Quick thought on new school year

As another school year is approaching, I am thinking about my great-niece entering first grade. Being bossy, or maybe it's nosey, I've asked her parents to make sure they engage her in recognizing words as often as possible.

This does not have to come from a book. Teachable moments can come from a cereal box, magazine, TV commercial, anywhere!!!

Always be on the lookout for something to share with your child that will aid in their learning. The unplanned is sometimes the best.

Parents, even though your child will read and be read to at school, please read to or with your child everyday! This is a greater gift that can be purchased for any amount of money...the love of reading.

Just a few good books

Word Recognition Strategies

Look at the picture/pictures on the page you are reading. The pictures may give you clues to the word/words you are having trouble with. If there is a picture of a giraffe and the child doesn’t know it, ask them to look at the picture and is there a word that starts the same way.
Are there people, objects, or actions (what they are doing) in the picture that might make sense in the sentence?

Start with the first letter, and ask for the sound. Is there a blend in the word the reader knows? Does the word used by the reader make sense in the sentence?

Asking these things or using these ideas can help children learn to use word recognition skills on their own.
The phrase “sound it out” has been over-used, there are better statements.

Chunks are a word used in teaching reading…just one of those new catchy words. Chunks can be prefixes, suffixes, endings, base words…….or groups of letters like –ain . We can use this chunk to make pain, train, plain, etc.
If a reader knows the chunk sound, then adding the beginning and ending sounds will allow for easier word recognition.
Once again, ask if the word used makes sense in the sentence.

Making connections with unfamiliar words to familiar words helps. Look for the word chunk, and see if it familiar to a know word.
Explaining is an example. The –ain chunk is there from easier words. Plus, the reader may recognize the word plain……how wonderful. Then all that is left are the affixes (a fancy name given to prefixes and suffixes).
Read the sentence more than once if having trouble recognizing a word.
Think about what might make sense in the sentence. Try the word you come up with, used it in the sentence….make sense? Readers will recognize sentences that make no sense, and usually will change from the original word or recognize the unfamiliar word.

Even if the word is not know yet, keep reading. What follows may help the reader recognize or understand what word was used previously.
Look for clues. If the next sentence repeats the word, compare sentences. What word might make sense in both?
It’s quicker and easier to ask for the word or for parents to give the word. When children are reading silently to themselves or for themselves, they need strategies to help them with unfamiliar words.
Stop and think about what you already know about what you are reading…subject of the book, paragraph, story, or sentence.
Think about what might make sense in the sentence. Read with a word to see if it makes sense…..for emergent readers, they may know the word plane or airplane, but may not recognize crane. The chunk –ane can help, plus being in the blend pl-. Also, in context, they would know that a crane (machine) can’t fly.

Discuss and use these strategies with your reader. I am going to include a list of chunks and blends that can be worked with to grow readers' word recognition skills as soon as I can find it.

Let me know if these strategies work for you. I’d love to know!!!

Wikkistix fun.........twist 'em, bend 'em

I was introduced to Wikkistix while taking an SC Reads course. The name sure does give away what the class entailed. It was suggested that the stix could be used to have children underline words they did not know, found interesting, answers to certain questions, underline items on a chart, etc.

The stix are bendable and reusable. Just keep in a plastic bag. They are down right fun to mess with. (Click pic/url)
So, I know lots of parents and homeschooling moms may not know about them. They have varied educational uses, and they can be used in arts/crafts, math, science....you name it and they can probably be used.

Some restaurants use them instead of the crayons to go with pictures. Kids can make the shapes, etc. show on the papers or menus while waiting as entertainment. I would think they'd be great for traveling children, also.

Tomorrow I will be spending time with my 6 year old niece, and we will play/work with the Wikkistix. I promise to take pics and share. I may even try my hand at a slide show so I can share more pics with you. That is one of my goals....more real pics on my blog. I just think it's more personal. Well, once again, I digress.

The Wikkistix are great fun. Try them with your children and let me know what you think!!!!!!!

UNLIMITED FREE TRAVEL

The whole world opened up

for me

When I began to read.

Mary McLeod Bethune

Simply stated but oh, so true. Reading takes us everywhere for free. Our minds can travel great distances with books.

Parents, read to and with your children everyday. It makes a huge difference in their lives now and always.

Barney, the White House dog

Kids, did you know a dog lives in the White House with the president and his wife?
To find out about a lucky dog named Barney, click on the dog.
I think you will be surprised to find out that he has been in movies, too!!!

Happy Birthday America

We are almost ready to celebrate the birthday of our country. How much do children know about this celebration?

The White House has a site with quizzes and games concerning the history around the date of July 4th.

There is information and activities for all!!! Click on Happy 4th and enjoy.

Suggestions

Learning begins at birth. Sing songs, tell nursery rhymes and read to your child. Begin as soon as your baby is born.

Set aside special times each day to read to your child, such as naptime, bedtime, or after meals.

Select a place that is cozy, quiet and away from distractions. Then cuddle up together laugh, be silly, relax and enjoy! Read with expression and enthusiasm. What children need most is a feeling of comfort about books and reading.

Read children's favorites as often as they want to hear them! Children are comforted by and learn best from repetition.

Choose books that interest your child or relate to what's happening in the child's life at the time, whether it's a family trip or a new experience such as starting school.

Allow your child to touch books, point to words and pictures and turn the pages.

Read to and with children… don't expect them to read. If they want to chime in on a word now and then, it's a bonus, but don't create any pressure around the time you spend reading together. Read at a leisurely pace with pauses here and there. This gives children time to take in what they hear.

Model all kinds of reading with your children. Let them see you read the newspaper, the TV Guide, recipes etc. Comment on what you are reading so that they see that reading has many purposes.

Children treasure books they own. Affordable books can be found at yard sales, thrift shops, second-hand bookstores, as well as at public library book sales. Provide your child with a bookshelf or drawer for his or her own books. A subscription to a children's magazine would make a wonderful present for a child.

Take advantage of the local library. Find out when story hours are for young children. Build a regular trip to the library into your schedule. A library card is a free way of investing in your child's future.

Reading is Fundamental RIF

HTML code:

Click and view the many activities that the Reading is Fundamental website has for your children. It includes books, contests, information for parents, kids section, school information for
RIF book distribution.

It's a quick source for fun and information!!!

Special places we love to go

The Pink House is an illustrated story of an extended family's annual vacation to Edisto Beach, SC. The story, told by one of the young cousins, is a warm account of a single day when all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and even Grandma come to the "Pink House." They swim, go fishing with Uncle Jim, hunt for petrified shark's teeth with Aunt Margaret, sing songs with Aunt Kate, read books, eat the fish and crabs caught in the surf, play games...and then go to bed to await whatever surprises will be washed up by the surf the next day. http://www.warbranchpress.com/pink.html

Mrs. Palmer visited our school a few years ago and was delightful. The kids were mesmorized by her pictures of her extended family and how they were really the characters in her book. There really is a pink house at Edisto Beach. On the site above is a comment about someone who stayed there.

The book is delightful and anyone who vacations with their extended family would love the book.

Parents, it is a good book to encourage you children to write about their family or a trip they've taken. Remember, children write best about what they know.

Encourage your child to make their own book about family. What a fun, family activity, also!

A Love For Reading

Give your children the gift that will take them anywhere and everywhere...the gift of reading...it will last a lifetime.
Read to or with your children everyday. It is never too early to introduce your child to books. Let your children see you reading something besides the newspaper. Instill in them the importance of reading. They will love you for it!!!