Common Core Standards for Middle School: Reading, Writing, and the iPad
Abstract: This paper describes a work-in-progress grant funded research project that is being implemented with pre-service and in-service teachers enrolled in reading courses at a Florida university. These technological novices are being introduced to mobile technology as a means to academically prepare middle school students for the demanding curricular changes brought on by the implementation of the Common Core Standards (2010). According to Valberg (2010), young adults spent an average of 7:38 hours a day using technology in 2008. That figure has currently increased to a total of nearly 11hours a day of media content. One conclusion that can be drawn from this data is that although media tends to consume the lives of middle school teens, these teens tend to demand material that is relevant and connected to their lives (Valberg). Therefore it is imperative middle school classroom teachers become competent and capable to further enhance the learning environment for these students by learning to use the newest applications and mobile devices.