Tag: literacy
The summer before I entered fourth grade, a new girl moved into my neighborhood, just a few houses down from me. Her name was Tanya and she was from Sri Lanka. She spoke very little English, except for “hi,” “bye,” “yes,” “no,” and “thank you.” There wasn’t much dynamic conversation going on between us that […]
Up until third grade, my son fought reading on his own. I kept buying books that I hoped would light a fire inside him, but failed repeatedly. And then one day, it happened. He discovered a book that made him laugh. Its characters were engaging. The story was entertaining, and luckily, it was the first […]
Learning can happen anywhere and everywhere – at home, in the grocery store, at the library or on a walk through the neighborhood. Take advantage of summer months to reinforce basic skills before your early learner heads to kindergarten this fall – or to brush up on skills with your elementary student. Encourage reading Help […]
“Let them eat cake!” my 10-year-old son proclaimed recently at dinner. “Marie Antoinette never said that,” his sister, 16, replied. The boy, who had heard the quote in the movie “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” asked her to explain. “It’s a myth,” she said. “Everyone attributes the quote to Marie Antoinette, but she never said it.” […]
Reading and writing are necessary for learning, but children sometimes struggle as they attempt to conquer literacy skills. It’s a battle that can take a toll in the long-term: Research shows that students who read significantly below grade level in third grade typically struggle throughout their school years and have a greater likelihood of dropping […]
A child’s literacy journey begins at birth. Babies and toddlers see and interact with printed words in their everyday lives – in books, at the grocery store, on street signs and more. They hear sounds they will eventually learn can be used in communicating with others to express thoughts, feelings and ideas. As they grow, […]
Students have greater access to reading materials as electronic devices are incorporated into classroom learning, but some educators question how well students comprehend when reading in a digital format. The question is, can students actually “go deep” with digital reading? “Deep reading” is a concept frequently connected to Common Core Learning Standards. It’s slow reading, […]
In our electronic world, everyone can be a writer. From blogs to Facebook posts to tweets, there’s a place for everyone who has access to the internet to publicly express themselves. But does everyone do it well? No, hardly. Chances are you’ve cringed at a Facebook post or email riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. […]
When you hear of parents and children reading together, you almost always picture a mom or dad with a toddler on their lap enjoying a book with pictures or rhymes, à la Dr. Seuss. We know early reading helps young children master the language, improve concentration, and strengthen speech and logical thinking skills – all […]