In a world teeming with electronic gadgets that compete for the attention of children and adults, many are missing out on the joy of truly great literature. This last portion of my series on "Kindling Literacy" explains the heart of a life-long learner--an internal motivation sparked by a strong sense of value.
The only way to increase literacy is by motivating non-readers to want to read. Motivation to read--I mean intrinsic motivation--comes when readers (or potential readers) recognize how much truly wonderful, valuable, can't-live-without-it content they will miss if they don't read.
Consider the numerous gold and silver rushes throughout history: No one had to pay the prospectors to run to California or Alaska or Colorado to stake their claims and dig for the precious metals. They gladly pursued that work from their own desire.
For those who don't already recognize the value of reading, Amazon's Kindle--or a similar electronic book--will do nothing to overcome the intrinsic problem that arises when someone has not yet mastered or found motivation for doing the relatively difficult cognitive work of reading.
For such people, when offered the cognitively passive activity of TV or video games v. the cognitively active opportunity to read ... they will always choose the passive activity.
Despite what benefits exist, the only way to get these people to actually take the more difficult path is to demonstrate its value (Students must realize "there's gold in them thar hills!"). The way to demonstrate the value of reading is by reading to them--with verve and vigor--truly wonderful books.
So, help your children catch "gold fever." Make reading good books that engage their imaginations and their hearts a regular part of your life, and watch how that "glimmer" continues to inspire them to learn. I'd love to help you do that through Sonlight Curriculum if you're ready for the learning adventure of your life.
3 comments:
>>if you're ready for the learning adventure of your life.<<
We're on it and loving it, up to our imaginative eyeballs in "Little Britches" by Ralph Moody right now and smiling all the way. Thank you so much for being such an integral part of our life each day as we fan the flames of literacy and learning.
Absolutely: Intrinsic motivation will trump technology every time [smile].
~Luke
Some of my friends think I'm weird because we don't have much 'screen time' in our home - TV or computer - and you won't catch me buying a gaming system if I can help it!
But all four of my children adore reading. My younger two are working hard at learning how because they desperately want to read the words in the books they check out from the library (by the dozens!).
And this morning, my oldest daughter couldn't stand that I had to stop reading "The Winged Watchman" to move onto science and spelling. She grabbed the book as soon as she could and read ahead.
Which of course made her older brother mad. :)
OH - the joy of a really, really good book!
Thanks Sarita,
Michelle
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