AN ELEMENT OF INTERACTIVITY

Underlining

   In the activity for indicating preference for interactivity with text marking, I have tried several and I rest with the more traditional underlining as my favorite perhaps because the pen in my hand is the most convenient tool because it is in fact in my hand when it occurs to me that I would like to mark the text. While my preference is simplistic, it does serve me well. Reviews text marking and seems to favor highlighting (Yue, Storm, Kornell, & Bjork, 2014).  While the support identified in the study is valid, it is the matter of inconvenience in not only remembering, but in carrying then locating the additional tools that takes them out of the running for me. I may make additional marks to my standard underline, but the underline is the ‘go to’ interactivity for me. The importance for me in being interactive with the material that I read varies. Some text I mark because I need to reference it later for study purposes such as exams or assignments while others may be for something that simply interests me because it is fascinating or even appalling. Still other times, underlining is important for noting things that I may need to include as points in a paper, a project, or for a speech. Last, while it is not easy to admit, I mark words that I do not understand or that I cannot pronounce so that I may check on them later and use it to improve my vocabulary (McCabe, 2007).

References:

Yue, C. L., Storm, B. C., Kornell, N., & Bjork, E. L. (2014). Highlighting and Its Relation to Distributed Study and Students’ Metacognitive Beliefs. Educational Psychology Review, 1-10.

McCabe, D. (2007). The Teaching of Reading: A Continuum from Kindergarten Through College. AVKO Educational Research Foundation.

Visual Result

I completed the assigned visual evaluation of my son, age 6, and the resulting score was a 24, which is significantly higher than the indicated score for additional evaluation or intervention. There were a total of 8 areas for numbers 1-30 that he exhibited and there were none for the remaining areas. For the areas he did exhibit they either were related to manual tasks or physical occurrences during these tasks, but not concentration or eye issues, which the remaining areas seemed to be connected with. Some of the specific items that he exhibits were: loses place while reading or copying; reads very slowly; eyes hurt or feel tired after close work; and poor spelling skills.

It was an interesting assignment which allowed me to consider something that I had not previously considered to be such an important factor in student performance or for my own children. 

Ebooks

Math Class: kindergarten 

1. 1.       Bugs By Numbers by Danielle Bruckert

Bugs By Number is a simple and educational eBook for children

http://www.kidsworldfun.com/ebooks-bugs-by-numbers.php 

1. 2.  How Many Wheels? By Leona Locke

http://uniteforliteracy.com/book?BookId=103

1. 3. Violet counts cookies By Holly Hartman

http://uniteforliteracy.com/book?BookId=44

1. 4. Where Do You See Numbers? By Holly Hartman

http://uniteforliteracy.com/book?BookId=210

1. 5.  Spot the Shapes by Leona Locke
2. http://uniteforliteracy.com/book?BookId=126

1. 6. Big and Little By Phoebe McGullee

 http://uniteforliteracy.com/book?BookId=94

EBook Expereince

Using Your Textbook with Your Kindle: Strategies, Methods and Resources to be More Effective with Digital Textbooks by Terence Cavanaugh

http://www.amazon.com/Using-Your-Textbook-Kindle-Strategies-ebook/dp/B00TQBXMYK

Review

This is the book that I read for the purpose of sharing my e-book reading experience. Among the topics covered in the book were many references to both Amazon and Kindle leading me to believe the author has a preference for this device and purchasing platform. Many instructions were technically specific and geared toward user interactions for purposes such as creating your own ‘e-book’ of sorts by saving and converting files to readable versions within kindle. The information was insightful and helpful for those interested in making the transformation, but as yet remain unfamiliar with more tech savvy aspects of e-book life.

My Experience

There is no way to identify the experience with an e-book as a negative one in my opinion. The number of obstacles and interferences that are associated with a traditional textbook are simply far too many to stand as a challenge to an e-book. This is the trade-off of heavy versus light, bulky versus slim, organized versus chaos. There simply isn’t a challenge, especially where academic texts are concerned. The ease of access is incomparable. For example, the ability to share my books with classmates for their opinions, for studying, for projects, or even interpretation is an opportunity never before available even with the advent of fax machines over which pages could be scanned and shared. I couldn't have previously laid on my side and ready using just a finger to turn a page. I also couldn’t have packed over 50 pounds of books into about 2 pounds of plastic and metal. While the availability of energy is an obstacle, it is becoming far less of one with portable solar and even wind powered energy generators. It is a great book for teachers to know how to use text book with their students. EBooks will highly increase interaction between students and teachers. Teachers will be able to assess and adjust teaching styles.

Text Set

Text Set

Grade: Fifth

Content Area Focus: Sports

Standard:  PE. 5. R.5: Exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical-activity settings.

1-The Everything Kids' Baseball Book: From Baseball's History to Today's Favorite Players--With Lots of Home Run Fun in Between!

By Jacobs, Greg

Nonfiction

The book can be founded at Jacksonville Public library:  http://jkpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:929649/ada?qu=The+Everything+Kids%27+Baseball+Book

The eBook can be purchased at:

http://www.amazon.com/Everything-KIDS-Baseball-Book-players-ebook/dp/B007L7LRKM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

$9.99

Description: This book is about ways kids can learn about baseball and find facts that they may not have known. It is super descriptive with chapters covering the basics...keeping score, terminology, uniforms, the origins of baseball and of each major league team.  In addition to information, the book has activities such as puzzles and word games. It increases awareness and simple interaction with positive decision making.

2-Sports Illustrated Kids Full Count: Top 10 Lists of Everything in Baseball

By The Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids

Nonfiction

The Book can be purchased at:  

http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Illustrated-Kids-Full-Count/dp/1618930060

                                                             $16.40

Description: There is a wide variety of exciting topics for kids in this book. There are lots of stats (who was the shortest baseball player ever?) for the kid who needs everything to be proven. There are also whimsical moments such as who has the best facial hair in baseball. It is a whole book of "Top Tens" for baseball facts including anything from the shortest players to the best 10 nicknames or 10 baseball families. Positive stories of athletes that allow students to relate to them on a basic level are proactive in encouraging positive decisions by students.

3-Sports Star Mad Libs Junior

By Roger Price

Nondescript

The Book can be purchased at:

http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Star-Mad-Libs-Junior/dp/0843107707/ref=zg_bs_3400_68

$4.99

Description: This is an academic game which includes parts of speech and sentence building for interactive and engaging entertainment that builds positive interaction, academic competition and good sportsmanship in an off field fashion.

4-Sports Illustrated Kids Big Book of Why Sports

By The Editors of Sports Illustrated Kids

Nonfiction

The Book can be purchased at:

http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Illustrated-Kids-Book-Edition/dp/1618930354

                                                           $14.69

Description: This book does cover all kinds of sports, not only the major professional sports, and many of the facts are quirky - why certain rules are what they are, or unique traditions associated with different teams. Children should read this book because it is an excellent way to know the origins of many sports facts and allows them to learn the pros and cons of sports involvement and where decisions of other athletes have led them.

5-The Kids Got It Right: How the Texas All-Stars Kicked Down Racial Wall

By Jim Dent

Nonfiction

The eBook can be purchased at:

http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Got-Right-All-Stars-Kicked-ebook/dp/B00BCFYO1I/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

$7.72

Description: This story is true about a student at the University of Texas in 1967 that was considered undersized for the sport of football, yet was one of the team’s most valiant players whose determination has been memorialized at Daryl K Royal Stadium in Texas. This book is relevant to the text set in the genre where motivation and determination are concerned.

6-The Olympics for Children: Amazing Sports of the World

By Lauren Brown

Nonfiction

The eBook can be purchased at:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Olympics-Children-Amazing-Sports-ebook/dp/B00CDGPZZE/ref=zg_bs_3419_32

$2.99

Description: This is a selection of true stories about various sports, athletes and their histories at the Olympics, as well as other general facts such as what the colors of the flag mean and quirky stories about what different athletes eat. Many other little known facts such as what the gold medal is really made of and how long it takes the torch to make its journey are highlighted. This book is inspirational for children who may dream of athletic success and allows them a glimpse into what various athletes have had to overcome to attain their dream.