What about students who spend their time reading comics, video games and Web sites? Some researchers believe that students who spend a great deal of time reading comics and computer-based material are developing reading skills that are important for technical reading. These skills include the ability to skim and scan, to use visual cues such as photographs and to read things that are not arranged in a linear way. On the other hand, the same students might not be comfortable with longer narratives. They may find it easier to move around story events in a video game than to follow a long written story. It’s important to find out what your students know, and how their background knowledge can help their reading. |