Reading & Literacy

4 Tips for Reading Success: How to Combine Screens and Printed Text

By Laura Baker & Sarah Schwartz — April 03, 2023 1 min read
Image of a stack of books and a digital tablet.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

While many schools already used digital tools in their teaching of reading prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, extended periods of remote or hybrid schooling certainly quickened the pace and appetite for technology.

In fact, surveys now show that school library budgets have been shifting to digital assets over the past few years, especially at the high school level. In a 2021 survey of librarians conducted by the School Library Journal, nearly half of school libraries expected to spend more on digital e-books that year, while decreasing spending on print.

As this hybrid learning experience involving books and screens becomes more commonplace, it’s important for educators to understand the strengths of each format, particularly around reading and understanding content.

Below are examples that show the strengths and weaknesses of print and digital experiences for four reading instruction priorities.

1. Reading aloud to, and with, young children

Children often work with adults and partners as they practice their reading skills, and that interaction can be enhanced in powerful ways by reading print material together. Still, studies show e-books can help to improve reading skills, too. But parent and teacher scaffolding is needed for full benefit. Of course, that is the case for reading print books, too.

2. Navigating text features

Some studies have shown that students struggle more with comprehension when they are reading on digital devices rather than with print materials.

3. Understanding complex text

Studies show that readers may remember specific details better from digital books, but they may lose an understanding of overarching ideas threaded through the content.

4. Accessibility for readers with learning challenges

E-books can be more accessible for individuals with disabilities, such as those with visual impairments, as they can easily adjust the font size, contrast, and color scheme. But never underestimate the power of one-on-one interaction to gauge understanding and lead students through challenges.

Related Reading

Reading & Literacy Kids Understand More From Books Than Screens, But That's Not Always the Case
What the research says about the benefits and drawbacks of reading on screens versus printed text.
7 min read
ed tech survey march 2023 schwartz
F. Sheehan / Education Week and Getty<br/>
Reading & Literacy What the Research Says Reading on Screen vs. Print: New Analysis Thickens the Plot on Promoting Comprehension
Electronic books could boost young children's comprehension more than print, but few enhance, rather than distract, new study finds
4 min read
Image of someone holding a tablet and a book.
Carolina Jaramillo/iStock/Getty
Reading & Literacy How Should Reading Be Taught in a Digital Era?
Most experts agree that even the very youngest students should be learning with a mix of print and digital texts.
10 min read
Both printed texts and digital readers have their places in a 3rd grade classroom at Indian Run Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio.
Both printed texts and digital readers have their places in a 3rd grade classroom at Indian Run Elementary School in Dublin, Ohio.
Maddie McGarvey for Education Week

All interactives are created by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva.

Events

School & District Management Webinar Fostering Productive Relationships Between Principals and Teachers
Strong principal-teacher relationships = happier teachers & thriving schools. Join our webinar for practical strategies.
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
Promoting Integrity and AI Readiness in High Schools
Learn how to update school academic integrity guidelines and prepare students for the age of AI.
Content provided by Turnitin

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Reading & Literacy Opinion Don’t Blame ‘Science of Reading’ for Low Scores
We need better teacher training, the right materials, and engaging literacy-rich programs for schools, writes Angélica Infante-Green.
Angélica Infante-Green
5 min read
Collage illustration of students learning to read, literacy
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + iStock/Getty Images
Reading & Literacy Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Cultivating Student Engagement in Reading?
Answer 7 questions about cultivating student engagement in reading.
Reading & Literacy Q&A Why Reading Support Classes Help High Schoolers Succeed
Biology, literature, calculus, U.S. history—all high school courses, regardless of subject, require a strong literacy skills.
4 min read
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, stands for a portrait at the Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jennifer Norrell, superintendent of East Aurora School District 131, at the Resilience Education Center in Aurora, Ill., on Dec. 4, 2024.
Jamie Kelter Davis for Education Week
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Whitepaper
Use the Science of Reading to Transform Your Teaching
Find out How Multimodal Literacy and Systematic Phonics Instruction Transform Classrooms
Content provided by hand2mind