Children's Attitude Towards Reading and Literacy Development

Children's attitudes toward reading are getting little attention in developing children's literacy ability. This article analyzes the factors that influence children's positive attitudes toward reading: children's personal experiences in reading, children's confidence in reading, parents' attitudes toward reading, and teachers' ways of teaching reading. Suggestions are provided about how to cultivate children's positive attitudes toward reading.

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Children's literacy development has attracted the attention of teachers, researchers, parents, and society, not only because of what has been termed the "literacy crisis", but also because children's literacy development determines children's future success in reading and writing. Researchers and teachers have explored the problem from various aspects, such as teaching methods (Eldredge, 1991; Mckenna, Stratton, Grindler, & Jenkins, 1995; Morrow, 1992), classroom environments (Grambell, 1996; Reutzel & Wolfersbersger, 1996), family involvement (Danielson, 1997; Thornburg, 1993), and community and societal environment (Noll, 1998). Different results have been found and suggestions given to help to develop children's literacy in and out of school.

Lost Generation

 I witnessed and heard something that was just so frightening. One of my friends came to me in tears because her son keeps breaking  into her car to steal the laptop and his vedio games.She hid them in the trunk of her car because she could not get him away from these screens and it was affecting his school work as well as his behaviour.

I found this quite disturbing.I offered to keep the devices while trying to work out a strategy to get back her son to refocus. There is a serious dilemma that is unfolding among our children and parents are not to take this lightly if they care about their children's future.

In another situation a collegue of mine was attacked by her son,all because she turned off the internet and cable. She also realise that he was hooked to the screens all the time.He became quite violent and abusive when she tried to get him off the screens.

Both scenarios are scary as both these boys are just fourteen year's old. Screens are interferring with our children's ability to focus and  process information rationally. It is the newest addiction. Parents need to play their part by stop buying their children vedio games. They need food, shelter and a good education,which will serve them in future years. Children donot need vedio games. Cable and internet if it has to be inside the home should be monitored.

Parents must be vigilant.Screens should not be placed inside children's room where they cannot be monitored. We are fighting a battle against all these technological companies who get rich off you and then rob your children of quality academic time. Time and years spent on screens by children will be lost and can never be replaced.

Let's stand up against this fight.Buy your children books,encourage them to write.Select cable channels that actually teach something such as National Georgrahy,Dicovery Health and so on. Do not sit on the sideline Be Tough. Parents be strong,you will be happy you did.

Literacy Now For Tomorrow's Future.

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Addiction

I read an article in the globe and mail that  the idea of addiction as a disease is a recent one. When one think of the word addiction in times gone by the words ,alcohol and drugs would come to mind. However there is a new type of addiction that is taking over our children which I want to discuss.

It's addiction to screens,internet,ipods,computer,video games. Our children more and more are becoming addicted to screens.We have a growing generation that has no interest in reading and writing. More and more students are not mastering the basic skills in literacy.

How do we stop this plague that is spreading amongst our children and destroying their mental capacities? We have a growing generation that is not getting enough sleep,cannot think creatively,figity and lack the attention to focus. I see them everyday in my class.How we get this generation away from screens?

Communities,parents,teachers,institution and churches must work together to fight this 'monster' that is creeping up on our children.We must declare 'war' on screens. Let's not fool ourselves,addiction to screens is as real as addiction to drugs or anything else.

Let's get the word out and talk about it. It is real and it is getting worse.

I want to hear your opinions on this topic.

This blog will discuss literacy in today's students. Are we losing our students? Why is it that so many of our students are leaving school and not being able to read and write effectively? Students of today seem seem quite distracted by the technology around them .More and more students are turning up with many different learning problems.Most of these students are boys.

Is the education system failing the students,or has times changed and is it that the system  has not changed with the times.Are our children spending too much time on screens ?.Who is to take responsibility ?

Let us talk about it.I want to hear your views.I want to hear from teachers, professionals, educators,parents,caregivers,social workers, psychologists. Let's get talking. I want to hear from anyone with whom this topic has struck an interest.

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