#Phonics and Reading Classes

[fluffytale1]

Phonics and Reading Classes | Fluffy Tales

Enroll in phonics and reading classes with Fluffy Tales! Our interactive lessons help children develop strong reading, spelling, and pronunciation skills in a fun and engaging way. Trust Fluffy Tales for an effective and enjoyable learning experience.

[smartstudy-24x7]

Preparing Kids for Success: English Exam Preparation Strategies

As children progress through their education, English exams become a significant part of their academic journey. Mastering the English language is essential for achieving good results in exams, and effective preparation is crucial. This blog will explore various strategies and resources to support English exam preparation for kids, with a focus on vocabulary building activities and the benefits of online English classes for children.

Understanding the Importance of English Exam Preparation

English exams assess a student's understanding of the language, including reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. They often cover various topics, including grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary. Proper preparation is essential for several reasons:

Building Confidence: Adequate preparation helps students feel more confident in their abilities, reducing anxiety during exams.

Enhancing Understanding: Through consistent study and practice, children deepen their understanding of the English language and its nuances.

Improving Performance: Well-prepared students are likely to achieve higher scores, opening doors to future academic opportunities.

Encouraging Lifelong Learning: Mastery of the English language provides a foundation for continuous learning, as it is essential in both personal and professional contexts.

Vocabulary Building Activities

One of the key components of English exam preparation for kids is vocabulary development. A strong vocabulary enhances reading comprehension, writing ability, and overall communication skills. Here are some engaging vocabulary building activities to help kids expand their word bank:

Word Games:

Scrabble: This classic board game encourages kids to form words and learn new vocabulary in a fun way.

Boggle: A word search game that helps children think quickly and expand their vocabulary by finding words in a grid of letters.

Flashcards:

Create flashcards with a new word on one side and its definition or a picture representing the word on the other. Use these cards for quick review sessions and to reinforce learning.

Vocabulary Journals:

Encourage children to keep a vocabulary journal where they can write down new words they encounter. They can include definitions, sentences using the words, and synonyms or antonyms.

Contextual Learning:

Read books, articles, or stories with your child and discuss unfamiliar words in context. This approach helps them understand how to use words correctly in different situations.

Thematic Word Lists:

Create themed word lists around specific topics (e.g., nature, emotions, technology) and encourage children to use these words in sentences or stories.

Interactive Apps:

Many educational apps focus on vocabulary development through engaging games and quizzes. Some popular options include Vocabulary.com, Quizlet, and Memrise.

Online English Classes for Children

In today’s digital age, online English classes for children have become an increasingly popular option for parents seeking to enhance their child's language skills. Here are some of the benefits of online English classes:

Flexible Scheduling:

Online classes often offer flexible schedules, allowing parents to choose times that best fit their family's routine. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for busy families juggling multiple commitments.

Personalized Learning:

Many online programs allow for personalized instruction tailored to each child's learning style and pace. This individualized approach can help children grasp concepts more effectively.

Access to Qualified Instructors:

Online platforms often provide access to experienced English teachers who can offer valuable insights and support. These instructors can address specific challenges students may face.

Interactive Learning Environment:

Online classes typically incorporate multimedia resources, such as videos, interactive quizzes, and discussion forums, to engage students and make learning more dynamic.

Diverse Learning Resources:

Online courses often include a wealth of materials, including reading assignments, practice tests, and vocabulary exercises, ensuring that students have a well-rounded approach to exam preparation.

Safe Learning Environment:

For students who may feel shy or anxious in traditional classroom settings, online classes can provide a comfortable space to learn and participate without the pressure of a physical classroom.

Strategies for Effective Exam Preparation

In addition to vocabulary building activities and online English classes for children, several strategies can enhance overall English exam preparation. Here are some tips for parents and educators:

Create a Study Schedule:

Establish a structured study schedule that breaks down study sessions into manageable chunks. Consistent daily practice is more effective than cramming close to exam time.

Practice Past Papers:

Familiarize children with the exam format by practicing past papers. This exposure helps them understand the types of questions they may encounter and build confidence in their abilities.

Incorporate Reading and Writing:

Encourage daily reading and writing to reinforce language skills. Reading a variety of texts, from fiction to non-fiction, broadens vocabulary and enhances comprehension.

Engage in Conversations:

Encourage open conversations at home, prompting children to express their thoughts and ideas. This practice develops verbal communication skills and reinforces vocabulary usage.

Join Study Groups:

If possible, arrange study sessions with peers. Collaborative learning can motivate students and help them learn from each other.

Monitor Progress:

Regularly assess your child's progress and adjust the study plan as needed. Celebrate achievements to keep motivation high.

Leveraging Technology for Learning

Technology plays a significant role in modern education. There are numerous online resources and tools that can support English exam preparation for kids:

Educational Websites: Websites like Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize, and Scholastic offer interactive lessons, quizzes, and activities tailored for children's language learning.

Language Learning Apps: Applications such as Duolingo and Busuu provide engaging platforms for children to practice vocabulary and grammar through gamified experiences.

Video Resources: Platforms like YouTube host educational channels that cover grammar rules, vocabulary, and reading strategies, providing visual and auditory learning opportunities.

The Role of Parents in English Exam Preparation

Parents play a vital role in their child's academic journey. Here are some ways parents can support English exam preparation:

Encourage a Love for Reading:

Provide access to various books that match your child's interests and reading level. Regular reading can spark curiosity and improve comprehension skills.

Be Involved:

Stay informed about what your child is learning in school. Attend parent-teacher conferences, communicate with teachers, and ask about ways to support your child's learning at home.

Create a Positive Learning Environment:

Establish a quiet, dedicated space for studying that is free from distractions. A positive environment fosters focus and motivation.

Celebrate Efforts:

Recognize and celebrate your child's hard work and achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can boost their confidence and motivation.

Be Patient and Supportive:

Encourage your child to ask questions and seek help when needed. Your support and understanding can ease their stress during exam preparation.

Conclusion

English exam preparation is a vital part of a child’s educational journey, and incorporating effective strategies can lead to success. By engaging in vocabulary building activities, enrolling in online English classes for children, and utilizing technology to enhance learning, parents and educators can provide children with the tools they need to excel.

At Kiya Learning, we are committed to helping kids develop strong English language skills through our tailored programs and experienced instructors. With the right preparation and support, children can approach their English exams with confidence and achieve their academic goals. By fostering a love for learning and providing engaging activities, we can empower the next generation to become skilled communicators and lifelong learners.

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[houseofsoftskills]

Engage Young Minds with Hoss Phonics & Reading Classes

Unlock your child's reading potential with Hoss! Our engaging phonics and reading classes are designed to build strong literacy skills and foster a lifelong love for books. Join our vibrant community and watch your child thrive with House of Soft Skills fun and effective learning approach. Let Hoss be your partner in your child's educational journey!

[novella-november]

I saw a random post linking to this now-unrebloggable but very good post about the current state of reading comprehension in the USA amongst learned english majors due to the quite literal scam sold to the US government decades ago that has impacted generations, as many people have no doubt noticed but not been able to give a name to:

and out of sheer curiosity I am, I guess, now going to read "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens once I get through my current To Be Read list?

Anyways, for those unaware, it is Public Domain in the USA, which means you can 100% legally read it online or download to your favorite reading app from Project Gutenberg!

"Bleak House" by Charles Dickens is a novel written in the mid-19th century that explores the themes of social justice, the inefficiencies of the legal system, and the personal struggles of its characters.

The narrative primarily revolves around several characters involved in the interminable court case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, delving into their lives, relationships, and the pervasive influence of the legal system on their choices and fates.

The story is introduced through the eyes of Esther Summerson, a young woman of uncertain parentage, who finds herself at the center of the unfolding drama.

It actually sounds super interesting from the blurb, too ...

[turnedpalefromlackofsun]

what if i dont even have a condition and its just more american propaganda floated by the CIA to try to keep asian americans out of college (not asians cuz international tuition go brrrr)

they tried with race policy and soft propaganda in high impact cities.

i wouldnt put it past them.

[ratna-sagar]

Supporting your child’s early development is crucial and one of the best tools you can use to enhance this journey is worksheets. Whether you are looking to supplement their preschool curriculum or reinforce concepts at home, a well-designed worksheet for kids can play a vital role in helping them grasp new ideas, practice skills and build confidence. 

[funnygirlthatbelle]

i suspect that a huge factor in the defense of students using gen ai (and academic dishonesty in general tbh) comes from the fundamental misunderstanding of how school works.

to simplify thousands of educator's theories into the simplest terms, there are two types of stuff you're learning in school: content and skills. content is what we often think of as the material in school- spelling, times tables, names, dates, facts, etc.- whereas skills are usually more subtle. think phonics, mental math, reading comprehension, comparing and contrasting; though students do those things often, the how usually isn't deemed as important as the what.

this leads to a disconnect that's most obvious when students ask the infamous "when will we use this in the real world?" they have- often correctly- identified content that the content is niche, outdated, or not optimized but haven't considered the skills that this class/lesson/assignment will teach.

i can think of two shining examples from when i was a kid. one was in middle school when they announced that we were now gonna be studying latin, and we all wondered why on earth they would choose latin as our foreign language. every adult promised us it'd be helpful if we went into medicine, law, or religion (ignoring that most of us didn't want to go into medicine, law, or religion), but we didn't buy that and never took it seriously. the truth was that our new principal knew that learning languages gets harder as you get older, and so building the skills of learning a language while it was easy for us was more important than which language we learned, and that's an answer twelve year old me would've actually respected.

similarly, my geometry class all hated proofs. we couldn't think of a single situation where you'd have to convince someone a triangle was a triangle and "look at it, of course it's a triangle" wouldn't be an acceptable answer. it was actually the band director who pointed out that it wasn't literally about triangles; it was about being able to prove or disprove something, anything using facts.

and so, so, so many assignments that are annoying as hell in school make more sense when you think about the skills as well as the content. "why do i have to present information about something the teacher obviously already knows about?" because research, verifying sources, summarizing, and public speaking are all really important skills. "why does this have to be a group project?" because you will have to work with other people in your life, and learning how to be a team player (and deal with people who aren't) is an essential skill. "why do we have to read these scientific articles and learn about graphs?" because if you can understand them, people can't lie to you about them.

now, of course, there's a lot we could do better- especially we as in the american school system. the reason i have an education minor but am not teaching is because of those issues. there are plenty of assignments that are busywork and teachers that are assholes and ways that the system is failing us.

but that doesn't mean you should cut off your nose to spite your face!

the ability to learn and grow and think critically is one of our most powerful tools as people. our brains are capable of incredible things! however, the same way you can't lift a car unless you consistently lift and build up to that, your brain needs to train in order to do its best.

so yeah, maybe chatgpt can write a five paragraph essay for you on the differences between thomas jefferson and alexander hamilton's governing philosophies. and maybe it won't even fuck it up! congratulations, you got away with it. but by outright refusing to use your brain and practice these skills, who have you helped? you haven't learned anything. worse, you haven't even learned how to learn.

[onlinelearningclass]

How Do Children Learn To Read Through Phonic Classes?

The basis for proficient reading and writing is phonics. Children learn to decipher words, identify spelling patterns, and develop reading fluency. They learn to comprehend the link between letters and sounds. According to research, a solid phonological foundation has link to better vocabulary growth, reading comprehension, and general academic success.

Visit us:- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-do-children-learn-read-through-phonic-classes-1xahc/

[fluffytale1]

English Phonics Classes Online

Dive into the world of phonics with Fluffy Tales' captivating English Phonics Classes Online! Our innovative Creative Cubs program ensures a joyful learning journey for kids, fostering strong language skills. To start your child's adventure today.

[writers-potion]

Writing Character Accents in Fiction

Hey there, thanks for the question! I speak English as a second language; most English speakers I encounter aren’t native (yes, including fictional people); thus, this is a concern I’ve explored personally when I write. 

I think the core principle regarding accent writing is this: it shouldn’t be distracting. 

For the same reasons why Stephen King prescribes the basic dialogue tag “said” rather than fancier alternatives like “whispered”, “shouted” or “screeched”, dialogue must be first and foremost easy to read. It must flow like a real conversation – the pace and tone are a lot more important than how specific words are being pronounced by the character. 

Focus on what effect the accent has:

Using adjectives to describe their voice in general. Different types of English (American, British, Australian, etc.) will give off a different vibe, also partly dependent on how your character speaks in general:

Lilting: Having a smooth rise and falling quality; sing-song like. Welsh accent is often described as singing. 

Posh: from a high social class. This is the term generally used to describe the upper-class British accent.

Nasal: this happens when the sound goes through somebody’s nose when they’re speaking. North American accents are more nasal than, say, British pronunciations. 

Brash: harsh, loud, indicative of sounding a little rude. 

Slur: speaking indistinctly; words merging into one another.

Using metaphors.

Her voice was cotton and fluffy clouds. 

When he spoke, the ‘r’s scratched the insides of his throat. 

Mentioning their accent with a brief example(s). 

“Would you like to drink some wine?” she said, though her Indian accent gave extra vibration to her ‘w’s and ‘r’s, making the words sound more like ‘vould you like to drrrink some vine’.

“I want some chocolate.” His syllables were choppy and ‘l’s rather flat, saying ‘cho-ko-lit’. 

Some Tips:

Don’t phonically spell out everything. Perhaps give a few examples in the beginning, but stick to standard English spellings. 

Pay attention to word choice, slang, and colloquialisms. 

An Australian person would say “tram”, not “trolley; “runners” instead of “sneakers”

A Canadian may refer to a “fire hall” – what Americans call a firehouse or fire station

If your character comes from a non-Enligsh background:

Use vocabulary from other languages. 

“What time was the exam, ah? Two o’clock? Jiayou!” → putting “ah” or “la” at the end of sentences + Jiayou means “break a leg” in Singlish. 

“I can’t believe that 4-year-olds have their own SNS accounts now.” → “SNS” is short for “social networking service”, a term used to refer to social media in Korea. This would a subtle difference – even though it isn’t technically Korean at all!

Transpose grammar from different languages. 

For example, in French, plural nouns take plural adjectives (whereas in English, you would speak of ‘white cars’, not ‘whites cars’).

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[olderthannetfic]

Now I'm wondering how countries like Japan and China teach literacy.

Since kanji / hanzi don't really have that much in the way of phonetic elements, they kinda have to teach them by memorization and I don't think they have many reading comprehension problems over there.

(Although both countries do have supplementary phonetic writing systems in the form of bopomofo and pinyin for China, and the kanas for Japan)

--

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RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

It's a little closer to teaching vocabulary than spelling, but the same kinds of principles apply: You teach the building blocks, like the traditional radicals, which aren't so different from teaching Latin and Greek roots in an English class for English speakers.

And, as a matter of fact, lots of those radicals do predict pronunciation, just not in every single case. They can also be clues to meaning, but again, not absolutely consistently. Many characters have a sound-cueing radical on one side and a meaning-cueing radical on the other. It's just that only some are still useful in the modern day, while others are more like the English word 'plumbing' where knowledge of Roman lead pipes explains why this word comes from the one for lead, but the root probably wouldn't help a kid learn the word in the first place.

One similarity to teaching phonics would be teaching students to tell very complicated and similar characters apart: you want to help a student spot all the little building blocks of the character and then spot the ones that are different, not just glance at the whole character and get a general overall vibe. If you do a whole look-based approach, too many characters are too easy to mistake for one another.

Remembering a bajillion Chinese characters is hard if you're trying to memorize them in a year and not all of elementary school, but I think people who don't read them underestimate how many component parts there are and how approachable they can be if you start by learning fundamentals, not just memorizing a few individual characters as though they have no relation to anything else.

They're actually pretty systematic, just in the way that English spelling is with its overlapping systems and historical artifacts, not in the way that highly regular Spanish spelling is.

Having taken a lot of Japanese classes, I will say that Japanese as a foreign language textbooks often do a piss poor job of this and totally do teach kanji in a sight words-y way... But my Mandarin class started with important foundational concepts that served me well in Japanese later even if I bombed out of Chinese class at the time.

Can you tell how irritated I am by all the foreign language learners who think characters are sooooo hard when, really, it's just their crappy textbook? Haha.

They're moderately hard in the way that learning a full adult spectrum of vocabulary is hard, but people do that for foreign languages all the time. The countries that use characters do tend to make sets that are smaller for certain kinds of applications, same as we have things like simple English wikipedia, but a literate adult will always know lots more, whether it's from their career in engineering or their predilection for historical romance novels.

Uh... anyway, the answer is "Bit by bit in elementary school, just like in any other country".

[rosewaterandivy]

Def think frat!steve would see someone at the house party reading a book and after an internal what the fuck, he’d approach to ask:

“So is that any good?”

You lay a finger underneath your current sentence before looking up to find some guy wearing a backwards baseball cap and holding a red solo cup in the midst of a rager, but somehow, he’s singularly focused on you.

“Anna Karenina?”

He nods taking a sip from his drink, as someone passes him with a hearty clap to his shoulder.

“Oh, it’s uh, well,” You stammer, trying and failing to distill 864 pages of Russian literature into a coherent sentence.

And somehow he’s still there, through the whoops and shouts of the fraternity’s name as well as his own— Harrington, if the shouts are to be believed.

“She takes a very sad train,” is what you settle on.

“And you like it?” He sets his drink to the side, crossing his arms over this chest as his eyes flit over your features. “This sad stuff?”

You shrug, dog earning the page and setting the book beside you.

“All the variety, all the charm, all the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow. Anything is better than lies and deceit!”

He raises his brows, confused and more than a little intrigued by your answer.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I got your name—”

He’s cut off by someone shoulder-checking him on their way down the stairs.

“We’re leaving,” She says, sniffling all the while.

Your expression falls taking in your friend’s demeanor— red eyes, raw nose and bitten lips.

“Right, of course,” You say, scrambling for your purse. You give him a pained look, at a loss while trailing after your friend.

In all the commotion, you leave your book behind. Steve grabs it and hustles out the door, hoping to catch you before it’s too late.

But once he’s reached the front yard, crowded with people and beer cans that crunch under his feet, you’re already gone.

Eddie’s idling on the stoop as Steve takes a seat, letting out a long sigh.

“Hooked on phonics, aren’t we big guy?” He drawls, with a nod to the book at his feet.

Steve shrugs and looks longingly out into the night.

Eddie, curious, picks up the book and opens the front cover, more than prepared to read aloud the first sentence in a dramatic fashion just to clown on Steve. He stops, taking in the scrawl of a name, and reads that out instead.

“Shit, no way,” Steve says, snatching the book back and reading the name for himself.

Eddie barks a laugh, “Figure it out, man. But you heard it here first,” He lays a hand on Steve’s shoulder and pushed himself up. “Any chick reading Tolstoy is definitely out of your league.”

Steve smirks up at him, thumbing through the pages and wondering if you’re in that literature class of his. “Wanna bet?”

[jorblesandco]

Bunny commentary

Bunny only became a full-on asshole after he was excluded and figured out they killed a guy - obvious

Bunny and Henry matching glasses,,,,, besties

TSH is written after Bunny's murder and richard's characterization of him is most likely an attempt at justification

of the greek class, the only one outsiders seem to like Is bunny (and richard but he was an outsider first so he doesn't count as much)

the dog (the greyhound charles rescued) liked Bunny and went on his sunday hikes with him and richard,

he is extremely fond of henry and it shows when he talks about him - perhaps henry is his only real friend in the greek class, the others tolerated for the benefit of henry, and their friendship seems to be that of familiar bickering but obviously takes a turn after bunny is excluded and finds out he(and co) murdered a guy in the woods

one thing i am desperate to know is whether it was henry or bunny who laughed at the end of chapter two . it could be either because it haunts him . but also it could be henry because richard (and francis, for that matter) are both at one point haunted by henry after his death . and bunny was the only person who could make henry laugh . which one of them laughed . maybe both? why does it haunt richard .

bunny writing richard an awkward apology and wrapping it around a paperback of poems and a box of junior mints,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :(

Bunny woke everybody in the country house up at like 5 in the morning the first time it snowed by running around and jumping on their beds screaming "first snow! first snow!"

he is a good artist . mentioned that he drew himself and henry as little cartoons in roman togas with their matching eyeglasses on a postcard he sent to richard

look . i am just saying that if i found out my friends murdered somebody and they didnt even bother to tell me i probably wouldve blackmailed them too . not bunny's fault they all went along with it . of course i have a better personality than bunny but that is neither here nor there

finding quite a bit of evidence that bunny's parents were neglectful while still keeping up their rich happy family persona . bunny not reading until he was 10 is one of them, but that could also be the dyslexia, but also if his parents put in any effort apart from sending him off to learning disability schools i am fairly certain bunny would've been reading sooner . this is because i did not have a proper reading level until i was about 7/8 maybe even 9 either and it was largely because my parents weren't reading with me . that age is when i switched schools and they started teaching me phonics

he was wearing hand me down almost threadbare too short tweed most of the time . "…the shapeless, tweedy rags he generally wore…"

bunny only knows one card game (go fish)

bunnys reaction to finding out his best friend 1.) called him an annoying rabbit in his diary and 2.) murdered a man was mostly reasonable . he was angry at being excluded , angry that henry, his Best Friend, didn't tell him about it . really i think if henry had just told bunny about it this might have been avoided . all he wanted was to be included . i mean they were Best Friends . henry makes a point of saying "i know him better than you" to richard when relating what went down in italy . francis says he's known about this since november but that's not true because he didn't think they had actually murdered a guy until late in the italy trip, probably sometime in late january or february, whenever it is that henry came home early .

incredibly funny to me that he ry and bunny, best friends, are the ones who die . they are the ones who consistently haunt Richard's narrative . richard says he doesnt think about bunny that much but then why did you write a 600 page memoir about him and the aftereffects of his death then huh????? henry and bunny wear matching glasses in the underworld .

he was possibly in love with henry (and obviously hated the fact as he was extremely homophobic) because how else would you explain your best friend blowing up at you throwing chairs etc and then climbing into Your bed and crying himself to sleep

he treated henry (outside of the outbursts) "with deference" aka polite submission according to our notably unobservant narrator richard . very interesting . but i guess imagine you find out your best friend in the world murdered a guy and then didn't even tell you about it . i suppose that warrants deference of a sort . but he was horrible on a daily basis to the rest of them

btw how much of Bunny's behavior was over-exaggerated??? this is written After the murder, how much is Richard exaggerating in order to justify to himself the murder of his friend. richard says "even today i cannot muster anything resembling anger for bunny". richard narrowing in on and exaggerating Bunny's jerkishness and bigotry to the point that the behavior was in and of itself unforgivable in order to justify Bunny's murder to himself is such a Richard move. unreliable narrator at his finest

"how quickly he fell; how soon it was over" . he didn't deserve that . he didn't deserve for it to be henry, his best friend, to ultimately push him over the edge and watch as he fell

bunny is objectively a not great person but . again Richards unreliable narration makes me question How bad especially bc they all genuinely cared for and mostly liked bunny. none of them are Good really. but richard "if theres one thing im good at its lying" papen is telling us bunny sucks . also judy thinks bunny is hilarious. hates henry though. i trust her judgement more than the greek class

bunny sees little trinkets around says is anybody gonna take that doesn't wait for an answer and swipes it for himself . "these he hid around his room in jumbled little nests" as he should tbh

bunny was their tie to reality i think . he made that comment about "common crackers more like" when julian was talking about tribute . he didn't take the bacchanal too seriously . everything he did connected them to the reality of it .

[dostoyevsky-official]

could you elaborate on your most recent comment on that post about college students struggling to read entire works? because you frame an excerpt from the article as "it's the phones" but the entire excerpt is about teaching-to-the-test pedagogy that prioritizes small sections of texts etc rather than giving students practice in the classroom with reading a whole book. clearly that's a different issue than phonics, but I'm just not sure why that was the excerpt you chose if your point is that it ISN'T about poor pedagogical choices.

the excerpt is about how phonics isn't the issue, responding to someone who was saying that phonics are the issue. i don't think it's phones in isolation, but it's the biggest root cause, by far. the piece spends quite some time on it.

we could approach the problem like good economists, asking if it's possible to isolate phones as a variable, ceteris paribus. and it is. out of curiosity, i read a few books related to the 1990s "closing of the american mind" phenomenon earlier this year, including hirsch's cultural literacy. he, like others, bemoans television and loosening standards for lower reading rates and poor retention of basic cultural information you learn in humanities classes that are necessary for a coherent society—if any information was retained to begin with. but kids were still reading.

i graduated an extremely intensive, extracurricular-focused, top college prep-aimed high school in 2014. i had an iphone since 2012, a facebook, twitter, instagram, and tumblr account each since ~2008, but this was before the psychological abuse of each was maximized through streamlined app design. a lot of classes in this high school were also geared "towards the test," in this case, APs, and a chunk of it was devoted to polishing SAT scores and college essays. some classes focused on excerpts, and by far not everyone was Doing the Reading (one skill you learn in college and certainly in grad school is how to gut a book, not reading the whole way through—nobody does the entire reading). yet enough students were still reading the whole of the book for enough books, even if sparknotes was ubiquitous. phones, by the way, were confiscated on sight.

many issues were already destroying students' ability to read, including poor pedagogy. but something happened between the early 2010s and now that made the problem much, much worse. what was it?

there's a lot of anecdotal evidence from professors and other articles on phones as the issue, including some academic research on psychological effects—i don't know why this particular article is gaining traction here and on twitter, maybe because it's well-written, in the atlantic, concise—and it seems pretty unambiguous that phones and social media are destroying attention spans, not matter whether child or adult.

an interesting, just-published study, " Library in the Palm of Your Hand? A Randomized Reading Intervention with Low-Income Children" looks at what happens when you direct children's attention towards reading, providing them with easy access to books, instead of phones:

...

...

this happened in germany, by the way. i don't know about german school pedagogy, but i'm not sure they abandoned phonics.

it's phones. it's 100% phones.

[onlinelearningclass]

Discover The Magic Of Phonics: Unlocking Reading Success With Phonics Classes!

The basis for proficient reading and writing is phonics. Learners acquire the skills to decipher words, identify spelling patterns, and develop reading fluency by comprehending the link between letters and sounds.

Visit us:- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/discover-magic-phonics-unlocking-reading-success-classes-singh-yadac