Reading Tips

Need some tips for increasing reading at home?  Learn about phonics, motivating your child to read, creating a literacy friendly home, and what makes a good classroom from PBS.

Article of the Week: Alphabet Knowledge & Word Recognition

Learn about alphabet knowledge and how it develops, as well as how we assess it, and help students learn more by reading this article.

Article of the Week: Book apps

For some kids, the only way to get them to read a book is to use some sort of technology.  But not all apps for reading are created equal!  Check out this article by The Horn Book on how to choose a quality picture book app for your child.

Article of the Week: Boys & Books

Does it seem like your son doesn't like to read as much as your daughter?  I know that's a pattern I notice at my house.  Check out this article on the science behind boys and reading, and what you can do at home to help your son enjoy books. 

Article of the Week: Metacognition

In almost all college courses for teachers, you learn about metacognition.  Meta what?!?  In simpler terms, it's thinking about thinking.  Learn about how and why this is a crucial skill for kids, and what you can do to help foster this skill in your child.  Click HERE for the article.

Article of the Week: RTI definitions

If your child is receiving RTI services, you might be wondering what exactly that means?  This article from Reading Rockets does a nice job explaining some of the terms we use.

Read the article HERE.

Article of the Week: Supporting Early Writers

When my daughter was a toddler, she was constantly grabbing markers, pens, and crayons to scribble on anything she could get her hands on.  Our kitchen cupboards and refrigerator are proof of her early writing adventures with a sharpie!  I was frustrated at the time, but feel much better after reading this article about supporting early writing habits.  Encourage that writing...but hide the sharpies!  :)

Article of the Week: Building Vocabulary

When you think about building your child's vocabulary, do memories of flash cards and looking up definitions come to mind?  Authentic learning of vocabulary through reading and conversation is much more effective than memorizing a definition for a test.  Check out this article from Reading Rockets that offers some ideas to help expand your child's vocabulary at home.

Article of the Week: More on Common Core

More on Common Core...I promise this will be one of my last posts about Common Core.  It just seemed like a logical place to start for the year.  This is a great article from Reading Rockets on how parents can support Common Core Standards at home.  It explains the vocabulary you may have seen in the Illinois Learning Standards, and how you can help your child at home.  Find the article HERE.

Article of the Week: Common Core Standards

Last week I touched on the increased expectations of Common Core Standards.  My entire teaching career has existed in the days of Common Core, so other than my own schooling as a child, I don't know any different!  I would assume most parents would say their only experience with Common Core is through the eyes of their children, not personal experience.

When I put on my parent hat for a moment, what I see my own children doing at school is much more rigorous that I ever attempted as a child.  I think that is wonderful!  As a mom, I want my children to be smarter, kinder, and more successful than their parents.  The downside of this?  It's sometimes hard for me to help them with their homework!  The 6th grade math homework that I see come home is more complicated than what I did in high school - yikes!  My kids bring home homework and tell me that they can't do it my "old fashioned" way.  Sound familiar?  The mom in my wants to say, "If it works, who cares how you get the answer?"  But the teacher in me is thrilled!  Let me tell you why...

I was the kid who could memorize a math formula, but never explain how I solved the problem.  I didn't understand how the Distributive Property worked, but I could solve a problem using the formula.  So one could argue that I really didn't understand math.  Today's students learn several different ways to solve a problem, respond to a story, and explain their thinking.  Each grade level learns fewer concepts, but studies them more in-depth.  We will no longer be producing the "Jack of all trades, master on none."  Today's students will master many concepts!  Common Core Standards tend to get unfair criticism most of the time.  With this week's blog post, I encourage you to take a good look at the Illinois Learning Standards to see just what is expected of your child. https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Learning-Standards.aspx

Article of the Week: Journeys Curriculum

Last spring, classroom teachers spent several weeks piloting new curriculum in their classrooms to help choose a new reading series for our school.  Their recommendations were forwarded to the reading committee, where the new Journeys series was chosen.  The vote was unanimous!  We loved the technology resources, support materials, and the comprehensive program.  The increased expectations with Common Core Standards meant we needed to up our game at Erie Elementary (more on that next week!).  Although I won't be using the new curriculum as a classroom teacher this year, I am excited to use the support materials with small groups, and I can't wait to see our amazing classroom teachers implement the program.  My 6th grade daughter has used this program since 2nd grade with outstanding results.  Good things are in store for us this year at Erie Elementary!  Read more about the Journeys program HERE.