Annotated Bibliography Reading, Specialist Language Development, and Video Games (Ch. 9., pp. 104-128).

In this chapter the author address reading at a trajectory approach , taking an informal approach teaching language lessons, situated meanings and video games, and game like learning. The trajectory approach that the author discusses is the importance of a child being able to have literal comprehension of what he/she is reading at an early age, instead of just being able to read the words. The author stresses that home-based oral language development is key to a successful trajectory approach for a long-term reader of academic content (p. 105). What the author is stressing is that for a child to have a better chance of being able to understand context from a textbook they need practice at an early age. Whether this is from a parent or learning from video games. One way a parent can help teach their children, is when a child becomes infatuated in a topic and develops an island of expertise (p. 106). This is when a child learns in depth information on something that exceptionally enjoy. With this excite from a child over a topic, a parent can research more information on the subject and further advance the childs knowledge by asking them questions giving them specialist language about the material as well. A situated understanding is a concept or word implies the ability to use the word or understand the concept in ways that are customizable to different situations (p.113). In other words, a situated understanding of a lesson or vocabulary for instance, is when someone can correctly have the ability to apply it in the correct way even in different scenarios. Video games can assist through technology in grasping situated understandings. For instance in a fighting game such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, when a child figures out a technique to defeat his enemies they can take these techniques into different parts of the game an reapply them where it is necessary. This is an example of situated understanding. In the eyes of the author as they state game-like learning leads learning situated meaning not just verbal and makes specialist language easy and useful (p.117). The next part of the chapter is about game-like learning. Game-like learning is demonstrated by having students write down steps into a computer software game to control a program object. They then can manipulate the object by using mathematical equations to change variance speeds and settings of the object. This allows the students to learn algebra in an abstract way that catches their attention and makes them want to learn. The author throughout this chapter is pointing out that if the regular methods of teaching are not always working in schools, then parents as well as schools should implement these various types teaching techniques to help children before they fall behind in academic understanding.