AlphaAlliance

Texting allows your kids to connect with the outside world in a new and socially acceptable way. While no one disputes the potential downfalls to texting the upside is that your child is forced to use reading and writing skills even when sending messages like CMIIW (correct me if I am wrong). Helping your child use texting in a productive and effective way is your responsibility as the caring adult in their life. Studies have shown that when adults are monitoring both the context of text messages and the time that is being spent sending them then most kids suffer no ill effects from texting. So now that you know that texting within boundaries can be o.k. for your child here is what you should consider when setting boundaries- The age and maturity of your child. Some kids as young as 9 can maturely manage their texting while other kids at 16 are not ready. As a parent you will need to determine whether or not your child is ready to have texting on their phone. Remember that using a phone is a privilege and it is not your parental responsibility to provide one with all the bells and whistles. The bottom line if you feel your child is ready turn on the texting if are unsure there is no harm in waiting. Is school or activities suffering from excessive texting? If your child’s grades are falling or you notice a lack of interest in non-texting activities it may be time to set stricter boundaries on when and where the texting takes place. Some parents are demanding their child’s phone at mealtimes, during homework hours and even when their child goes to bed to prevent those all night texting sessions. In addition do not be afraid to let your child know that you will be checking their text content at any given time to insure that only appropriate texts will be sent.

Admittedly I have been frustrated by conversations with many regarding the idea that texting is eroding our literacy skills.  I have always been a firm believer that the more we can have our students read and write, no matter how that happens, their skills will improve, as long as we are willing to guide them.  Now, having an expert confirm these thoughts is more than exciting.  I am hoping you will share the video below with others to start some conversation on not only how we can use this medium in our schools, but how we can connect the use of technology into our more traditional forms of literacy. They definitely can serve one another.

As with all skills, the need for these skills can be seen as a continuum from the functional - enough for day to day life, through socio-cultural to enhance life chances through to transformational which can underpin high levels of innovation.

Literacy has always been a collection of cultural and communicative practices shared among members of particular groups. As society and technology change, so does literacy. Because technology has increased the intensity and complexity of literate environments, the twenty-first century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies—from reading online newspapers to participating in virtual classrooms—are multiple, dynamic, and malleable. As in the past, they are inextricably linked with particular histories, life possibilities and social trajectories of individuals and groups. —NCTE Position Statement Defining 21st Century Literacies