It’s easy to see why kids might be shy about reading a book. Our lives seem dominated by video games, YouTube, and the endless scroll of social media. Go ahead and shake your fists at the sky. Blame technology. “Where, oh where did we go wrong? Our kids won’t read Now what will they grow up to be?” But hear me out bookworms, technology can be a powerful tool. Let’s look at some ways we can use tech to get kids excited about reading.
Use Tech To Turn Book Reports into Eye-Popping Exhibitions
Say goodbye to boring book reports and hello to multi-media masterpieces! Let your kids’ creativity run wild with digital creation tools. By using programs like Glogster, Animoto, and Photoshop, your budding graphic designers and film directors transform their reading experiences into captivating presentations. From animated storytelling to interactive mind maps, these digital platforms allow kids to showcase their understanding of the text in ways that are both engaging and visually stunning.
Use Tech To Make A Cover-Art Extravaganza
Who can resist the mesmerizing allure of a book’s cover art? Amazon’s Kindle irresistibly taps into this. Kindle displays the cover of your current read as a screensaver when the device is asleep. This simple yet effective touch serves as a constant reminder of the story you’re immersed in. It’s impossible to resist picking up the book and diving back into its world.
Why not do the same on your library and classroom computers? At BookVending.com, we think book covers make great screensavers! At home, why not display eye-catching book covers on tablet and phone lock screens? How about digital picture frames? A revolving carousel of book illustrations is sure to spark young readers imaginations. And don’t forget the digital messaging systems on school hallways! Announce the “Read of the Day” to introduce new titles and pique the interest of students.
Use Tech as a Reward: Turning Pages into Sweet Rewards
Not to toot our own horn or anything but…
Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine is a brilliant way to use tech to motivate kids to read. Students earn tokens for positive behavior. These tokens can be redeemed for a brand new book at the vending machine. The excitement of selecting a book from the machine and the satisfaction of earning it through good behavior make this a truly rewarding experience.
Using innovative approaches, we can transform reading from a passive activity into an interactive and rewarding experience. Use tech creatively and we can ignite a lifelong passion for literature in the hearts of young readers. Let’s make reading exciting again!