Websites vs. Classroom Materials

Chapter 3 focuses on how many of the websites students are focused on today value the same literacy practices used in school but the students do not apply the literacy practices in the classroom as they do when looking at their favorite websites. As seen by the websites focused on, many students out of school are focusing on the things they enjoy socially as well as what they enjoy in terms of their cultural. The author conducting the research of these websites focused on syntax, vocabulary, and genre in order to determine what is making students so much more willing to sit and read what they find on the websites rather than the books in school. The findings indicate that the websites students look at outside of school do include many of the genres looked at in school such as bibliographies, satires, news articles, and historical events. The findings also looked at the sentence lengths of the websites and discovered that many of the sentences are lengthy and well written with high levels of vocabulary. If so much of the information and layout are similar to the materials found in school, then why aren't students performing higher in the classroom?

When I read this chapter, I figured the answer was simple: Students don't perform well in the classroom because the material is not what they WANT to read but rather what they HAVE to read. Although a lot of the information on the websites was equal in terms of reading level and vocabulary, the students wanted to read the information on the websites ... it was relevant to them in their personal lives as well as their interests. Aside from relevance and interest level, websites are also appealing to students with all the different gadgets and moving materials ... they are constantly keeping student engaged. Handing a student a book and saying read the first two chapters silently or round robin style is not going to keep a child interested .... lessons need to be hands on and creative. The new technologies that are keeping the attention of the younger generation in middle and high school needs to be applied to lessons in the classroom. I know for every single reading there can't be a website pulled up or an electronic book but supplemental activities may be helpful. Take the Cesar Chavez example .... you can read his bibliography in class or a story about him but let students go home and find their own information about him to share in the class. This information can be anything but try and have the students find their own personal connection with what they will be sharing. This gives them the opportunity to do their own research and at the same time be willing to read the in class materials because they will have their own connection with them and maybe be more interested. 

I know the solution cannot be this simple, but there are many ways to keep students engaged in the classroom. I know the article said that students may also not be actually reading what is on the website but if they are willing enough to stay on the website and connect with it over an extended period of time, then they are  doing something on the website. Many students do read and enjoy it but they need something to keep them connected and interested.