The Easiest Way for Parents To Help with Reading Instruction

 This is a great reminder from a great blog:

LitBlog

Fluency is the easiest part of reading instruction that parents can help with at home. 

"Fluency is the ability to read a text accurately and quickly.
When fluent readers read silently, they recognize words automatically. They group words quickly to help them gain meaning from what they read. Fluent readers read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Their reading sounds natural, as if they are speaking. Readers who have not yet developed fluency read slowly, word by word. Their oral reading is choppy and plodding.

Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Because fluent readers do not have to concentrate on decoding the words, they can focus their attention on what the text means. They can make connections among the ideas in the text and between the text and their background knowledge.

•    More fluent readers recognize words and comprehend at the same time.

•    Less fluent readers, however, must focus their attention on figuring out the words, leaving them little attention for understanding the text.

Research Supported Fluency Strategies in LitART
1.    Model fluent reading and have students reread the text on their own.
2.    Conduct guided reading (provide feedback and guidance during reading.)
3.    Use repeated oral readings of the same text to increase accuracy and rate.
4.    Facilitate partner reading to increase oral reading opportunities
5.    Employ reader’s theatre to allow for a performed reading."

Head Start Works

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for kids to be ready to succeed. This means that no matter how much faith we put in public education, (and I put A LOT of faith in public education) schools cannot be expected to do it all. We need to take responsibility for our children's education and teach them to be responsible for it as well.

Head Start Works

This article from Scholastic Administrator takes a look at a study of Head Start from 2002-2005. The results show that Head Start works! Children are more prepared entering kindergarten with a "Head Start." What this means is that kids who would not typically get the chance to participate in any preschool program have a more even playing field with Head Start.

Akron Summit Community Action, Inc. and Community United Head Start operate the preschool and day care programs in Akron and Cleveland respectively. Get in touch with them if you have a preschool aged child ready to learn.
 
Kids can get a head start in many private preschool programs. It is up to us to make sure that the program our child is in does a great job, has a valid curriculum, and employs certified teachers. Kids who get to take part in a great preschool have a step ahead and Head Start provides that for all of us.

Hooray for Reading Day: Readers Theater

“Somewhere along the way I came to understand that reading skills are simply thinking skills applied to a reading situation. Is the problem that kids with reading difficulties really can't analyze, can't evaluate, can't classify? That they lack those thinking skills? Or can they not do those things in a reading situation? To find out, I began listening to students with reading difficulties talk, recording what they said to learn what type of thinking their talk revealed. As I listened, I saw what the skill-activity sheets weren't showing me: these students certainly can analyze, synthesize, and evaluate. They can compare and contrast and classify, and they can summarize an event, pulling out the main ideas. They can do the thinking. They just didn't yet know how to connect their thinking skills to a reading situation. They needed a strategy, a scaffold, that would provide the framework for the thinking they needed to do to read with certain skills.”

                          -Kylene Beers and Reading Strategies


This is a great quote and set of ideas from Kylene Beers who is one of the top thinkers, writers, and teachers in the field of reading instruction. Her experience as a reading teacher started as a literature teacher for secondary students, but she realized that her kids had not yet made the transition from “Learning to Read” to “Reading to Learn.” That is – they were still decoding, not fluent, and, therefore, not great at comprehension.

Reading is a tool we use to get at the knowledge we seek, which means it is kind-of odd that Reading is now a subject in upper grades rather than just in lower grades. Sadly, unless kids start school with a foundation for reading (and I mean in Kindergarten), then there is a good chance that “reading” will be something they need to study and work on well into adolescence.

Which brings me to a great kids book. Hooray for Reading Day by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Arthur Howard follows Jessica the Worrier through a day at school and small-group reading time in Mr. Martin’s class. As the kids take turns reading from “Hot Pot” Jessica does nothing but worry about her turn and her fear of messing up in front of everyone – which she does.

Sure enough, Mr. Martin assigns everyone a part during “Reading Theater” day. This worries Jessica even more but she practices with her dog at home and on the day of the big presentation in front of parents and everyone – she does a great job.

I like Hooray for Reading Day primarily because Jessica’s teacher, Mr. Martin, uses a great reading strategy that parents can use at home with kids during the summer, over holiday breaks, or as a weekend activity. Readers Theater helps kids to build fluency. Fluency is vital to reading comprehension. Fluent readers understand pace and intonation and most importantly – they understand (comprehend) what they are reading.

As Kylene Beers put it, “…students certainly can analyze, synthesize, and evaluate. They can compare and contrast and classify, and they can summarize an event, pulling out the main ideas. They can do the thinking.”

As I mentioned in a previous post – kids like to do things over and over again. Readers Theater asks students to read the same thing many times to build fluency. Practice makes better and getting better leads to excellence.

Readers Theater Resources:
Aaron Shep
Literacy Connections
Readers Theater Book Resource List
More on Kylene Beers

8 Great Parent Habits That Teachers LOVE

In a recent issue of Scholastic Instructor writer Suzanne Tingly describes 8 Great Teacher Habits Parents Love. Her advise is for teachers and how they can prevent difficulties with parents during the school year, and she makes some great points:

1. Give parents as many specifics as you can.

2. Write positive or encouraging comments.

3. Provide timely updates and information.

4. Invite parents to lend a hand in your classroom.

5. Give parents plenty of lead time.

6. Send home good news.

7. Go beyond the regular curriculum.

8. Have clear rules and consequences.

My guess is that every teacher has learned the hard way that these eight guidelines can save a lot of heartache. The fact is, while the teacher is working hard at school (and at home) to prepare and teach the best lessons possible, parents are at the same time working hard to provide the best they can for their kids. This often leaves it up to the kids to provide the communication between school and home. 

I wonder if the lines of communication ever get crossed? You bet they do. 

With the new school year quickly creeping up, it's a good time to think about how parents can maximize the effort of both teachers and students. So, not only do teachers need to have good habits, parents do too.

8 Great Parent Habits That Teacher LOVE

1. Make a point of listening to both sides of every situation.

Nobody would ever accuse a child of lying, but that doesn't mean the whole truth is getting home. Through no fault of the child, he or she is seeing the situation, whatever it is, from their own perspective and may not understand all the details. Whether it is the reason for a detention or low grades on homework, listening to the teacher first-hand can clarifying a lot of misunderstanding.

2. Read the syllabus, class expectation or grade level expectations and understand time lines.

There are differing of opinions on homework but it is never the case that students did "Nothing" during the school day. Enough cannot be said for helping even the youngest students be organized and keep track of their work. By knowing what teachers and students are up to parents can stay on top of class requirements, project due dates and test dates. This is also a great way to catch any learning issues early. Internet based grade-books and teacher web-sites make this easy.

3. Ask teachers for rubrics and grading criteria.

Teacher don't give failing grades because they dislike students. Teachers develop  grading and achievement guidelines and rubrics based on grade level expectations and state standards. It's important for parents to know what is expected from students and what the child should be able to accomplish based on the child's grade level or age. Obviously not every student is at the same place developmentally, but comparing your child's work to rubrics and standards will give you an idea of what he or she needs to work on.

4. Take advantage of any opportunity to go to school and meet teachers.

Most schools have an "Open House" or "Orientation" at the beginning of the year and parent-teacher conferences at other times. Don't let these be the only times you go and make an appearance. Make a point of visiting regularly (schedule your appointments first) and getting the know teachers (and principals) personally. Many parents never miss a sporting event but find it hard to make it to school for academics updates. Teachers love meeting with parents and can provide specific insight into learning styles, needs and social dynamics that parents may not be aware of.

5. Trust teachers' professionalism.

Teaching is an art and a craft. Those who take on this profession not only understand their subject area but are also experts in how kids learn. Trust their judgment because teachers don't take the responsibility given to them lightly.

6. Keep track of your child's homework.

Making it a habit of requiring that you look at all homework, review the expectations and even initial the homework helps your student stay on track and means there won't be any surprises. Have students complete homework in a common room where you can monitor and help. Discuss the work and have the kids teach you (this is high-level thinking).

Take everything out of the book bag every day. You might be surprised at what is hiding in there. (I won't tell you what I saw climbing out of a student's book bag during class one day.)

6. Don't do homework or projects for your children.

Sometimes parents don't know the line between helping and doing. Teachers can always tell and this really isn't fair - to your child. Getting the grade is not the point. Learning is the point. Like everything else is life - the learning is in the process.

7.  Speak positively about school and teachers.

We realize early on that children learn by observing.

"I don't know where my child learned to use such language!"

Yes you do.

Kids will not only pick up your words, tone and mannerisms, they will learn your attitudes too. Speak about school and teachers with respect, humor, and admiration.

8. READ WITH YOUR CHILDREN!

This should be the number one things parents do with kids from infancy. It is bonding time and creates good, life-long readers. Notice I didn't write "Read TO your children." Reading TO kids is important for fluency. But I like the idea of reading WITH your kids. Have conversations about books and stories. Quiz each other. Take turns reading aloud. Make a game of reading and let them see you reading for information and for pleasure.