September 30th Blog Post

Thinking back to my early years in pre-school and elementary school, I can remember my parents

and teachers reminding me to "sound it out". In this article it states that one of the main ways children learn how to read and develop their reading system is through powerful interactions with their teachers. A way that many successful teachers teach their students to read is through "coaching". Coaching word recognition is when a teacher creates cues to prompt the reader to think on the edge of their knowledge while they attempt to familiarize themselves with unfamiliar words.

In the case study that was conducted, it said that teachers can give students two types of cues: general and focused. General cues prompt thought while focused cues prompt the child to a specific action. I really like the support the students are given through the cues because I feel like the saying :sounds it out" can cause great anxiety for some students. I though it was great when the teacher asked students to use the pictures to help them touch certain letters and say aloud the sounds. One suggestion that I enjoyed was involving other children. For example, while a child may be trying to sound out a work they are unfamiliar with, the teacher can ask the class as a whole what they think that the word may be.

What helped you as a young child trying to learn words that were unfamiliar to you?
How do you plan to use "coaching" in your future classroom?

The link below is to an awesome site that I found on Pinterest. It is entitled "Raising a Reader" and it gives some wonderful examples on how to help children learn to read, and how to help children love to read. I encourage you all to go take a look!
http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/kids/raising-a-reader-seven-tips-to-help-your-child-learn-to-read/

September 23rd Post

This reading has been my favorite thus far. It was so helpful and it introduced me to new, fun ways towant to read and they would want to write if teachers provide strong development of children's literacy in an exciting, attention grabbing way.

encourage young children as writers as well as writers. If schools nationwide took these tactics into consideration, I believe that young students' reading and writing development would look much different, in a better way, than it does today. Students would

I enjoyed reading about the different strategies explaining how to boost children's confidence and curiosity with reading. It was so fascinating how much it helped students to learn to read when they were taught to reference back to the words that they are already familiar with. The idea of putting students' pictures and name by the corresponding letters of the alphabet was FABULOUS! I will definitely be using this idea in my future classroom.

Below is a cute YouTube video. It is fun, upbeat, reading rap for young children. I think it would be a great idea to play it for your class before you go into a lesson about the alphabet or before a reading activity. After they watch it they will be ready and motivated to learn. Go take a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi-nn1uVN1Y

September 16th Blog Post

The way in which your literacy foundation is created can predict so much about your future in

literacy. Through these two readings I was fascinated with what all creates your literacy foundation. In the "Jones Family Culture of Literacy", it was really neat how they incorporated literacy in all that they did. From financial aspects to religious aspects, the most important role of literacy in each of there was cherished and made aware to each family member. When reading this article I began to think of students that I someday may have in my classroom that would not be so fortunate to have this strong literacy foundation from home. I hope that I can help each student form a strong passion for literacy even if they are not being taught the importance of it at home. In what ways did you home environment influence you literacy foundation?

The link posted below is an awesome site that I found while browsing Pinterest. It is entitled "How to Create a Reader" and it has a lost of helpful things that can help children become better readers. These ideas are so fun. There are some things on here that I have never thought of...but they are seriously some of the BEST ideas! I highly encourage you all to take a look at it.

http://itsallkidsplay.ca/how-to-create-a-reader/

September 9th Blog Post

Through this weeks reading I have gained a better understanding of what is truly important when it comes to reading. When I think back to my elementary school days, I can remember sitting on my own colored "carpet square" while my teacher read aloud to the class. Studies mentioned in this weeks reading pointed out some interesting (and definitely helpful for future reference) things that make a classroom successful. The recurring action of teachers reading aloud to their students was seen in each effective classroom. The teacher's reading had a large affect of the students. I can remember the way my teachers used to read to me and the way that they talked and held the book so that we could see the pictures. They knew how to be effective with their reading just as these teachers from the reading. You have to know how to spark the children's interests and how to keep them engaged while you are reading, which can sometimes be tough especially if you are working with younger students. Various forms of literature are necessary if these effective, successful classrooms. Whether that be newspaper articles, magazines, picture books, chapter books, or series...the variety helps to keep students interested and engaged. They are getting to see an assortment of literature, therefore they are not getting bored. The question I want to end with this week is how do you assure that each of you students is benefiting from taking time to read aloud to your class? Every student doesn't listen the same, or get involved to the same extent, so I just wonder how to make sure that each and every one of the students are getting something out of this certain activity.

Below is a video that I found very interesting. I enjoy how this teacher is letting the students interact with one another using "thinking partners" so that everyone is engaged and so that everyone is on the same page with the particular book that she is reading to them. I highly suggest you watch this. It is very helpful, and great for future reference. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYoeVkf3s7E&list=PL8D0AACAAD5AFF839