Technology can contribute to reading comprehsion in a number of ways. For example,students can change the size, font, or background of text they are reading. They can have the entire text, a paragraph, a sentence or a word read aloud by the computer, which is a great boost to fluency. Also, readers can select and move around text putting it in an outline, graphic organizer, or answering questions. This supportive capability gives readers a chance to “mess around” or interact with text in a way that hard copy does not allow. Plus, technology can also provide supports as readers follow links to definitions, pictures, and additional information to support students as they tap into prior knowledge and build background knowledge.
Technology can help in a number of ways to support reading comprehension. As Roberta mentioned, text to speech software can be very helpful and motivating. There are also pens that students can run across words that stump them, which will aid in fluency and improve overall comprehension. Similarly, books on tape can help students with poor fluency to gain a better understanding of the meaning of the text. Books on tape also model appropriate intonation, speed, and expression (prosody). Additionally, books that are now videos may help give students a taste of what to expect or a review of what they read. Technology can also help when students need additional background knowledge for texts that have unfamiliar topics or ideas. By using the internet, a lot of information can help to support comprehension. Lastly, websites with short reading passages and comprehension checks are motivating because they give students immediate feedback. These types of games can be an engaging way for students to see the importance of comprehending reading.
There are many programs that can be accessed through the use of technology, whether they need to be subscribed to or are free of charge, that can help students practice their reading comprehension skills. While doing my student teaching in Brockport, I became familiar with a program that the district uses called SuccessMaker. Students were able to access their individual SuccessMaker accounts using the computer to practice both their math and ELA skills. Over the course of a week, students would be asked to go on this program a few times, in which they would complete a set of math or ELA questions. The ELA portion of the program includes a lot of short passages along with comprehension questions to answer. Each time a student completed a set, their scores would be recorded into the program, which made for an easy, convenient way to be assessed without having to sit down and take a written test. Teachers are able to log in to view all of their students' scores and notice whether they are improving or not and take note of what skills individual students could use extra help with. SuccessMaker is motivating for students because they get to use the computer. I never once witnessed a student complain when asked to use the program. Overall, SuccessMaker is great for students who do not enjoy, or have a hard time, sitting down with a book. This program along with text to speech software like Roberta and Christine mentioned, are great ways to get students using technology in the classroom while also allowing them to practice their comprehension skills, among others.
Technology has evolved so much over the years and there are multiple programs available to assist struggling readers. Students who have trouble reading text often experience much difficulty with comprehending what they read. These students would benefit from using a program which reads out-loud to them so that they are free to follow along silently. By being able to listen to the words being read, the students will stand a better chance of understanding the content. Much like the text-to-speech software that is available, the simple use of books on tape could become a valuable assest in a classroom. As Christine mentioned, books on tape are great tools for teachers to use for modeling proper reading skills to students. Whenever a text is read outloud to a student, no matter what technology is used, struggling readers have a better chance of comprehending the information than if they were asked to read silently to themselves. Until students have learned and developed the skills necessary to become independant readers, it is important for teachers to continually model and provide additional assistance to them. Technology has many options availabe to help students with their comprehension skills, and teachers need to be aware of these and implement them as often as possible.
Reading comprehension is achieved after fluency has been mastered. Students who lack reading fluency use most of their efforts to decode or pronounce words that they end up loosing out on comprehension. This lack of automaticity often leaves the reader clueless to the meaning of the text. By incorporating technology, such as an eReader, students can listen to a fluent reader and thus gain a deeper understanding of the text. Using this strategy can also model fluency and ultimately build fluency skills within struggling readers. Lastly, some technologies focus on a specific reading strategy such as questioning, building background knowledge, vocabulary development, or fix up strategies. These technologies provide explicit instruction that will develop reading comprehension. Some specific examples would be a Franklin speller/thesaurus or children’s talking dictionary which aids in word identification. Audio books also offer support for reading comprehension. Some computer books offer an entire program to support comprehension such as start-to-finish books, core content, or literacy starters.
I think that technology can contribute a lot to help a student with comprehension. I have seen in some of the schools that I have subbed in, students using text to speech software that helps students who struggle with getting out their feelings. I have also seen smart boards with different picture and students can go up to the board and communicate their feelings or what they want. I have also seen students speaking into the computer and recording their voices while they read and then can go back and listen to their fluency or they can go back to the story to help with their comprehension. Technology changes all the time and it is important for teachers to be up to date with new materials and resources to help students with their comprehension development.
There are several ways that technology contributes to reading comprehension. The one that sticks out to me the most is Hooked on Phonics. I mentioned Hooked on Phonics in a different blog, but it really helps students strengthen their fluency and reading comprehension. There are interactive stories and lessons. What I like the most about it is that students can learn at their own pace. I have seen students with headphones whisper-reading a book from Hooked on Phonics. It is very rewarding and a huge confidence builder. Now, there are even videos from Hooked on Phonics (and other companies) that go through the letter sounds, and make words stressing how the letters work together to form words. The videos are fun and engaging for the students. Yes, the program can be pricy, but there are free videos on YouTube from Hooked on Phonics and there are also grants available.
Teachers can utilize technology within their classrooms to promote student success in their reading comprehension. For instance, having a listening center can help increase student fluency as they are able to listen to a book being read with expression. It can also increase their comprehension as a teacher can ask students questions to think about after listening. They can also have the student write or draw about a connection they made while listening to the story, text to text, text to self, text to world. Also, teachers can utilize components of the comprehension toolkit (by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis) where they activate prior knowledge to get students thinking about the topic they are going to be reading about. Posters and non-fiction books that are engaging and motivating for students will help with their comprehension as they are willing to learn, not forced to learn. In addition, Harvey and Goudvis agree in using post-its to track thinking during reading. Students can record something they learned, something they wonder about, or even track something that is interesting.
Technology can assist students with reading comprehension. There are programs available that allow students to read an article and answer comprehension questions. This can help students monitor their comprehension and stress accountability. Also, I think books on tape and ebooks help with comprehension. Students are able to listen to the story read with fluency and expression. This will help students visualize the story which will lead to increased comprehension.
Technology can help students with their reading comprehension in a variety of different ways. I instantly think of my struggling readers and think how they absolutely love reading with tech. supports. Books on tape are just one example of how technology can support ones’ comprehension skills. I feel that it takes stress off the reader and allows them to focus more on the meaning of the story, rather than becoming frustrated when sounding out difficult or unknown words. I also feel that smart boards and computers present literature in a motivating way. It can also be more visual appealing to the eyes of young readers. I especially like programs out there where students can take quizzes on texts they read. There are also programs that help struggling readers decode unfamiliar words, or give visual aides to support what they are reading. I feel these types of programs hold students more accountable and better assist their personal needs. Technology is endless with supporting comprehension. I’m sure we will see even more advancements in the years to come!
Like Michelle said, once fluency is mastered, comprehension is achieved. We need to make sure we help students become fluent readers so they will not spend all of their time decoding. When a student becomes a fluent reader, they will be able to focus on comprehension and understand the material they are reading. Technology can contribute to reading comprehension if used properly. Roberta mentioned how we can change the size, font, or background of the text a child is reading to help their visual needs, which will ultimately help their fluency. Since comprehension is vital in reading, we need to make sure as teachers we help children build background information on the topic they are reading. This will help them make connections when reading and relate to information they already know, which will motivate them. By using technology, children can easily look up information on the topic they are reading about as well as look up pictures and definitions to assist them in their learning. Another technology found useful in building comprehension, like Dyan said, is books on tapes. When children have the opportunity to follow along a book on tape, they do not have to worry about spending unnecessary time with the difficult words. Instead, they can spend the time needed to comprehend what is being read. I have heard many students say they love the listening center and I would definitely use it in my classroom.
Technology can contribute to reading comprehension in a variety of ways. Numerous software programs are available for students to use that provide activities and practice opportunities to help work on comprehension strategies. For example, the Cloz Pro provides activities for comprehension and vocabulary and includes features such as color backgrounds, read aloud, and is very flexible. Also, the Solo software is a great resource because it is a combination of Draftbuilder, Co-Writer, Write aloud, and the E-reader. This software provides graphic organizers, reads and transfers notes to note pages, converts text to speech work processing application with audible. All of these software programs will can contribute to reading comprehension because the students will be more motivated to work with the technology, the programs allow the students to stay organize, and the text can be read along or aloud to the students, which will help work on their fluency. Vocabulary is also being built at the same time. The use of technology allows readers to become more engaged in their reading and they can focus on the important points and themes of the story, instead of struggling over fluency or vocabulary problems that may occur.
Reading comprehension is extremely important and the creators of technology have seemed to successfully recognize and work towards assistive programs that best suit differentiated learning needs. There are numerous company owned programs and devices that are useful such as text-to-speech software, books on tape, interactive text programs, text modification controls, assistive writing technology and graphic organizers. These programs or devices allow the user or educator to modify based on the individuals needs. These changes may be as simple as enlarging text, changing the background color on which text is placed, or slowing down the pace at which a book on tape is being read. Other changes may include the ability to place internet links within text to support text ideas or vocabulary with pictures or additional information, creation of specific graphic organizers that allow the reader to monitor and build comprehension of a text or games that include quizzes within a text. The creation of multiple programs and other technologies has allowed educators to pick and choose what is used in the classroom based on student need. By doing so, the programs are continually being used, tested, and reported on forcing technology guru’s to do what they do best, modify, diversify and improve their programming to meet the needs of current and potential users.
One of the nice things that using technology can do to help increase reading comprehension is simply by manipulating font size, word color or even background color by using any number of computer software programs. There are also programs that can read text to the student, either one word, a sentence, paragraph or even the whole text. There are also ways in which the student can change the speed the automated voice reads and students can also change the voice from male to female and even the accent of the voice. These simple devises can help students who may struggle with reading comprehend the text that the rest of the class is reading.
Another method to assist children with reading comprehension is books on tape. They help children who struggle with decoding words and making meaning from the text. Students are able to hear stories read fluently and with expression. Books on tape not only help students with reading comprehension but with fluency as well.
Technology can contribute to reading comprehension in a variety of ways. Because if technology, students aren't limited to the hard copies of books to read but have digital versions that can be read on handhelds, computers or even transferred to a smart board or white board for a whole class activity. Along with the different ways to read, it also enhances the different options available for personal reading needs. By having the text be digital you are able to control the font size, color, shape as well as the overall background that the text can be read off of. To help with both comprehension and fluency technology allows for students to listen to a book of their choice without disrupting others. If the student wants to listen to a book, they don't require the teacher or a peer to read it to them. They can just listen to the tape/CD/computer and follow along (which aides in word and letter recognition).
As mentioned by Christine and Roberta, text-to-speech software is ideal when children are trying to comprehend the information they read. They have the ability to highlight entire paragraphs, sentences, or specific words and listen to them read aloud as many times as necessary. Using books on tape or CD can motivate children to pay closer attention to the story’s details because they don’t have to worry about reading aloud or pronouncing difficult words incorrectly in front of classmates. After reading Tessa’s blog, I really wanted to know more about SuccessMaker and how to access it. I liked how it tested students a few times a week and assessed them automatically for the teacher. The assessment results would be extremely helpful to teachers because it saves time and guides future lessons based on the needs of each student.
Technology can contribute to reading comprehsion in a number of ways. For example,students can change the size, font, or background of text they are reading. They can have the entire text, a paragraph, a sentence or a word read aloud by the computer, which is a great boost to fluency. Also, readers can select and move around text putting it in an outline, graphic organizer, or answering questions. This supportive capability gives readers a chance to “mess around” or interact with text in a way that hard copy does not allow. Plus, technology can also provide supports as readers follow links to definitions, pictures, and additional information to support students as they tap into prior knowledge and build background knowledge.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can help in a number of ways to support reading comprehension. As Roberta mentioned, text to speech software can be very helpful and motivating. There are also pens that students can run across words that stump them, which will aid in fluency and improve overall comprehension. Similarly, books on tape can help students with poor fluency to gain a better understanding of the meaning of the text. Books on tape also model appropriate intonation, speed, and expression (prosody). Additionally, books that are now videos may help give students a taste of what to expect or a review of what they read. Technology can also help when students need additional background knowledge for texts that have unfamiliar topics or ideas. By using the internet, a lot of information can help to support comprehension. Lastly, websites with short reading passages and comprehension checks are motivating because they give students immediate feedback. These types of games can be an engaging way for students to see the importance of comprehending reading.
ReplyDeleteThere are many programs that can be accessed through the use of technology, whether they need to be subscribed to or are free of charge, that can help students practice their reading comprehension skills. While doing my student teaching in Brockport, I became familiar with a program that the district uses called SuccessMaker. Students were able to access their individual SuccessMaker accounts using the computer to practice both their math and ELA skills. Over the course of a week, students would be asked to go on this program a few times, in which they would complete a set of math or ELA questions. The ELA portion of the program includes a lot of short passages along with comprehension questions to answer. Each time a student completed a set, their scores would be recorded into the program, which made for an easy, convenient way to be assessed without having to sit down and take a written test. Teachers are able to log in to view all of their students' scores and notice whether they are improving or not and take note of what skills individual students could use extra help with. SuccessMaker is motivating for students because they get to use the computer. I never once witnessed a student complain when asked to use the program. Overall, SuccessMaker is great for students who do not enjoy, or have a hard time, sitting down with a book. This program along with text to speech software like Roberta and Christine mentioned, are great ways to get students using technology in the classroom while also allowing them to practice their comprehension skills, among others.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has evolved so much over the years and there are multiple programs available to assist struggling readers. Students who have trouble reading text often experience much difficulty with comprehending what they read. These students would benefit from using a program which reads out-loud to them so that they are free to follow along silently. By being able to listen to the words being read, the students will stand a better chance of understanding the content. Much like the text-to-speech software that is available, the simple use of books on tape could become a valuable assest in a classroom. As Christine mentioned, books on tape are great tools for teachers to use for modeling proper reading skills to students. Whenever a text is read outloud to a student, no matter what technology is used, struggling readers have a better chance of comprehending the information than if they were asked to read silently to themselves. Until students have learned and developed the skills necessary to become independant readers, it is important for teachers to continually model and provide additional assistance to them. Technology has many options availabe to help students with their comprehension skills, and teachers need to be aware of these and implement them as often as possible.
ReplyDeleteReading comprehension is achieved after fluency has been mastered. Students who lack reading fluency use most of their efforts to decode or pronounce words that they end up loosing out on comprehension. This lack of automaticity often leaves the reader clueless to the meaning of the text. By incorporating technology, such as an eReader, students can listen to a fluent reader and thus gain a deeper understanding of the text. Using this strategy can also model fluency and ultimately build fluency skills within struggling readers. Lastly, some technologies focus on a specific reading strategy such as questioning, building background knowledge, vocabulary development, or fix up strategies. These technologies provide explicit instruction that will develop reading comprehension.
ReplyDeleteSome specific examples would be a Franklin speller/thesaurus or children’s talking dictionary which aids in word identification. Audio books also offer support for reading comprehension. Some computer books offer an entire program to support comprehension such as start-to-finish books, core content, or literacy starters.
I think that technology can contribute a lot to help a student with comprehension. I have seen in some of the schools that I have subbed in, students using text to speech software that helps students who struggle with getting out their feelings. I have also seen smart boards with different picture and students can go up to the board and communicate their feelings or what they want. I have also seen students speaking into the computer and recording their voices while they read and then can go back and listen to their fluency or they can go back to the story to help with their comprehension. Technology changes all the time and it is important for teachers to be up to date with new materials and resources to help students with their comprehension development.
ReplyDeleteThere are several ways that technology contributes to reading comprehension. The one that sticks out to me the most is Hooked on Phonics. I mentioned Hooked on Phonics in a different blog, but it really helps students strengthen their fluency and reading comprehension. There are interactive stories and lessons. What I like the most about it is that students can learn at their own pace. I have seen students with headphones whisper-reading a book from Hooked on Phonics. It is very rewarding and a huge confidence builder. Now, there are even videos from Hooked on Phonics (and other companies) that go through the letter sounds, and make words stressing how the letters work together to form words. The videos are fun and engaging for the students. Yes, the program can be pricy, but there are free videos on YouTube from Hooked on Phonics and there are also grants available.
ReplyDeleteTeachers can utilize technology within their classrooms to promote student success in their reading comprehension. For instance, having a listening center can help increase student fluency as they are able to listen to a book being read with expression. It can also increase their comprehension as a teacher can ask students questions to think about after listening. They can also have the student write or draw about a connection they made while listening to the story, text to text, text to self, text to world. Also, teachers can utilize components of the comprehension toolkit (by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis) where they activate prior knowledge to get students thinking about the topic they are going to be reading about. Posters and non-fiction books that are engaging and motivating for students will help with their comprehension as they are willing to learn, not forced to learn. In addition, Harvey and Goudvis agree in using post-its to track thinking during reading. Students can record something they learned, something they wonder about, or even track something that is interesting.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can assist students with reading comprehension. There are programs available that allow students to read an article and answer comprehension questions. This can help students monitor their comprehension and stress accountability. Also, I think books on tape and ebooks help with comprehension. Students are able to listen to the story read with fluency and expression. This will help students visualize the story which will lead to increased comprehension.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can help students with their reading comprehension in a variety of different ways. I instantly think of my struggling readers and think how they absolutely love reading with tech. supports. Books on tape are just one example of how technology can support ones’ comprehension skills. I feel that it takes stress off the reader and allows them to focus more on the meaning of the story, rather than becoming frustrated when sounding out difficult or unknown words. I also feel that smart boards and computers present literature in a motivating way. It can also be more visual appealing to the eyes of young readers. I especially like programs out there where students can take quizzes on texts they read. There are also programs that help struggling readers decode unfamiliar words, or give visual aides to support what they are reading. I feel these types of programs hold students more accountable and better assist their personal needs. Technology is endless with supporting comprehension. I’m sure we will see even more advancements in the years to come!
ReplyDeleteLike Michelle said, once fluency is mastered, comprehension is achieved. We need to make sure we help students become fluent readers so they will not spend all of their time decoding. When a student becomes a fluent reader, they will be able to focus on comprehension and understand the material they are reading. Technology can contribute to reading comprehension if used properly. Roberta mentioned how we can change the size, font, or background of the text a child is reading to help their visual needs, which will ultimately help their fluency. Since comprehension is vital in reading, we need to make sure as teachers we help children build background information on the topic they are reading. This will help them make connections when reading and relate to information they already know, which will motivate them. By using technology, children can easily look up information on the topic they are reading about as well as look up pictures and definitions to assist them in their learning. Another technology found useful in building comprehension, like Dyan said, is books on tapes. When children have the opportunity to follow along a book on tape, they do not have to worry about spending unnecessary time with the difficult words. Instead, they can spend the time needed to comprehend what is being read. I have heard many students say they love the listening center and I would definitely use it in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can contribute to reading comprehension in a variety of ways. Numerous software programs are available for students to use that provide activities and practice opportunities to help work on comprehension strategies. For example, the Cloz Pro provides activities for comprehension and vocabulary and includes features such as color backgrounds, read aloud, and is very flexible. Also, the Solo software is a great resource because it is a combination of Draftbuilder, Co-Writer, Write aloud, and the E-reader. This software provides graphic organizers, reads and transfers notes to note pages, converts text to speech work processing application with audible. All of these software programs will can contribute to reading comprehension because the students will be more motivated to work with the technology, the programs allow the students to stay organize, and the text can be read along or aloud to the students, which will help work on their fluency. Vocabulary is also being built at the same time. The use of technology allows readers to become more engaged in their reading and they can focus on the important points and themes of the story, instead of struggling over fluency or vocabulary problems that may occur.
ReplyDeleteReading comprehension is extremely important and the creators of technology have seemed to successfully recognize and work towards assistive programs that best suit differentiated learning needs. There are numerous company owned programs and devices that are useful such as text-to-speech software, books on tape, interactive text programs, text modification controls, assistive writing technology and graphic organizers. These programs or devices allow the user or educator to modify based on the individuals needs. These changes may be as simple as enlarging text, changing the background color on which text is placed, or slowing down the pace at which a book on tape is being read. Other changes may include the ability to place internet links within text to support text ideas or vocabulary with pictures or additional information, creation of specific graphic organizers that allow the reader to monitor and build comprehension of a text or games that include quizzes within a text. The creation of multiple programs and other technologies has allowed educators to pick and choose what is used in the classroom based on student need. By doing so, the programs are continually being used, tested, and reported on forcing technology guru’s to do what they do best, modify, diversify and improve their programming to meet the needs of current and potential users.
ReplyDeleteOne of the nice things that using technology can do to help increase reading comprehension is simply by manipulating font size, word color or even background color by using any number of computer software programs. There are also programs that can read text to the student, either one word, a sentence, paragraph or even the whole text. There are also ways in which the student can change the speed the automated voice reads and students can also change the voice from male to female and even the accent of the voice. These simple devises can help students who may struggle with reading comprehend the text that the rest of the class is reading.
ReplyDeleteAnother method to assist children with reading comprehension is books on tape. They help children who struggle with decoding words and making meaning from the text. Students are able to hear stories read fluently and with expression. Books on tape not only help students with reading comprehension but with fluency as well.
Technology can contribute to reading comprehension in a variety of ways. Because if technology, students aren't limited to the hard copies of books to read but have digital versions that can be read on handhelds, computers or even transferred to a smart board or white board for a whole class activity. Along with the different ways to read, it also enhances the different options available for personal reading needs. By having the text be digital you are able to control the font size, color, shape as well as the overall background that the text can be read off of. To help with both comprehension and fluency technology allows for students to listen to a book of their choice without disrupting others. If the student wants to listen to a book, they don't require the teacher or a peer to read it to them. They can just listen to the tape/CD/computer and follow along (which aides in word and letter recognition).
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned by Christine and Roberta, text-to-speech software is ideal when children are trying to comprehend the information they read. They have the ability to highlight entire paragraphs, sentences, or specific words and listen to them read aloud as many times as necessary. Using books on tape or CD can motivate children to pay closer attention to the story’s details because they don’t have to worry about reading aloud or pronouncing difficult words incorrectly in front of classmates. After reading Tessa’s blog, I really wanted to know more about SuccessMaker and how to access it. I liked how it tested students a few times a week and assessed them automatically for the teacher. The assessment results would be extremely helpful to teachers because it saves time and guides future lessons based on the needs of each student.
ReplyDelete