Personalizing Reading -Celebrating Digital Learning Day

Under the Common Core literacy standards for writing, students "Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others" (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6). Standards that address the use of technology are a good way to begin looking at instructional use of technology. It is important that the technology or digital tool chosen is based upon the standard the student is demonstrating. This foundation provided the bases for our middle school celebration of Digital Learning Day. 

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An initiative from the Alliance for Excellent Education, DLD "was started as a way to actively spread innovative practices and ensure that all youth have access to high-quality digital learning opportunities no matter where they live". While it is an opportunity to introduce new practices, as we are doing in Port Huron, it is important that innovative practices are grounded in sound instruction. 

This year, the middle schools had already scheduled a "Read In" celebration when we began the Digital Learning Day discussion. Teacher leaders and supportive building administration quickly connected the two. The plan created provides an opportunity for students to use digital tools to meet standards and support independent reading expectations.

The foundation of the plan is for students to learn how to maximize the Destiny library management system through personal accounts. A screen cast was created to support the library parapro staff, teachers and students in successfully:

• Using Logins for personal accounts.
• Searching the catalog by Lexile level for "just right" personal reading choices.
• Creating reading lists to expedite process of choosing a book during library time.

Holland Woods Middle School screen cast

                                           Central Middle School screen cast

After students have completed the challenge of a personal "to read" list of 4 books at their "just right" Lexile level, they are then introduced to digital book reviews in the management system. For young readers, or students with challenges, the review can simply be a choice from one to five stars. However, teachers can create lessons that introduce students to book reviews and the management system provides an authentic audience for the reviews. A good introductory lesson, that provides step-by-step writing instruction as well as samples of student create book reviews by grade level is available from Scholastic: Writing With Writers.