Quote:
Originally Posted by ficbot
But that is not 'learning to read' so much as 'learning to play a game' or 'learning to use a computer.' They are different things. A book is a type of manipulative. An iPad is a type of technology. They are simply not the same things. I am not talking about 'developing a love of reading' or 'bonding with books.' I am talking about the skills a pre-reader needs to acquire (and demonstrate) in order to assess their readiness to learn to read. That cannot be replicated with technology. Once they *are* reading, that can.
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You keep saying they need to read pbooks to develop "a skill" and demonstrate they're "ready" to read. But the idea that children only demonstrate readiness to read paper books is very limiting! I don't think you're truly looking to the future when you make statements like this. Yes, I agree that pbooks are, currently, much more
fun because of color and manipulation (for infants/toddlers). But that's just them using the book as a
toy, not as a
book. And at some point, the technology will catch up with some of this, and guess what? Kids will still learn to read!
The skills you mention: ability to turn a page, ability to follow the words with a finger, ability to hold the book right-side up... these all apply to ereaders as well. Just because it's made of plastic or metal doesn't make it a completely different beast. Should we also differentiate between reading signs to our children? I mean, it's completely different to read at a distance from a billboard than it is to read from a book while sitting on someone's lap. Is it a different skill? Of course not.
I guess I'm being radical by suggesting that the joy and skill of reading is in the WORDS and comprehending the IDEAS and is not tied to the medium upon which the words are written.