Is it really true that three of five children in any classroom have dyslexia? I read it somewhere the other day, so I’m reviewing recent research, to confirm this, and would like your input. Do you have a child labeled as dyslexic? If so, consider this a gift, a perceptual talent. Your child’s brain works in the same way as great geniuses, thinking mainly in pictures, altering and creating perceptions, being highly aware of surroundings, and possessing enormous curiosity. Famous…..
I recently noticed an important Reading Today Online article written by a first grade teacher. This is certainly an article worth looking at several times, as I have. This teacher walked out of a mandated school district training. She wrote that in the first minutes of a lengthy day, teachers were told to use nonsense words as a basis of assessment, do timed tests which then labeled children and grouped accordingly, and utilize the methodology of the scripted program. There…..
When I was only 21, I taught high school English, speech and drama in Antonito, Colorado. How in the world could I teach minimal English speakers in a language that made no sense to them when they couldn’t read well in Spanish or English? My journey into the field of reading began with those kids, only a couple years younger than me, and never ended. That first year we started a newspaper, put on plays using a table and chairs…..
The other day I had lunch with Kassy, a super mom and long-time homeschooler visiting from California. I lucked out and got to teach her high school daughter and niece a number of years ago. Not surprised at their success in life, I asked Kassy what I should write in upcoming blogs; she told me to simply share my success recipes—she is quite a cook. For me, reading is like breathing. I still like holding a book in my hands. I…..
You want your child to succeed. Since reading is a foundational tool for success in life, mastering the basic skills is really important. In our competitive world, only about a third of America’s children are reading at a proficient level. It’s more important than ever for you to know how to teach reading at home. If you are unsure how well your child reads, have your child select a few books he or she is interested in reading. Start with…..
I raised four children (three of them stepchildren), and now I’m a grandma. I just moved from my mountain home to Eugene, Oregon, to be with my kids. In the midst of chaos, I started writing this blog, babysitting a toddler and teaching a third grader. I like to think I am like Cher on her Farewell Tour, and she was great. Many of you probably still remember me from a school visit, seminar, keynote or hanging out with you……
Welcome. You have come to this blog for a reason, and there’s never been a better time than right now. Maybe you are looking for a way to help someone learn to read more effectively or perhaps the Common Core standards seem unreachable. Whatever the reason, you are in the right place. It’s true there are many how-to-teach-reading titles on the internet. Most of these are strong on theory, which is great if you are a professional teacher. Reading Champs…..
My name is Rita M. Wirtz, MA, author of Reading Champs: Teaching Reading Made Easy. I’m so happy to have you as a visitor to my blog about my new book. This project is very special to me, and I hope to share some of that excitement with you here. I’ll be using this blog to interact with you about Reading Champs, expanding on some of the topics in it and blogging on some of the ideas related to my…..