reading vowels

Something that I do in my class is have the students read the vowel sounds that they would come across while they read.  

No, not just the vowels, a, e, i, o, u and y.  That doesn’t really help.  But the vowel sounds.  ai, au, ou, oa, ea, ee and so forth.  

So here is a little thing that you could do to help your child become a better reader.  Before you have them start reading, go through the words pointing to the vowels and have them tell you what sound each vowel sound makes.

Here is an example.

“When the rain started falling, it fell fast and hard.”

So you would point to each of the vowel sounds and your child would say the sound.  Then go back and read.  Don’t make them sound out the vowel sounds too much.  You should know about how long they can take it.  30 seconds to a minute should be plenty.
 

I have seen some improvement here at home with this.

Wes

Back to school

School is just about upon us now, and the first few days and weeks of school can really make or brake the whole year.  As parents there is something that we can do to help our kids be totally prepared for school this month.

1. Schedule -School schedule and summer schedule always seem to be different, no matter how hard we try to keep some structure through the summer.  Make sure we are getting to bed early and getting up at the time we would during school.  This way we will be ready for school to start.

2. Learn about the teacher- Most teachers have websites and information that you could learn about the teacher and the class.  There is normally a link on the school website to their (the teachers) site.  Check it out you might find some interesting things.

3. Read- It is amazing how much kids slip in their reading levels when they DON'T read during the summer.  If they haven't been reading much during the summer, get them reading 30 mins. a day.  This will help them get "tuned" up for the start of school.

4. Practice Math skills- Same thing with our math facts, if we haven't been practicing our speed at recall is not going to be were they need to be when we get back to school.
Here is a site that they can play games and practice there math facts, along with a few other things.  multiplication.com

Enjoy the last part of summer

Wes

Help with Math homework and Reading skills

The more I teach and the more I listen to my wife as the parent there are two things that parents really care about in their child's education.
1-That they can read and that they are were they should be (level wise) and
2-they understand how to do math, and are up to par with it.

I hear a lot of parents say that they can't help their kids with their math homework because they don't know how to do it.  In a way I find that a little funny to say, since they learned the same material, just 20-40 years ago.

So here I am to help with math and reading homework.  I have made some adjustments in my thoughts and what to write about.  Most of it will be on math and reading skills, and ideas that will help you as the parent.
Please send me your questions that you may have, and I will do my best to answer them.

Common reading mistake

Something that I have even got caught in, is something really simple yet, makes a big impact on our reading ability. This really is helpful for the younger kids but can work miracles for older kids as well. Fluency. The ability to read smoothly without making very many mistakes. My son brings home a new book to read everyday and we were reading them. The thing that I should have worked on more was he's fluency. He would read, struggle a little, I would help him and we would get through it. We would then send it back and get a new book the next day. Well we should have been keeping those books until he could read them smoothly without any help, and get confident in his reading ability. You can do the same thing with older kids, yes even in chapter books. Have them read a page and then read it again, hopefully more fluent the second time. A great activity that would help your child to see there progression would be to keep a record of how many minutes they could read in a minute. Make a little bar graph and mark how much they read.  Then next time read the same passage and mark another bar graph next to the last and see the progression.

Help your kids become very fluent readers on the level they are on before moving to harder books. (applies more to younger kids K-2,3.  But remember to help them find books that they like when you are getting them yourselves.)

Happy reading

Wes

One of the hardest things to do during the summer is set up a routine. I know, I'm there. I was going to be so good with my son and really help him with his reading and get that exploding beyond were he was. Well the summer is a third over and we haven't done very good. Yes we have done some work, but nothing like I wanted. its tough I know. So If you are having a hard time like me this might help, and yes you probably already know all about it. But It will work. Write out a plan, schedule and stick to it. Have your kids help with the plan they will be more likly to do it and help remind you about it. Don't stick it in some drawer. Stick it on the refrigerator. Why there? Well that is have some of the most traffic in your house, you will see it and remember.

Have a great summer.

wes

kids off the Couch

Want some ideas that are not just reading. Well here are some multimedia ideas.

Kids Off The Couch.com Heres what they have to say.

Kids Off The Couch.com offers a free, weekly e-blast that takes what kids love -- good films, books, music and digital media -- and uses it to inspire family adventures. From art and architecture, to nature and sporting events, we connect families to each other and to the world.

kids off the couch.com

have fun
wes

do you want to learn more about how to help your child in their reading and help them during the summer. Well Reading Rockets just might be the place for you then.

summer reading web cast
parent tips
articles and research
book lists

Reading Rockets

have fun
wes

Scholastic reading program

Scholastic has a real fun summer reading program. you ought to check it out.

this is what they say
To kick off summer reading 2010, Scholastic hosted a live book trivia game show featuring top children's authors competing in the Ultimate Author Showdown.
Watch the full game show video here.

have a blast

wes

Summer reading

OK it is summer (well for most of us, I know some have year round school.) the kid are out having fun and the last thing on any ones mind is learning. Well That may not be the best thing. While our kids are out for the summer,if they don't read they could fall a full grade level back. So if they end school with a 3.2 reading level, when school starts again in the fall they will be starting at a 2.2 reading level. Wow, that is a big deal. The good thing is that it does not have to be way structured. It shouldn't be, its summer. But reading can still be fun. My little boy is fighting me a little bit but we are still doing it. The other day we read some books under the trampoline. He is going into 1st grade and thinks things like that are great.

So remember to read and make it fun.
I guarantee that your public library has some great things going on. And Its FREE.


wes