Reading has always been a big part of my life. Books take you on adventures to far-away places, give you knowledge about unknown topics, and can even put you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you get to know your favourite characters; but books aren't for everyone. One of my main goals when I decided to become a teacher (and a future teacher-librarian) was to instil a love of reading into every child I meet. A hefty goal for sure, and one I certainly won't meet, but that doesn't mean I won't try.
I grew up in a reading household. My father was an avid reader. My mother fostered a love of reading in me early on, but not because it was something that she loved. She had learning difficulties as a child in the 60s, and the school system of the time had failed her; but that doesn't mean she didn't try.
Speaking with her recently, I learned that at the age of 65, she read her first full novel for fun in years. She couldn't recall the last time she had finished a book. She had Apple Books on her phone and decided to try it out. For me, holding a real, tangible book in my hand and seeing how far I am through it and how far left to go always gives me great joy. To her, it gives her anxiety. Reading a book on her phone and not being able to physically see how many pages left to go was less daunting and she felt success. With the continued explosion of educational technology, I want to see less children fall through the cracks. I want to see more successes and more children feeling proud of their own style of learning.
BC Curriculum - Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies K/1: Explore the use of simple, available tools and technologies to extend their capabilities.
English Language Arts K/ 1: Use developmentally appropriate reading, listening, and viewing strategies to make meaning.
With my keyword searches, I am hoping to learn about different strategies for using technology for teaching emergent readers to increase their fluency, both in the classroom and at home. My keyword search will include: phonics, phonemic awareness, sight words, ICT and pre-reading, digital reading, educational technology, and ICT literary instruction. I am familiar with some online resources, such as Raz Kids, Starfall.com, and Reading AZ, but would like to find some resources that require more exploration, inquiry, and creativity than these websites offer.
A well done blog post outlining your key motivation and rationale for becoming a T-L and supporting others in their reading abilities and enjoyment. I really enjoyed the story of your mother reading her first ebook and how much that enabled her. Some good keywords, but I think you have too many and should narrow it a bit. You should find lots and lots of resources, try and include some theory and journal articles as well.
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