Have you noticed that in the last few weeks of the school year, it gets more challenging to motivate kids to write? Many seem to only have the energy and patience for tasks that have real purpose. And let's face it, kids are far more motivated to do what we (the teachers, parents, role models in their lives) do. What the big people do is important and with intent. I love to see little ones swell with pride when they have helped out. I'm … [Read more...]
Motivating young students to edit their writing!
When I first started teaching, one of the greatest hurdles to overcome in language instruction was getting my first grade students to edit their writing. That piece of the writing process made no sense to them, regardless of how many fancy checklists I could find, stickers I gave out, ways we split up the time or time of day we did it. They simply wanted nothing to do it. It took me the longest time to realize that they simply did not see the … [Read more...]
Motivating students to read for meaning – with humor!
Nothing grabs my students' attention more than something that is downright silly. They know I tend to make the odd 'mistake' when we're reading together, and that reading just HAS to make sense. Whenever I sense someone's attention (or foot, or elbow) beginning to drift, I'll throw in the odd error, for example: Recently, we have completed the Pirate Pals Read and Write and More booklet together, and it occurred to me, again, that when … [Read more...]
Happy Family Day, great site for boys books and a word about bedtime stories from J.K. Rowling
Happy Family Day everyone! I wish the best to all of you for a fantastic day celebrating your families! My now teen kids and I are huge fans of Harry Potter, and we have spent many years of bedtimes curled up together sharing J.K. Rowling's stories about Harry and his friends, among hundreds of other stories. Could it be thousands by now? My wish for you for tonight is a cozy bedtime with a great book! Motivating Boys to Read For those … [Read more...]
The importance of Reading for Joy
Do you read every day? In this digital age, I bet you do. (I caught you reading this!) Homework has been a big issue in education for the past couple of years. If you've been following for a while, you know my issue with Reading Logs. A survey taken of Ontario students writing standardized tests administered by Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) found that only 50% of grade three and grade six students in 2010/2011 … [Read more...]
Rethinking Reading Logs for beginning readers
I have been rethinking Reading Logs over the past twenty years, particularly for beginning readers. As a first grade teacher, I had mixed feelings about sending them home. It's fairly easy to figure out early on what will become of one's students' reading logs throughout the year. As parents, we all have the best intentions. Teachers know that. Many of us fill both roles. Life gets busy, especially that in-between school and bed time when … [Read more...]
Reading and writing through play!
Do you have a child who loves animals, may wish to be a veterinarian or doctor, and could use a little practice or writing his or her name? (Not that you would ever mention it...) How about one who does not see the point in learning to read or write, but has a fantastic imagination? A sociable child with boundless energy, an interest in the law, perhaps, and exploring … [Read more...]
How to make reading homework FUN!
“Why does my son keep bringing home books that are too easy for him? How will he learn anything if he isn't challenged?” Make reading homework fun for k-3 students, so they'll become lifelong readers! Reading homework in kindergarten and the primary grades is usually familiar reading. Books that kids have read more than once are considered 'familiar' text, and are an important piece of the early literacy journey. Reading books that are easy … [Read more...]
What reading levels mean and why kids should not have to worry about them
The term 'reading levels' in a broad sense means a degree of reading accuracy, fluency, comprehension on a text with specific guidelines within a given reading system. Organizations, such as school boards, use a combination of systems to measure reading levels. Click here to for the various reading systems explained! Why schools use leveled readers: Leveled readers are used so that teachers can match children with books that … [Read more...]
Tried and true stories for the transition back to school: K-2!
Looking for some tried, tested and true picture books to help little ones through the back to school transition? There's no better way than to show them examples of others who have been there, felt the anxiety and learned how to manage it! Here are the the stories I go back to year after year for their familiarity, upbeat rhymes and modeling for kids. Well-Known Characters: Franklin Goes to School: Franklin is up early preparing for his first … [Read more...]