06-20-2012, 07:33 AM | #1 |
Are you gonna eat that?
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Reading Rainbow is Back: Can it Do for the iPad What it Did for TV?
"Reading Rainbow began its 26-year run on PBS as a way to combat summer mind decay. Now it's taking the same goal to a different medium.
"What were [kids] doing in the 80s? Sitting in front of the television," explains Levar Burton, who hosted the show. "So we went where they were to steer them back in the direction of where we wanted them to go." While television still accounts for the largest amount of children's screen time, it's not the only screen in town anymore. About half of children under 8 have access to some sort of mobile device. Kids are on tablets, and, as of Tuesday, so is Reading Rainbow. The new iPad app incorporates classic Reading Rainbow segments, 16 new video "field trips" starring Burton and 150 narrated interactive books. Kids navigate through themed "islands" such as "Animal Kingdom" and "Action Adventures & Magical Tales" where they can discover age-appropriate books and media. For $9.99 a month, their parents can purchase unlimited access to this content, which will be updated regularly." http://news.yahoo.com/reading-rainbo...XBhZ2U-;_ylv=3 |
06-20-2012, 10:18 AM | #2 |
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Ten dollars a month is a lot for this service. Parents can go to PBS's video website for free.
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06-20-2012, 12:16 PM | #3 |
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I like the concept. I loved seeing Geordi La Forge on the PBS show and was impressed with how long it lasted.
But, 10 bucks a month for it is a bit steep to me. |
06-21-2012, 07:58 AM | #4 |
The Dank Side of the Moon
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Anything for the Kids! Anything!!!
and the dogs, don't forget the dogs! |
06-21-2012, 01:46 PM | #5 |
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It actually turns out to be $5/month if subscribe 6 months at a time. Still, that will seem steep to those of us who grew up with Reading Rainbow simply because most of it received it free over-the-air from PBS many years ago.
The other thing is that I don't trust rehashes of old programming. All too often, it seems like they are more interested in monetizing memories than creating a quality and up-to-date product. Given how many options there are in the online marketplace, I would rather shop around a lot first. |
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06-21-2012, 01:54 PM | #6 |
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Interesting concept, but the subscription price kills it for me. I'm not paying $10 (or even $5) per month for any app subscription. Not saying it won't find an audience, just that I won't be a member of said audience.
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06-22-2012, 11:10 AM | #7 |
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How effective was Reading Rainbow at actually promoting reading? There is other book-related content out there that you can get without a subscription, is this really any better? Most parents want their children to read, but one of the biggest factors in children reading is the parents reading. Not just reading to the kids, although that does have a lot of impact. But kids are extremely observant. If parents don't read, but want their children to read, children pick up the message that reading is something that is supposed to be "good for you" but not actually enjoyable. On the other hand, if children see their parents reading, they get a different message.
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06-22-2012, 06:43 PM | #8 |
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06-25-2012, 01:35 PM | #9 |
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I agree with the majority that the monthly subscription is a "deal killer". I will say, however, that as a huge fan of Reading Rainbow and as a parent, I think the idea is pretty neat.
Although I never specifically looked for the books highlighted on the show, it helped to encourage me to spend hours in our local library. |
06-25-2012, 05:46 PM | #10 |
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It seems to me that the best way to promote children to read is to simply read in the presence of children. Remembering not to force the reading of course.
Creating an interactive reading app sounds like curing the symptom, not the disease. |
06-26-2012, 09:16 AM | #11 |
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You'd be surprised how often reading to children has fallen out of favor with educators. When my dad was still in elementary school, the teachers all told my great aunt to stop reading to him. They were following the flashcard system lampooned in To Kill A Mockingbird. She ignored it, and dad still loves reading.
Last edited by teh603; 06-26-2012 at 09:22 AM. |
06-26-2012, 05:43 PM | #12 |
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I don't think it is common at all for educators to discourage parents reading to their children. It may happen, but I've never heard of such a thing.
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