Are your students reluctant to read eBooks? Or are they frequently off-task when it is time for them to be reading online?
This is a common lament I hear from elementary teachers.
I find this interesting. Particularly since McCrindle predicts the opposite.
According to McCrindle, Gen Alpha will:
Gen Alpha is the current and upcoming generation of students (born 2010-2024).
This generation is also called Gen Glass.
Quite a fitting name.
Gen Alpha / Gen Glass was born the same year as the iPad debuted. They only know of a life with personal handheld devices.
Taking all of this into consideration, it would seem that they would be reading a lot of digital content.
Today, eBooks are available across devices and formats.
When I first began teaching, I remember books on tape. We had those clunky players. Accompanied by a mess of bulky headsets. If you were lucky, you had a tape player that multiple kiddos could pop onto.
I remember how exciting it was when Barnes and Noble came out with the NOOK! I quickly wrote up a grant to purchase a couple along with funds to purchase eBooks. My kiddos were chomping at the bit to read on that thing!
Now, we are fortunate enough to have tablets to push out eReader apps like EPIC. Students can even login to a computer and access eBooks on sites like Storyline, Tumblebooks, Bookflix, Vooks, Novel Effect and more.
Each of these eBook apps and platforms offers a unique way to deliver literature to students.
Libraries also have great eBook platforms to provide literature to patrons.
My own public library has Hoopla and Overdrive.
In my district, our school libraries use MackinVIA. Other school libraries use Junior Library Guild, SORA, or Destiny Discover.
Make reading fluency FUN and ENGAGING with this augmented reality activity.
To complete this lesson, you will need to download the FREE app Novel Effect™.
As a Library Media Specialist, my district colleagues and I were excited to offer MackinVIA to our students. We wanted to ensure that all of our students, whether they were learning in school or from their homes have access to great literature.
Building the collection is an important part of the process. Developing a decent selection of books that appeal to a wide range of readers is step 1. Choosing great books will engage readers.
But, with elementary students, it is important that they have the time to learn and explore the platform. Just like they would with any other material.
When introducing an eBook platform to students, first teach them the basics of logging into it. This may include where they will find the link (or app). For us, it includes teaching our students how to log in through Clever to access the MackinVIA app.
Before students can begin exploring, they need to understand the basics of how the site. They need to know where to find the menu, how to use the menu, how to search, and how to filter their searches.
Depending on the age, all of this may occur over a few days and developed over time.
For example with Kindergarten, one day focuses on how to sort the books the are seeing. Whereas with fifth grade, they learn how to search by topic, genre and sort all in one day.
My first graders were blown away when they learned how to search for books using the microphone on their iPads instead of typing. They always worry about misspelling and not getting what they want.
The trick is knowing what will interest the students and how to use their developmental characteristics to support that interest.
They also need to learn how to check out and put eBooks on hold.
Once they have seen how to access eBooks in the platform, they need time to explore. This is crucial because they need to see that there are books that they want to read.
Students may need 10, 20, or even 30 minutes to search for books of interest.
It is helpful to give students a focused challenge while they are exploring the platform.
After a bit of time has passed, give students a chance to share something they found that they are excited about. This is crucial to generate enthusiasm around eBooks.
Frequently students forget about titles or don’t know what to search for. Hearing from a classmate alleviates the anxiety that can occur.
Once a few students have had the chance to share, be sure to give students additional time to look for books If possible, encourage them to seek help from each other.
As with anything else, proficiency in using an eBook catalog takes time. Students need opportunities to use it. Even if they have just 10-15 minutes a day to search and/or read eBooks that will build digital reading habits.
A couple of ways to continuously build those eReading habits are to reward the behaviors, send students on scavenger hunts, and engage them in digital book tastings.
Resources like these engage students as they are beginning to learn how to access eBook platforms. They also encourage them to continue building digital reading habits as the year progresses and things may need a refresher.
With the goal of keeping students in books, the format isn’t important. It’s about making sure they are reading books that they love.
