Both teachers and students who use technology are constructors of knowledge. When they take tools—even those that aren’t necessarily considered reading tools—to help them achieve better reading skills, they are taking charge of their learning. So, it is up to educators to provide students with a plethora of tools so they have the opportunity to choose which tools(s) will best help them reach their reading goals.
Struggling readers have different reasons for why they are struggling, so introducing them to a variety of tools will ultimately help them find the resources that will best help them fix the deficit. As teachers, it is up to us to provide the tools and help children narrow down which tools work best for them. The opportunity is there to find which one is best for them. Implement more than one type of tool and you begin to develop a layer cake effect.
Just because a reader is struggling doesn’t mean we as educators can’t give them opportunities to become an empowered learner. The idea of the empowered learner involves being able to give struggling readers the opportunity to leverage technology so they can be in control of their own learning. We want to empower our struggling readers to use various technologies that will help them achieve their personalized reading goals. Not only do we want them to read, but we want to instill in them this power so they can see the goal and have the tools necessary to reach their goal. The need for educators to be on top of students, coercing them to learn how to read, is just not a requirement anymore. The idea of empowerment—being in control of the situation—is important for the struggling reader who wants to do better. We can empower them to work on their deficits in fun ways, thereby empowering them to become better students.
Digital citizenry provides all readers with choice and access—the independent access to choose their own books. Having access to a variety of books and being able to choose those books and begin creating an identity of who they are and their interests are all part of what it takes to become a digital citizen. Enhance your digital literacy toolbox to support the diverse readers in your classroom. Learn digital platforms and apps to support the diverse learners in your classroom and create meaningful classroom experiences that promote reading, critical thinking, and digital literacy.
