learning during read-alouds: making back-to-school connections
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 …
comprehension
learning during read-alouds: making predictions
When my family visited our local butterfly garden a few weeks ago, none of us could have predicted that one of the beautiful creatures would have …
learning during read-alouds: making connections and questioning (with siblings!)
We have been putting in a lot of pool time lately, but we've also been spending a boatload of time indoors--staying cool in …
playing with money: counting, wrapping, estimating coins
This week our Smart Summer Challenge theme is Government--and what better way to start the week off than by playing with money? Okay, so we really …
questioning and connecting during read-alouds
I'm not going to lie--some summer days, I really think that if it weren't for the 15 minutes of Adult Swim, my kids wouldn't stop …
cars 2: what you should do before you see the movie
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 …
learning during read-alouds: 5 things never to say to emerging readers
Sometimes it's very easy for teachers and parents to feel impatient with emerging readers.
It's hard to listen to kids sound out every word on a …
learning during read-alouds: activating schema
According to Rachel and Mary Gabriel, the "schema theory tells us that prior knowledge is essential for comprehension of new knowledge and that …
learning during read-alouds: making connections
My kiddos are huge fans of popping pop beads, stringing beads, connecting nuts and bolts, and just sticking things together.
Not only are these …
making connections with nonfiction texts (and our new turtle friend)
Between the insane weather we've been experiencing over here (tornadoes! wind gusts! rain, rain, and more rain--and then the next second--sun!?), …
learning during read-alouds: visualizing
Many of us have taken a moment now and again to encourage our children to find pictures in the sky on a cloudy day, right? No matter if it's a turtle, …
pow! bam! wow! print referencing and onomatopoeia
I've said time and time again that read-alouds are an absolutely perfect time for sneaking in some learning with our kiddos, I believe there the sky's …
celebrate Read Across America Day (with a free book from Readeo!)
Happy Read Across America Day!
Hopefully you'll take some time out of the day to share a book (or two) with a loved one, but why not step out of …
quick, sneaky questioning to improve reading comprehension
It seems that Maddy's leveled out a bit with her reading this year.
She's doing great with her spelling, she's …
target’s read with me (with iPad and children’s books giveaway!)
Many thanks for the enthusiastic response to this giveaway.
The contest is now closed, and random.org #105 was chosen, notified, and …
new for us friday: magnetic poetry (and giveaway!)
I have been a huge fan of magnetic poetry, ever since my college pals and I had a set on the fridge of our off-campus house a lifetime ago. Our poetry …
super-important inferring during read-alouds
Read-alouds are the perfect time to sneak in a little bit of learning, whether you're talking simple reading comprehension …
international literacy day: cora cooks pancit
September 8th is International Literacy Day (hooray!), and although we've been busy re-arranging our house (believe it) and …
telling stories with norman rockwell paintings
I have always been intrigued by Norman Rockwell's artwork. When I was young, his Girl at Mirror (1954) spoke to me so personally about the battle …
non-fiction reading and real-life learning with fish
We're pet sitting for the next few days, and Maddy, Owen and Cora are loving it. Nothing cuddly or furry, but these little …