iPads, MakerEd and More in Education

When elementary students are physically overstimulated or emotionally dysregulated, these exercises may help them get ready for the work of reading.

One evening last week, I collapsed into bed after homework was finished, lunches were packed, and bedtime stories were read and happened upon an impassioned Los Angeles Times op-ed by high school political science teacher Jeremy Adams. In it, Adams decries his students’ lack of interest in reading and places the blame squarely on smartphones. My kids are still young, but I’m always thinking of how to instill in them a passion for books, so I read on...on my smartphone.

You can take fish oil supplements or eat lots of turmeric. You can invest in a language class, puzzle books, or a few hours of exercise every week. There are countless methods to (allegedly) improve your memory and cognitive functioning—the brain-training and -assessment industry is expected to reach $8 billion by 2022, according to a major market research report. But the cheapest, easiest, and most time-tested way to sharpen your brain is right in front of your face. It’s called reading.

The fact that reading is good for your brain isn’t surprising—there’s a reason moms are always on their kids’ cases to turn off the TV and pick up a good book. But there’s something astounding about how such an ordinary activity can improve your brain in so many ways.

As a follow up to my recent list on Math Sites/Apps found here, I've decided to compile a list of my favorite learning tools for reading.  Mobile Learning and BYOD make it easier for any student to learn any core subject, especially that of reading. Finally, this list does includes tools that help with comprehension and language arts as a whole.  This list is in alphabetical order. 

I was mesmerized by the two-hour launch of PBS Great American Read campaign.  While I believe choosing one book is impossible and not actually the point of this celebration,  I was enchanted by one compelling little book talk after another.  And it was delightful to listen to people talk with such passion about their books.

Yesterday, I discovered When the Book is Better than the Movie.  The new video marks the launch of the new PBS Digital Studios series, It’s Lit, featuring video essayist Lindsay Ellis. More episodes are planned for every Monday.

As a librarian, my goal is to expose students to all forms of literacy. Coding, to me, is just another form.  Teaching coding allows me to integrate multiple disciplines together. Coding is a process just like the research process. That is why it fits so nicely in the library. Additionally, coding teaches problem solving, cooperation, and how to overcome failure.

With all that being said, I do not believe in just coding for coding sake. I feel it should fit within a bigger picture. Combining coding skills with other literacy skills is always my ultimate goal.

Below are a few examples of how I teach coding with early childhood students. Most of these ideas did not start with me. They are a collection of resources from amazing educators that I have learned from.

Reading is about a journey.  A love.  A dream kept alive that by reading a book we would be something more than we were when we started.

No computer program can ever provide that.

Tucked in, snuggled up, I still remember the hours I spent listening to my mother read aloud “The Hobbit.” I must have been about 8-years-old, an

According to the Pew Research Center, more than a quarter--26 percent--of American adults have not read even part of a book within the past year. It's a shame considering that researchers have found reading is beneficial in many ways.

“Are you ready to read?” the little robot asks the boy. The robot’s name is Minnie, and it’s designed to turn reading alone at home into a group activity. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison just published a small study suggesting that having Minnie around helped kids get into reading—and get more out of it.

I’ve read some terrific books lately. When I pulled together this list of five that you might enjoy this summer, I realized that several of my choices wrestle with big questions. What makes a genius tick? Why do bad things happen to good people? Where does humanity come from, and where are we headed?

As young kids enter the classroom for another school year – or perhaps their first – parents can take comfort in knowing there are smart apps that give their children a boost.

Whether it’s educational games, homework helpers, learning to code, or encouraging kids to read, there’s no shortage of affordable downloads and cloud services playable on devices like tablets, smartphones, laptops and desktops.

If you’re looking for some “best-in-class” suggestions, the following is a look at four such platforms, catering to various ages and subjects.

As it stands, straight out of the box, Apple's iPad is a decent reading tool — but it could be far better. Join AppleInsider for an examination of some apps and services we've been using for a while to really make the device a universal, digital book reader.