activating schema

learning during read-alouds: critical thinking, new literacies

May 14, 2012

I read an extremely interesting article this week that has really left me thinking about how I read with my children. It left me thinking about my expectations for what we discuss and for what my children are capable of gaining from texts. It left me thinking about how deeply we delve into the books [...]

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disney word searches: getting kids ready for the trip!

April 25, 2012

We were on a major word search kick a while back, but we’ve taken a good long rest from them. So in honor of our upcoming Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I decided to bring back this oldie but goodie for Maddy, Owen, and Cora.  Word Searches!! What fun! Letter recognition! Fine motor practice! Reading! [...]

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disney fun fact lunchbox notes

April 19, 2012

We are big into lunchbox love notes around here, so why on earth would I have not thought earlier to make Disney Lunchbox Notes? Be still my heart. It’s the perfect combination: a captive audience, early readers, a topic that totally interests them–and a place I know they LOVE?  Add to the mix that they’ll [...]

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preparing kids for disney: autograph books!

April 17, 2012

We are so very, very, very, very excited that we’re heading to the Happiest Place on earth in just a few days!  As part of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, our schedule will be packed, and it will surely be an incredible event! The kids are elated, my husband is elated, I am elated, [...]

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learning with pet poetry (& fun giveaway!)

February 9, 2012

We love our pooch, we really do. Sure, sometimes I say things to him that I wish I didn’t.   No, Maddy, I  promise we’ll never give Brady away, I promise. I’m just frustrated.  . . Owen, Sweetheart, we are not taking Brady back to Miss Marty’s farm and to his mom and dad. He will [...]

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learning during read-alouds: non-fiction that WORKS

December 12, 2011

The first few times Owen had media at school this year, he came home with the most random books. His first book was an Arthur book that we already have here at home.  Then he came home with a non-fiction book about Chihuahuas. The next week, he picked yet another book that we have here [...]

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learning during read-alouds: making back-to-school connections

August 29, 2011

Today I sent the big O-man off to Kindergarten and Maddy off to second grade, and I absolutely cannot believe it. If I think about it too much, I seriously might burst into tears.  Weren’t they just in diapers? Crawling around on the floor?  Where’s the time going? Though Cora and I will soon adjust [...]

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cars 2: what you should do before you see the movie

June 29, 2011

Ka-CHOW! Have plans to see Cars 2 anytime this summer? Want to know how you can throw in a little bit of learning–and I mean a little bit–before you hit the theater to watch a bunch of crazy cars onscreen? We’ve been chompin at the bit since January to see Cars 2, and today was [...]

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learning during read-alouds: activating schema

June 1, 2011

According to Rachel and Mary Gabriel, the “schema theory tells us that prior knowledge is essential for comprehension of new knowledge and that learning difficulties can often be traced back to insufficient background knowledge” (Gabriel & Gabriel, “Power in Pictures: How a Schoolwide Photo Library Can Build a Community of Readers and Writers.” The Reading [...]

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