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

I haven't made the best of decision when ever there is a decision placed before me, but I try I really do. I got talking to a student today, he was making some wrong choices that was affecting how he was acting and what he was allowed to do. He said that he wanted to start over tomorrow, so he wasn't going to work today. No we have to start today, because the choices that we make today are going to affect tomorrow, whether they are good or bad. Today's choices will affect tomorrow and possibly farther. I got thinking, wow somebody should be giving me this talk, maybe someone was giving it to me, and using me as the mouth piece to try and teach myself. Do you believe in a higher power? I do, and I'm thinking He was trying to talk to me.


Wes

Into the swing of it

Well it is Back to School!
I hope Mom Dad and children are all ecited. I am. I am teaching 4th grade this year and it is going to be fun.

Some might have thoughts about school being the way it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Well it is not it has improved so much it is fantastic.

I think some parents will be glad for some new teachers that are coming into the profession. There really are some totally fantastic teachers. Love school- no love learning.

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