An image from Flickr, of children using an iPad

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Teachers in the Sydney Catholic Archdiocese are trialling iPads with children in reading recovery, a remedial program for Year 1 students, with encouraging results, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Rachel Chaston, the tutor running the trial, said oral language development was closely linked to mastering reading and writing.

Teachers have noticed their students using more complex language. Computers, smartphones, tablets and video games allowed more children to begin school with a grasp of technology, which teachers could build on, Ms Chaston said.

One student mentioned in the report, six-year-old Dominic Risi from St Mary's Primary School in the Sydney suburb of Erskineville, was once reluctant to pick up a book, but in the two months since he started using an iPad in reading tutorials, his mother has noticed a ''wonderful'' change.

''He comes home and wants to read to you,'' Richelle Risi said.

With the reading recovery program offered around Australia, as well as in the US, Britain, Canada and Ireland, the trial's findings could have widespread relevance, the report adds.

FULL STORY

Words come to life when they're at your fingertips (Sydney Morning Herald)

PHOTO CREDIT

flickingerbrad on Flickr

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