Improve Reading Skills With Computer and Video Games

Advances in technology have greatly increasedtheir names, increasing the understanding of
the tools we can choose from to assist with theletter-sound correspondences with the use of
improvement of reading skills. I am going to focuslifelike speech throughout the program and
on computer learning software for kids. This is ofallowing parents to customize their child's learning
particular interest to me because while the child isexperience using graduated levels of difficulty.
increasing his or her attentional capacity by playingReading Comprehension Booster by Merit
a video game he is also fine tuning reading specificSoftware allows students to receive practice in
skills such as comprehension and vocabulary.using basic reading improvement strategies and is
In ‘Action Video Game Modifies Visualgeared for grades 3 through 5. Students work
Selection Attention’ published in April 2003 bywith interactive exercises to determine main idea,
Shawn Green & Daphne Bavelier a study wasmake inferences, and draw conclusions.
conducted to analyze the effects of video gameAssessments place students in appropriate units
playing on visual attention resources. Green andof instruction. Students advance as they
Bavelier did find that video-game players dodemonstrate readiness. They receive immediate
indeed have a greater attentional capacity thaninstructional feedback throughout.
non video-game players. Thus, we can assumeThe Jump Start Series by Knowledge Adventure
that video games do in fact improve reading skillspack extreme fun and exciting adventure into
by increasing the attentional capacity.learning. The game takes you through an
Children who have difficulty reading are moreadventure for example, solving a mystery while
likely to drop out of high school and less likely tousing various skills to navigate through a number
attend college. Therefore, focusing on andof different settings. Skills include Parts of Speech,
solidifying reading skills at a young age is incrediblySpelling and Vocabulary, Addition and Subtraction,
important to an individuals overall success. ReadingMultiplication and Division, Prime Numbers,
can be very difficult skill to motivate a youngFractions, Decimals, Estimation, Science,
person to practice. However, once an agreedGeography, Music, The Arts and History. Jump
upon method or methods are found it is an easyStart series is available from Kindergarten through
skill to improve and you will see progress quickly.6th grade!
I conducted a search for games that wouldTechnological advances have increased the tools
enhance specific reading skills while incorporatingthat we can choose for reading enhancement. I
the above mentioned increase in attentionalhave suggested computer learning software for
capacity and offer the following reviews.kids that I find to be of high quality as well as
Reader Rabbit 1 Software by The Learningengaging. This is of particular interest to me
Company builds early reading skills and is gearedbecause while the child is increasing his or her
for ages 4-7. Features include match up, sorter,attentional capacity by playing a video game he is
labeler and word train. Educational benefits includealso fine tuning reading specific skills such as
increasing vocabulary by associating pictures withcomprehension and vocabulary.