Abstract
Compelling Question:
How can I help my students foster a love of reading and writing using 21st century tools?
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In my role as an instructional coach, I see many students who struggle with literacy skills. These students do not see reading as something fun. They feel defeated and are hesitant to take risks. My goal is to help them believe in themselves and their abilities. So, I decided to pursue my master's degree in New Literacies and Global Learning. Through this adventure, I learned more about developing and nurturing young readers. So, how can I help my students foster a love of reading and writing using 21st century tools? To answer this question, I must reflect on my amazing experiences in the NLGL cohort. I learned through my journey that students can be motivated to read and write through the use of cool technology tools. For example, my multi-age first grade students showed growth in reading fluency when using Flipgrid to practice repeated reading. Using this strategy, students were motivated to try their best which resulted in an increase of their words read correctly. Students were also excited to write about spiders using the app, Scribble My Story. They especially enjoyed sharing their stories with their classmates. My third grade Wolfpack reader was motivated to learn more about reading and writing using science books provided by NCSU. He explored animals such as the Blobfish and we created a website using Weebly to display interesting facts he learned about strange animals. During my journey, I also had many opportunities to work with fellow teachers and parents. I really enjoyed collaborating with a first grade teacher as we worked together to explore academic vocabulary. I also conducted a workshop designed to help parents motivate their young readers. As I reflect on my experiences, I am proud to say that my students were motivated to read and write using 21st century tools.
Did You Know?
According to the Educator's Practice Guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, in 2013, only 35 percent of 4th-graders scored at or above a proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress-numbers that have remained largely unchanged since 1992."
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