[CALIBK12] Books, not gadgets

[Stephen Krashen]

Books, not gadgets
Sent to the Oklahoman (January 6, 2008)

Re: Dispute may come to a head (January 6, 2008)
http://newsok.com/news/
‘
Since a number of out-of-staters are involved in the
John Porter affair (e.g. Porter’s press secretary),
here is another outsider’s opinion. 

Part of the problem is Porter’s relationship with
Wireless Generation, a company that produces a
high-tech device that teachers use to record students’
mistakes while they read outloud. There is no evidence
that this helps children learn to read. 

The best way to help children learn to read is
straight-forward: Reading good stories to children and
getting them involved in interesting, comprehensible
reading material. The teacher’s job is to read to
children, help them find interesting books, and help
make these books comprehensible. Millions have learned
to read this way, without ever reading aloud to a
teacher, with or without a fancy electronic device.

Research supports this view. Studies show that
students with more access to books read more, and read
better.  

Children of poverty generally have the lowest scores
on reading tests, and, not surprisingly, have little
access to books. They have fewer books at home, attend
schools with inferior libraries, and live in
neighborhoods with inferior public libraries.  The
Oklahoma City School District understands this: They
received a $300,000 Laura Bush Foundation grant for
improving school libraries in low-income schools.

I suggest the district continue to improve access to
books for children of poverty, and not invest in
useless gadgets.

Stephen Krashen, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California

Author: The Power of Reading (Heinemann, 2004, second
edition), Member, Reading Hall of Fame.