Are primary teachers ready for the text generation?

Primary teachers may want to make sure they are up 2 d8 with their mobile phone skills, following a new study which appears to endorse the favourite habit of the text generation.

According to researchers at the University of Coventry, pupils who regularly use 'textisms' such as plz (please) when messaging friends are unlikely to encounter problems with literacy at school, despite claims from critics that the practice is damaging the English language.

However, John Coe, general secretary of the National Association for Primary Education, warned those in education jobs not to take the findings too seriously.

He said: "The only conclusive proof is to study the same children against a target group which do not text - if you can find such a group these days."

Researchers for the study, which examined the text habits of eight to 12-year-olds, also concluded that text skills can be considered an accurate indicator of reading ability and phonological awareness.



Published On 21/01/2010