Technology Used to Help Motivate Students in Reading

Basic Skills

There are an enormous number of games available for purchase or for free on the Internet that allow children to practice basic reading skills in interactive game formats. One excellent software option for struggling readers is "Let's Go Read!" by Edmark. Aimed at pre-K to first-grade students, students complete activities on letter-sound relationships and word building to earn access to new stories and games. Online, Starfall offers many short stories focusing on specific phonics skills, with options for reading words and sentences out loud.

One way to build interest in literature is to make audio books a part of your classroom library. CDs and cassettes can either be paired with the book or used alone. Listening to a story can help students build vocabulary, develop comprehension, and enjoy stories that are above their independent reading level. This strategy can be especially beneficial for struggling readers, as it offers them away to enjoy the same stories as their peers and participate in discussions. Many public libraries allow you to borrow audio books or download digital audio books.

To help reluctant or struggling readers feel more connected to their reading, help them create their own books. Use word processing software or presentation software (like Microsoft PowerPoint) to create a story that is of personal interest to the student. They can tell a story about their own family or their favorite sports team. Using PowerPoint and a microphone, students can even record their voices reading the text and create their own audiobook. Repeated practice with stories like this help to develop fluency.

Students can also use technology to respond to what they have read. Instead of a book report, students can create a PowerPoint presentation about a book they have read. Or use software such as Inspiration to create to create diagrams for thinking and organizing ideas about reading. Inspiration allows users to use picture icons or words and connect them with lines and arrows to creatively represent story elements. Webcams can be another great tool for reading responses. Students can create a commercial for a book they have read, act out favorite scenes, or respond to teacher questions verbally instead of in writing.