Read Think Learn

Something we have been trying to argue for, for thirteen years now. Activity sheets , not for all, but as some part of a reading programme…that encourage children to respond to open questions using thinking skills. Such a valuable tool to embed,assess and encourage thoughtful responses to reading! Check us out. We are also developing activities that can be used to support structured literacy. Watch this space!

In recent years, Sweden has begun a remarkable shift in its education system: after a period of intense digitization in classrooms, the country is rediscovering the value of physical books, traditional reading, and handwriting.

The change doesn't mean eliminating screens entirely, but rather balancing their use and reducing their presence in the earliest years, where specialists have expressed concern about the impact on reading comprehension, attention span, and the development of basic skills.

The Swedish government has allocated funds for schools to purchase more textbooks and printed materials, while also promoting more reading time and less screen time. Many teachers have begun limiting tablet use and reintroducing activities such as handwritten notes, working with notebooks, and consulting encyclopedias and physical texts. This decision is supported by studies suggesting that children understand information better when they read it on paper, and by signs that rapid digitization has not always yielded the expected results.

Although technology still has a place in Swedish education, the country is moving towards a more balanced model, where digital tools are complementary rather than the central focus of learning.

Source 📚:

- "Sweden Education Shift: From Digital Learning to Pen and Paper", The Think Academy

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