reading and literacy

7 sneaky ways to get students reading using technology


From timers to transcripts, these technology tactics can help teachers inspire literacy among reluctant readers.

We all have had students in our classroom who dislike reading. You can spot them easily during their silent reading time: staring at the wall, using the bathroom, or attempting to sharpen pencils that clearly do not need sharpening. Sadly, the number seems to jump year after year. You attempt to cajole, differentiate, and bring in parents knowing that the only way to improve reading is to read.

Don’t give up hope! You can get these students reading, but it is time to get creative, smart—and yes, sneaky—about it. Sometimes, using something many students like (technology) can get them inspired to read.

1. Use a digital timer. Sustained silent reading time can feel like “forever” for a reluctant reader. To keep attention from wandering and to build up stamina, use a highly visible digital timer. It can be as simple as one built into an iPad (if you teach in a 1:1 environment) or a free one online projected onto an interactive whiteboard. The point is that students know the expectation and the timer helps keep them focused and reading until the expectation is met.

2. Create challenges and badges. Promoting reading with easy badges that students can earn is a powerful motivator. Create a series of digital badges, some of which are easy to achieve and some of which are slightly harder, that students can apply for by showing evidence of learning or completing a performance task. Free sites like Classflow and Edmodo offer easy-to-make digital badges that get linked to students’ accounts.

3. Promote multimedia books. Introduce books that have a multimedia component where the focus isn’t just on reading. A good author for these types of books is Patrick Carmen. His Skelton Creek and 3:15 series have readers going to internet sites to watch videos throughout key parts of the stories.

(Next page: Reading with technology tips 4-7)

4. Use an online library. Students who don’t enjoy reading might change their mind if given the option to read online. Get Epic! is an online library with thousands of highly engaging books that include graphic novels and read-to-me stories. Subscriptions are free for use in the classroom.

5. Try a gamifying site. Book Adventure is a free site that contains interactive tools, games, and motivational rewards for reading. Students find a book title, read it independently, then take quizzes to win prizes for their reading. The site contains a host of resources for parents and teachers to help boost reading skills and track students’ progress.

6. Size matters. If chapter books are overwhelming for readers, try shifting the focus to smaller reading pieces. There are several free websites that offer student-friendly articles for use in the classroom. Dogonews provide current event articles broken down into areas of interest such as sports and entertainment, with embedded videos and the ability to comment. Newsela offers similar resources and content but also includes the ability to change Lexile levels within an article.

7. Locate transcripts and closed captioning. Trick students into reading while they are watching or listening to a video. Most video sites, like YouTube, offer a closed captioning option, which allows the viewer to read and listen at the same time. If you can, find sites that offer a transcript you can print out for students. Try playing the video with sound only first and have students read along with the transcript. Another popular site that offers daily printable transcripts with video is CNN Student News.

The bottom line is this: Despite your best efforts, you may not be able to make all your students love reading. However, if you stay sneaky, you’ll know that at least they can read.

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