Given that research shows that voluntary reading is the best indicator of success around Stephen Krashen, an advocate of free voluntary reading says: "readers do well on tests because they have no choice, because they have acquired, not learned, grammar, vocabulary, and the conventions of writing." I would rate that as my no 1 priority to address: Make the discovery of fun, enjoyable, interesting, comfortable reads possible for all of our students -many need mountains of encouragement and guidance in this area. Sadly, students see themselves as a failure as other peers, who have been voluntary readers from very early days, are so much more competent students than they are. The divide is wide and for many it seems like it is too hard to ever narrow that gap. The earlier we can enthuse our students the better! In the School Library Journal article: Are E-books Any Good? Do digital books help young kids learn to read,or are they mostly fun and games? Lisa Guernsey, director of the Early Education Initiative at the New America Foundation states: "States and school districts in America are starting to make deals with ebook companies to provide yearly subscriptions to thousands of students at a time." What about here in Australia? Are there any moves to provide National subscriptions in line with our new National Curriculum and stretch pressurised school budgets and provide some equity in resource availability for our students. Researchers such as Stephen Krashen, and others who study what helps children learn to read, consider providing kids with easy access to an abundance of nonfiction and fiction books of paramount importance. Should libraries turn to electronic picture books to help them provide that access? Will E-books help or hurt?
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