Reading, Technology, & Differentiation
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Reading Practice
Research shows that the more you read and write, the better you get. Practice is more than simple drills. It's applying what you've learned to new situations. Use technology to identify practice environments to address the diverse needs of your students. For example, nonreaders may need audio support. Resources may also be available in different languages. For example, the Dinosphere materials are available in Spanish for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. |
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Reading Skills PracticeAlthough some students quickly acquire reading strategies, others need specific instruction related to reading concepts. The following websites provide practice in reading. |
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Design Your Own Activities
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Reading Tools
Also consider the use of tools such as Kidspiration or Inspiration to help students visualize the plot, characters, and setting of a reading material. |
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For more ideas go to Teacher Tap: Electronic Books and Online Reading. |
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Real-world Reading
Watch Video Interviews with 35 Children's Book Authors from Reading Rockets to help students gain insights into the authors of their favorite books. If you have children with special needs, check out LD Online KidsZone. |
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Developed by Annette Lamb, 3/06. |
Differentiation involves adapting instruction to respond to the diverse needs of learners. Let's explore three ways to think about reading, technology, and differentiation: 
What's practice? Boring worksheets and old-fashioned drill and practice software has given practice a bad name. Practice is an essential part of learning. For instance, I want an airplane pilot who has had lots of practice flying a plane. 
Experiment!
Some students need more guidance than others when reading. The support may be reading activities, anticipation guides, or other supplemental materials. Sometimes the use of visuals, audio, and other channels of communication are helpful. 
Explore age-appropriate readings that reflect activities beyond the school. Seek topics of interest to individual students. In particular, boys are attracted to electronic magazines and news sources.