ebooks are catching on, and not just on Amazon or with Sony, but with big name publishers. The Guardian out of the UK stated in a artical regarding the London Book Fair, that ebooks are a booming and rising options for readers. The market is starting to take a second look at what they can expect and gain from this technology. Some also, however, ask the question is it like VHS v. Beta-max? Will the price point and format war be the killer or will the strong survive and flourish?

In south Alabama, Jackson High School has won the Laura Bush Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative Grants Program for $25,000, in order to expand the reference material within the school to ebook format. A big win for the high school and an even bigger win for the ebook market. The fact that schools are catching on and seeing the benefit to their technologically advance and majority technology friendly students want them is major. This way they might actually look up the information instead of buying it from a paper “genius”. 

I have to mention that it has been finals week for me so I apologize for my absence. I have been thinking as I have sat in the library for about a week, if there was a cot I would have slept here, anyway, if universities incorporated ebooks into their format for finals and for studying the use and need would be wonderful for students and also would save tremendously on paper. I asked my professor what we spent on paper (each professor has an account that the university pays but keeps track of) this semester his amount copied and printed was over $400 worth of paper. So my point being that ebooks and etests would be nice, convient not to mention Earth friendly. 

I noticed Oprah is now Twittering, I wonder is the magic gone or growing from Twitter, now that everyone is doing it does it bring growth or new way to fail? I think the same about ebooks, many people ask me the same question in regard to ebooks and elearning for kids, “will it bring growth, or a new way to be lazy?

Let me just say I firmly believe that ebooks will bring a new way to be productive. A new way for kids to learn, and share knowledge across a wider table. eBooks will allow more knowledge to be given and taken and also people who could not get a book deal can write to another audience. I know moms who would love to write for kids, and kids who write for kids and ebook publishing gives them a chance.  

 

So I ask you ebooks, a buzz word or the new great read?

While the WORLD celebrates Earth Day today in big and small ways we like to think the by creating great ebooks for kids we are doing a BIG part. There is the BIG question of “are ebooks better for Mother Earth?” the answer is yes & no depending on what you are comparing them to.

By FAR they are much better than purchasing new books. They save paper, labor, carbon, machine gases, output from production and emissions into the air. If you are comparing them to old books that are reused or vintage, then not as much.

BUT, the greatest thing about Wizz-E.com, they are ONLINE books. So no using materials to make a reader, no cost in printing, no use of products what-so-ever.  We are using the BIG 3 “R’s”. They are reusable, recyclable and they reduce materials.

When you  little one asks about Earth Day or comes home from school with excitement to share about how he can be the super hero for the Earth, listen with a warm heart and show him or her the great things about ebooks and how the have the power to save!

Autism seems like such a taboo word, something that gets tucked away or covered with a diagnosis that makes sense, when Autism rarely if ever makes sense. The good news is that the medical community is making progress in connecting the puzzle pieces that make up the way in which to better communicate with children who have different needs.

 

I asked some friends of mine to chime in here and share what they know and have learned with their children. 

• all kids are the same no matter if they have extra challenges or not.
• autism is a label, one that tell others what to expect and how to change their form of communicating so that my child can hear/see/engage in what they are saying. 
• everyday is different
• the best times are the time in which I can learn about my son when he is struggling. I know how to never let that happen again. 
• autism is the core of how he is but not who or what he is. he is a living breathing learning and growing human who has feelings that get hurt too. 
• outbursts will always seem foreign to those around him. but to him he is just doing what we all do, expressing emotion and sharing something we want others to know. 
• he will always be smarter than me. but will never say so. 
• there is beauty in autism, a beauty that can only be seen from the eyes of someone willing to never place it in a box. 
• teachers are scared at first but once they realize that it is really a simple thing - love . It will always smooth out the wrinkles. 
• Some days i will and have cried until i am red and until sleep comes wanting it to be easier and different for him and sometimes different for me. 
• it is hard, it s frustrating, it is more than a daily thing, it is a with every breath thing but he is my thing. 

Those thoughts were from a couple moms I know who write about their kids on their blogs which I will share tomorrow. But here are some thoughts on what eases the struggles from myself as a mom with a son with Asperger’s and my other moms with their autistic kids.

• finger reading… not saying the words but enjoying the feeling of the book and the way the words seem to be accepted without thought or phrase. 
• crafts - anything that is creative. I have a whole craft cabinet that Chandler can go to when he is stressed and get pipe cleaners, string, glue, foam and markers and just create. It calms him right down. 
• music - my kids love Phillip Glass. somewhat classical somewhat trance like 
• ebooks without the sound just them movement
• audio books with the sound on low
• water running
• water painting  - then he wont get upset buy the colors mixing or getting on him
• my daughter loves silly putty, I always carry it. she squeezes and molds it when she is stressed. 

Autism is more than just a label, it is way of opening the mind to what these kids already know. They are special, they have different challenges but they are smart and they just need some extra thought and experience to calm them and allow them to be free from the blockages places in front of them. 

 

What are your thoughts, challenges and uses that help create harmony in your house??

Sitting with my 5 year old this morning for our daily coffee and conversations, we were enjoying Between The Lions (PBSkids.org) and as he was listening to the book being read and watching the character come to life from a 2 dimensional image on a book cover to real moving, talking, dancing person; I thought that’s an ebook! Meaning, mothers watch stories being read on show like this and Reading Rainbow, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, and Word World; but it is not perceived as an ebook, its perceived as a story on TV which somehow makes it different.

Putting the two together the same animation and sound that is being played for our pre-schoolers and young children on TV is being focused for ebooks. Mothers I asked about ebooks for their children, were most hesitant about letting a computer do the reading, but they said they allowed their children to watch some of the programs mentioned above for a small amount of time. When asked why most said something along the lines of  it was only for a select about of time and in conjunction with the one-on-one reading they did with them. 

Ok, so I think we need a new perception of what educational partners are. If we allow our children to watch programs that assist in their learning and then allow then to go to the computer to play the games provided by those television shows to again partner with parents in the name of education, we should be willing to cut out some of the middle man.  Ebook sites, especially Wizz-E.com provide education through books with or without sound, games, and only accept books from the best of authors. This way publishers of ebooks can provide the education and entertainment that goes side by side with learning to read. 

I am not saying that educational shows are not valuable, but I will take books over TV any day. I know that this morning while conversating with Chandler (5 year old) he gets the most out of Between the Lions when they show stories coming to life and talking to him. When words and music are showing him something, he locks into it. I love PBSkids and the shows they provide, it gives us a block to stand on for reaching the top shelf of books. But, I also love great ebooks that come to life, they give me as a parent another tool to show how fantastic and magical books are. 

What do you think? Have you ever looked at books/TV this way?

Ollie Bray, Musselburgh Grammar’s depute headteacher, saw off competition from across the continent to scoop top prize at the Microsoft European Innovative Teachers Forum Awards in Vienna.

Ollie Bray, educator chose to educate his students using the same tools they were using but in a different way. For 2 years he has been teaching subjects with games. Brilliant. Using Guitar Hero, a game that teaches rhythm, math and concentration. Its no news flash that music helps kids better their math skills and increases focus. For schools with no music programs this is a great alternative. Bray says,

This is an investment in children, not in computer games. I was pleased the judges realised the idea was not about learning guitar. It’s not expensive to run and children are already experienced in technology.

When we meet our students and our kids on the level to which they are, we connect and they are more likely to listen to what is being placed in front of them. I mean, what kids wants to sit in a classroom six hours a day and be so disconnected that he only dreams and checkout when the bell rings. Kids need to be understood and know that their ideas and interests are valid. If you can utilize tools that will get into kids heads that is the key to learning. 

Most teachers would just use play in schools. This gets teachers using good tools – computer games are very encouraging.
“I only play games that have some educational benefit to them. I was surprised, but absolutely delighted to get this award.
He will now qualify automatically for the Worldwide Innovative Teachers Awards in Brazil, taking place in November 2009.

 Get outside that four-walled box, try something new and different and see the response. 

 

After polling several mothers and fathers, asking them how the like to enjoy reading to their children and would they consider using ebooks in conjunction with traditional paper books most were unaware that ebooks had advanced to a child level. Interesting idea, advancing to a child’s level. 

I introduced them to Wizz-E.com and asked if they would share a moment with their children reading ebooks and report back their findings. 

Here are their words:

I prefer paper books, but as our society is growing more electronically inclined I think it’s great that we’re keeping books in that process. At least the kids are still reading! That’s what’s most important. 

I really think anything that gets kids reading is great.

-Vanessa T. Oklahoma

 

Putting ebooks in the hands of kids is a great way to blend technology that they are bombarded with daily and the excitement of reading. Which I believe todays kids are losing touch with. Meeting kids where they are will always prove more results than trying to force feed them something that they feel is old or out of touch with their lives. 

Sarah P. California

 

We haven’t tried ebooks but I can’t say I find it appealing.
I enjoy cuddling up w/ the girls to read in their beds or on the sofa. Putting them in front of the computer screen just doesn’t do it for me. They do some computer at school and a little at home, but there’s nothing like reading together and turning actual pages. Both peanuts are starting to read on their own now and enjoy quiet time in their room with books… it’s lovely. Then again, this is all coming from the least techy person out there. I don’t own a cell phone, have tivo/dvr (nor cable!) or whatever else it’s called. Bluray? What’s that? Twitter - huh? Just old school that way

-Susan J. South Carolina

 

Like anything else we expose our children too, ebooks should be a relationship between parent and child. Communication is important. The whole idea of ebooks if faster put into the hands of young people to give them a different source for material and education. I love the idea that ebooks could replace DVD’s in cars. Could you imagine giving your child a gift card to download the Titles the have been wanting to read just before a long car trip and then as the trip goes on allow them to read aloud or share the story they chose. 

I think that as parents we are quick to give something to our children that will occupy them so we can be more comfortable. The easier the access to that comfort the better. DVD, video games, music they all are quick ways to entertain. But what if we changed the idea of entertainment. If a child is given the access to a book, one that will read a loud if he is not yet reading with sounds and animation - that becomes a game. Then they hooked on a story and they want to read more. Just like if you allow your child the taste of sugar before they experience broccoli most children will forgo the green for the yum. 

My long point is this. Give your child the good stuff and they will grave knowledge instead of fillers. They world has enough ridiculous fillers, allow them to experience the magic of a book and the total losing of the time that comes from passion in literature. Ebooks are a great way to do that - like hiding broccoli in pizza. 

-Tom H. Texas

 

In no way do we at Wizz-E.com feel that ebooks should deter moms and dads from page-turning-time with their little ones, but use the technology that is available and of the best authors and animators/illustrators to allow for educational time in a way that uses what kids already experience. I love what Tom said “…like hiding broccoli in pizza.” 

 

Ebook “Pizza!”

§  Download books to your smart phone and use then in waiting rooms, while grocery shopping, running errands,  in the dentist chair - since ebooks are much cheaper than paper copies, allow your child to download a new story for each outing.

§  Long car rides instead of hand-held video games

§  To distract while you are cleaning/preparing dinner instead of TV

§  As rewards, “if you finish this book you can download one of your choice”

§  While you are working on your laptop let your child sit next to your and “work” on his reading.

§  Gift ebooks~