Tag Archives: reading instruction
I was born on Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. Perhaps that is why I have always had such a strong social conscience. I’ve been teaching reading nearly my whole life. When I was six, I was dragging neighborhood kids into my “schoolroom.” In addition to teaching in a 9-12 reading lab, Title I teacher, etc. I was also connected to various literacy-related boards and organizations, including school boards, Literacy Volunteers of America, neighborhood study centers, Fantasy Theatre, Harmony Arts, Laubach…..
Every family member makes a New Year’s reading goal. Make sure your child has a need to know, a reason for learning or reading something. Assess background knowledge. Capitalize on it, or add it. “Schema” is prior knowledge (“schemata“, plural). Anticipate what the reading will be about. “Guess what it’s about.” Note the author’s paragraph writing pattern. Is the main idea at the top, middle, or end? Preview, read, and review text in DRA’s. Directed Reading Activities. Previewing includes questioning, predicting, and determining…..
This is the perfect time to help your emergent or struggling reader prepare for upcoming standardized tests. Common Core is around the corner. WORD STUDY. FIRST, REVIEW THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF READING. Go back to the beginning: sounds, letters. Then fill in the gaps, as needed. Review, repeat like crazy. Use this time-tested, pattern- based decoding sequence. Consonants: Consistent consonants: b,d,f,h,j,k,l,m,n,p,r,v,z. Inconsistent consonants: c,g,q,s,t,y,w. Digraphs (2 letters, one sound): ch,sh,th,wh,ph,gh,ck,ng. Blends: (two letters, two sounds); (three letters, three sounds): bl,…..
Teaching a ‘gap kid’ to read. Today I finally met Luke. His mom brought him over, in this busy season because Luke got all zeroes on his last first grade assessment. So I’ll walk you through what we did, because something drastic has to happen right now. Can’t wait another day. I need to help this Mom fill in the gaps once I model how to do it. ME- Model Everything. Then, practice makes the learning stick. Taught, today under…..