with listening, organization and memory, reading, or writing.
To read more >

Classroom Strategy

Alphabet Matching

Discover lots of hands-on activities to help guide young learners in exploring the alphabet letters and sounds. Try the "Mama and me" game, where kids match upper-case animal mothers with their lower-case animal babies. Other ideas include letter bingo, letter stamps, a glow-in-the-dark flashlight game, and a chalkboard activity called the "hungry letter mouse" — all to help kids gain speed and accuracy in letter recognition. Recommended children's books that support alphabet mastery are included.
Go to strategy >

Children's knowledge of letter names and shapes is a strong predictor of their success in learning to read. Learn more about the "alphabetic principle" in this article.
See article >

Books & Authors

Tall Tale Teller: Our Interview with Steven Kellogg

Meet colorful characters like Pinkerton, Paul Bunyan, and Pecos Bill through the vivid imagination of master storyteller and illustrator Steven Kellogg. For Kellogg, there's great joy in figuring out the magical interplay between text and images where each contributes to the pacing, pleasure, and meaning of the story — creating what he calls a "beautiful duet."
Watch interview >

Louisa May Alcott and Her Times: A New Booklist for Kids

The author of Little Women lived and wrote in tumultuous times. In this hand-picked collection of fiction and nonfiction books, discover Alcott's world at Orchard House, meet her "contemplative contemporary" Henry David Thoreau, and join Jack and Annie as they travel back to the Civil War to help Clara Barton care for the wounded soldiers.
Browse booklist >

Ideas for Educators

10 Ways to Support ELLs in the School Library

The school library is an important resource for English language learners. It may be the first place many students and their families experience a lending library. Learn what school librarians can do to show ELLs that libraries are welcoming places where learning and fun go hand in hand.
Read article >

Children as Design Partners

At the University of Maryland's Human-Computer Interaction Lab, Kidsteam pairs students with researchers who then work together to brainstorm and design new technologies for children. The open dialogue allows for innovation and free thinking.
Watch the kids in action >

Go to Kidsteam website >

The Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge

This month, Gregory Maguire (Wicked) and Patricia & Fred McKissack (Goin' Someplace Special) are the inspirations for the prompts. Tooth fairies and re-imagined fairy tales, Dark-Thirty tales and Presidential Proclamations — there's lots of good stuff to inspire young writers. Give your students a chance to flex their writing muscles — and win fabulous prizes!
Go to writing contest page >

Check out our November winners >

Ideas for Parents

BookHive

Catch the latest buzz about books at this wonderful website developed by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, N.C. The site is aimed at parents and kids (up to age 12), and includes hundreds of book reviews, parent advisory notes, an excellent find-a-book tool, "zinger" tale podcasts, and a space for young writers to submit original stories ("bee an author" of course!).
Go to website >

DogEared

Here's a new online book club from National Geographic, where kids write the book reviews and share recommendations for great reads. Young readers can meet the bloggers (including 6-year-old Braden) and share their own thoughts about the books they're reading. The first post of the New Year: what's the best book you got as a holiday gift this year?"
Go to website >

Research & News

The Digital Promise: Transforming Learning with Innovative Uses of Technology

This white paper, presented by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center and Apple, describes how investment in technology tools, network access, professional development, and new personalized curricula can help schools meet the needs of 21st century learners. Examples and related resources are offered on how technology can be used to promote literacy and to engage struggling learners.
Go to full report >

Dyslexia and IQ

In a new study, researchers from Yale University and the University of California Davis made two important discoveries: IQ and reading in typical students not only track together, but also influence each other over time. However, in children with dyslexia, IQ and reading are not linked and do not influence one another. This helps explain how otherwise bright children and adults struggle to read.
Read article >

Take the 2010 Reading Rockets Survey

We're interested in finding out what you think about the Reading Rockets website and how we can make it better. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Participants can enter a drawing to win a free iPod nano preloaded with Reading Rockets podcasts! Thanks for participating — your input is so valuable and allows us to improve our service to parents, teachers, and young readers everywhere.
Go to survey >

Newsletter editors: Joanne Meier and Tina Chovanec