I’ve written about not having a Kindle here previously. I still don’t have one, but my 12-year-old daughter got one for Christmas and loves it. Am I jealous? Not quite yet. She and I both have some thoughts on it. We both wondered if it’s cheating to have a Kindle and we had a major discussion about it. She purchased a book on it, and had the computerized voice ‘read’ it to her.
She ‘finished’ her book in record time. She didn’t have to turn pages, but she did follow along with her eyes. I know she can read, duh, she’s in seventh grade, but she’s not a speed reader. She loved the book that she ‘read’ on her Kindle, but now I have to wonder … is this considered reading? Really? Is this like ‘listening’ to an audio book? Is this ‘fair’ reading?
I’m not so sure.
I told her that I will not let her listen to all of her books. She knows this, and at school, they have reading time, where she will have to read her books. It was interesting because she even said to me, “It’s like ‘screen time’ mom, and it’ll rot your brain!” So what does THAT mean? That a seventh grader gets it. That having a Kindle, and having it read to her is still kind of like screen time?
Still, it’s better than sitting in front of a computer game, or the TV, isn’t it?
I’m really curious to know what other parents feel about this?
And nope, I still don’t want a Kindle. I’m in love with my real life books, with the touch and smell of them.
Speaking from a teacher’s point of view, this is absolutely NOT cheating! In fact, you mentioned your daughter is not a very fast reader? This is an AWESOME tool to help her become a faster, more fluent reader. (As long as she is actually following along with what is being read to her). Also, this is a great way to help her increase her reading skills, because she can actually listen to books that are slightly above her reading level.
I would say definitely continue to let her listen, as long as she’s reading on her own sometimes, too.
Posting from my Kindle Fire…
Reading via Kindle is not cheating. My Kindle has allowed me to read more than ever. I take it everywhere with me.
For my friend, with low vision, the eInk technology combined with the ability to adjust font size and word spacing has allowed her to read again! A blessing.
I agree with Brandy. In class we read aloud, so with the exception of having to read maybe one paragraph aloud, isn’t that the same experience? I also think that it is beneficial to see the words on the page to help reinforce, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. Just think that she’ll know that “poignant” is not pronounced the way it’s spelled. (I can still hear my mother laughing at me for that one.)
I got a Nook for Christmas from the baby and I am in love with it. As my father, who has a Kindle, says, “it’s not an either/or. It’s both.” Amen.
Does she know what happened in the book? Can she tell you about the characters? Then even though she “only” listened she definitely “read” the book. You can listen and comprehend books that are at a higher reading level than what you can sit down and read silently. That is one reason why it is so important to read out loud when kids are little and learning to read. Audio-books are still reading and do help build comprehension skills. At least with Kindle, you can still follow along with your eyes and hold something too. Not a bad deal.
Reading on a Kindle is not cheating! I love my Kindle and read even more since I got it…I take it everywhere with me!
One great thing about eInk technology is that allows some of my friends who have not been able to read in a while (because of visual impairments) to read. There is no glare on the screen. Plus, readers can adjust the font size and the spacing of the words! What a blessing!