Chapter 6: Using E-Tools to Scaffold Comprehension of E-Literature

The next chapter that was assigned was chapter 6, "Using E-Tools to Scaffold Comprehension of E-Literature." This chapter was very informative because it introduced the different tools and comprehension strategies for when using digital texts. In this text, there were different step by step information listed for bother the younger and older children the comprehension strategies for when they are reading digital texts and this seemed to be useful for when teachers want to use it in their classroom.

One of the strategies that they talked about was the online annotations. As a student in college, I tend to use a lot of sticky notes. Every time I have something to read for class, I grab my pack of sticky notes and a pen and when I come notice something important I would write it down and stick it to the page. I use this method so I wouldn't forget what the important fact is for the page. One semester, I was reading a story and I have at least two sticky note on each page because the story had a lot of facts and details that I didn't want to forget about when having a class discussion the next day. When reading this selection of "Online Annotations," I learned that there is an online way to use sticky notes. The book states, "Sticky notes have become a popular tool to assist students with monitoring comprehension, as students use them to write thoughts, questions, or unknown words while reading independently" (89). One of the websites that the book provides and gets in depth with is WebNotes, which is a downloaded to the computer, and a toolbar appears below the address bar of the browser. The sticky notes that are now on your computer can also be highlighted and you can put them in folders on your computer. I believe this strategy can help students especially when they are reading something online and they don't understand what a word means. Also, whether they want to be someone like me and write down the facts and little details that may be important later on in the reading. This chapter talked about so much more digital texts. For example, the author visits, Google Lit trips, book talks and book trailers. These activities would be so much fun for kids to do in the classroom and I know just like them I will be very excited to use it in my classroom. Reading this chapters and learning about the different digital texts that we as teachers may use in our classrooms makes me so excited and has opened my eyes to all the different strategies.