A lot goes into learning words and phrases, which are widely recognized as critical to understanding the content of what you are reading. Teaching vocabulary is a critical aspect of overall reading development and is an important strand in language comprehension. After all, while decoding
As science teachers of multilingual learners (MLLs), it is critical that we not only provide equitable access to rigorous science content but also develop their primary, English, and academic language. To do this, we have found the use of what we term “Equity Moves,” or
One way to build a more equitable and just society is to help students master the foundational skills that beget fluent reading. Once fluent, students are able to access all types of text, especially ones of personal interest. In turn, fluency and text choice motivate older readers, leading to greater reading volume and
April is National Poetry Month -- but please don’t relegate poems to only one month! Rather, use them all year long to get kids excited about language and to build foundational literacy skills. Poems can be used to teach fluency, vocabulary, phonic patterns, text structure, speaking and listening, author study, and comprehension. Most children find poems engaging and enjoy reading, writing, and presenting them. Perhaps this is due to the brevity, rhythms, and rhymes of poems, as
I was recently watching over the shoulder of my 7-year-old “office-mate” while he attended his second grade math lesson through his computer. And yes, I realize the issue of parents listening in on online classes has drawbacks, but that’s a rabbit hole for another time. On this day, my child’s teacher was working with the class on double-digit operations
Why don't they give spelling tests anymore? * How come teachers don't correct student spelling? * What can I do at home? * Should I buy one of those workbooks this summer? I have been asked these questions more times than I can count. It makes
Both knowledge and paint have no use until applied. I’ve always liked this adage, perhaps because as a teacher and a parent, I see firsthand that knowledge… is not enough. Application is everything or to use the trendy term du jour, transfer, is the hallmark
How many of us have listened to a speaker or read a book and marveled at the descriptive power and richness of the words used? We have our favorite speakers, reporters, or authors who move us through how they write. Nations, peoples, political change
There is a strong correlation between a student’s word knowledge and future academic success. Evidence shows that what students already know about a topic is a reliable predictor of how easy they will learn new information in that topic. Words are the tools students use
Developing Effective & Assessment Capable Learners The Visible Learning research from Professor John Hattie has opened our eyes to the importance of two critical actions all educators must take: Always viewing learning through the eyes of our students Consistently monitoring the impact of our actions on