I’m guilty. And I’m definitely too old to be considered part of the ‘distracted generation’. I didn’t grow up with a device in hand at all times, hopping from shiny thing to shiny thing on the internet. I usetools to help keep me from being distracted online. Distractions are all around with technology, andconnecting with distracted students can sometimes be difficult. The handy infographic below takes a look at some statistics on reading vs. device use and offers some suggestions to help our students of the ‘distracted generation’ slow down a bit. Keep reading to learn more!

The Distracted Generation

• Reading is in decline – 48% of adults read for pleasure, but only 33% of college students do
• The percentage of Americans who read the paper has declined in the past 10 years from 41% to 23%
• 43% of American adults read at below the ‘basic’ level
• SAT scores are the lowest in three decades

What Can You Do?

• Create a passion for the written word
• Read with them
• Make books available
• You should read too- give them an example
• Give them tools to succeed
• e-readers are convenient and may be more familiar to them than a book – but it is still reading!
• Make reading fun