New Media Marketer

Guided Reading: Seeing Spot Run is Not Enough

Reading instruction for children in early elementary has gone a long ways since the days of Dick and Jane. At least Dr. Gray's books from the early 30s of Dick, Jane, their parents, baby Sally and the crew of pets provided a beginning step for the basal reading instruction movement.

The books that then became a staple institutionalized reader for children were later criticized for their homogenized cultural images. The education institution as a whole was also challenged because this content of large class repetitive reading was not adequate. Later useful tools like phonics were used, and today we see a good assortment of teaching tools like Guided Reading that critically engages young students individually and challenges their reading and thoughts about reading.

The system of Guided Reading was created by doctorate professors Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas. They first collaborated and coauthored a book in 1996, which launched the guided practice.

Applying the Guided Process

Guided Reading is only part of the whole process of elementary reading instruction. It's shown success among many elementary educators. It's only part of the full spectrum of reading tools but its value is in the intimacy of the structure and teaching. The teaching is intimate because sessions are held in small groups, only 4 to 6 kids at a time.

The real purpose of all reading instruction is not just to get the children to go through the motions or reading, but to actually motivate them to read independently -- to realize the value and enjoyment of sponging up information from all kinds of word sources. Guided reading's aim is the same. The first step is to get them to think about what they are reading. Since they work is close proximity to the teacher the instruction can be portion off more one-on-one time.

When the groups are divided between 4-6 students, they are addressed with the material, one group at a time. Guided Reading prescribes materials on a leveled scale for different grade and skill levels. The teacher will first go through a pre-reading lesson priming the students with a sense of purpose for the sessions. It gives the teacher a little background on the student's skill and time to prepare the student for the material at hand.

During the reading sessions, the children will read the appropriate reading level material while the teacher observes them. After reading, the teacher asks them questions to bring their brain back into the story or lesson, and engages them in a dialog. Any gaps in the observed reading strategy can help build the mini-lesson to help counter the problems the teacher may have seen.

A variety of "learning centers" are available in the class to help the non-group members stay focused and on task with a learning project that also involves reading and word structure.

Scholastic (http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/guidedreading/) provides teaching instruction such as the Guided Reading program. Scholastic started over a half century ago sponsoring student book publishing and reading advocacy. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.


Related Posts:
Can Kids Get Too Much School?
Computers - An Important Part Of School Life
Learning Programs For Early Childhood
How To Care For A Horse (If You Really Want To!)
A Child Sees A Dentist
Old World Elegance Takes The Design World By Storm



Looking for a great gift? Planting a Tree in someone's name is a great way to show them you care while helping the environment.

Can Kids Get Too Much School?

When my mother got a promotion at her job, she had new office hours that lasted much longer than my school day. I heard my parents talking about how to handle this problem. They found the solution in an educational after-school program.

Putting us in an after-school program meant that sister and I had to go directly from one class to another after the school day ended. The programs promotional materials said it would use fun activities and innovative teaching methods to make the best use of the time. I thought that meant that a teacher would provide homework, and we would copy it.

This is exactly what happened most of the time, but we did not tell our parents that there were no fun or innovative approaches at the program. It would not have helped, and they would just move us to a class that would actually make us DO some homework.

I was mostly bored in the classes. I did not want to spend a whole afternoon with the same books I had been seeing all day in school. I was a child, though, and I did not have any choice about it. It would have been hard to say anything anyway, since all the adults were always telling me that my mothers salary increase would allow the family to buy a great big new TV or video game.

One day, my sister decided to make some wave. She had had enough studying, and she just refused to go to the after-school program. My parents finally got the idea that something was wrong, and shortly after her rebellion, the put us in a much better educational after-school program. This one was brighter and more fun somehow.

They offered us interesting games and actually had a computer we could use. Each one of us had the chance to do something on the PC. We also managed to finish our homework really fast, even though it had to be completed by us alone, because once we had finished, we could play. The program offered acting classes, painting, games, and speech. We spent hours painting and laughing at silly jokes. The after-school program really became the highlight of our day, and I began to look forward to going there.

Now, when I need to get a job and leave my children in a safe place until I return, I know how important finding a really good after-school program can be. Ironically, I will be the one looking for an educational after-school program, and it will be one that offers fun in addition to educational activities.

To find more information about education and after school programs visit http://school-answers.com


Related Posts:
Learning Programs For Early Childhood
Games Are A Fun Way To Teach Kids
Give Your Kids The Best Start - Introduce Books At An Early Age
How Global Warming Could Cause An Ice Age?
The Many Complexities of Love
Sardinia, The Land Of Beautiful Bread



Accessorize your car with a hitch cover from Trailer Hitch Universe!

Does Your Home School or Gifted Child Need Professional Writing Tips from a Published Author?

Would you waste money on an opera ticket for this guy? 'Of course I love opera,' he said, foot tapping restlessly.

Research has shown that the old adage is true: Actions (such as a foot tapping) do speak louder than words. So when we write, we should 'show' with actions, not 'tell' with words.

Kids like to state outright: 'Michael was in a bad mood.' However to make it convincing they should actually show Michael in action.

List what a teenager would do if he came home annoyed: * Slam the front door * Throw his bag into the bedroom * Kick off his shoes * Head to the kitchen - and the fridge * Complain there was no food.

So now you have the ideas, it's easy to put this all together into a paragraph.

She was just powering down the computer when the door slammed. Michael was home.

'Hi,' she called. 'How was school?'

There was a grunt, barely heard, and then the sound of a bag hitting the bedroom floor hard. Not good. She sighed and headed into the kitchen. Michael was already there, staring with slumped shoulders into the open fridge.

'Darn,' he said, shoving the door shut hard. 'There's never anything to eat in this house!'

She took a deep breath and counted to ten before she replied.

Showing, (not telling) takes longer to do, but it brings characters to life and is far more convincing too.

Ask your kids to brainstorm about 20 things that 'show' a Dad hates gardening. e.g. the weeds are 30 cm tall. e.g. he goes off to the hardware store - and takes 4 hours to get back.

When the list is long and interesting, get kids to pick a few things and write a paragraph to 'show' exactly what Dad feels about gardening.

I often give younger kids an opening sentence as it helps them to focus.

'What great weather we've got for the working bee,' said Mum, pulling on her gardening gloves.

They can ignore this of course if they have a better idea.

To reinforce the skill, students can do this every morning for a week. Here are some sample topics:

A teacher is about to get married. e.g. Her nails are always painted so she can flash the ring around. Opening sentence: 'Now, next term I won't be here of course,' said Miss Bettersley...

A parent and a kid are always fighting about playing computer games. e.g. Kid flicks the screen off every time the parent comes in. Opening sentence: 'How did the Maths test go?' I was barely home from school and Mum was on my back again.

The new neighbours are a pain. e.g. The radio plays loud sport every weekend in their back garden. Opening sentence: 'Hey Mate, can you turn the footy down a bit?' yelled Dad over the fence.

A girl thinks a guy is really hot, but is too shy to tell him. (Or vice versa) e.g. She stammers and mumbles when they talk. Opening sentence: 'Isn't that Ken over there?' asked Shelly.

Remember the chunking concept. Don't get kids to write a whole story, just one paragraph.

(c) Jen McVeity, National Literacy Champion.

The fun Seven Steps to Writing Success program, by successful author, Jen McVeity, is in 900+ schools. Suited to the home school curriculum & gifted children, it has rapidly increased students' writing skills and enjoyment. Visit http://www.sevenstepswriting.com for top writing tips and activities - more in the free Parent Newsletters. Click on 'Sample' tab for a free Story Starters Worksheet.


Related Posts:
Does Your Home School or Gifted Child Need Professional Writing Tips from a Published Author?
Computers - An Important Part Of School Life
Can Kids Get Too Much School?
Is Your Elevator Pitch Working?
5 Tips For Making Online Photo Sharing More Meaningful For Family And Friends
How To Give A Gift Of Wine



Huge selection of Fred Bear Bows and other archery products at Garretson's Sport Center!

Computers - An Important Part Of School Life

Computers, during the last two decades or so, have been instrumental in bringing about changes in the way we communicate and gather information and/or knowledge to such an extent that it is hard to find any sphere which has not undergone changes after the advent of computers.

The system of teaching in elementary schools, and of course higher education, is one such area where the advent of computers, coupled with the growth of the World Wide Web, has brought about a complete metamorphosis in the way knowledge is being imparted even in elementary schools.

The conventional mode of teaching by way of imparting knowledge only through books and the written word is fast becoming outdated. The transformation is so forceful that not only do schools provide computer teaching but also put them up in classrooms to aid in the teaching process. Those of us, who see children learning with the aid of computers in a manner that is fun as well as educative, lament why these beautiful machines could not be made available to us.

To the traditional teacher or an older person, it might appear that books and the written word are the last word in teaching. The present day scene with computers even in elementary schools is difficult to imagine for those who have not actually seen and experienced the change that come about in the method of teaching.

The PCs and the Macs have the capacity to offer information and knowledge to an extent which can not be matched by any other single source. The computer with Internet access is a fantastic teaching tool that the present generation is lucky to have.

Varying from school to school, knowledge is being imparted with the aid of PCs or Macs. Macs may appear to be simpler to operate but they serve the same purpose as the PCs. It depends on the type of deal that the schools strike with the companies and the content that they require as part of the knowledge they intend to divulge to the students. The Internet is a storehouse of knowledge which can be accessed through a simple procedure, resulting, in most of the cases, a bypass to bulky books which in any case are no match for the content that the Web is able to provide through the aid of a computer.

To sum it all, the use of computers as a tool of imparting knowledge to students in elementary schools is a judicious tool in the hands of the teacher.

To find more information about education and computers in schools visit http://school-answers.com


Related Posts:
Games Are A Fun Way To Teach Kids
Does Your Home School or Gifted Child Need Professional Writing Tips from a Published Author?
Guided Reading: Seeing Spot Run is Not Enough
Balance, Moderation, Variety - The Keys To All Natural Supplements
Art Lighting As Art
How To Quickly And Easily Start A Traffic Virus



Find great prices on trailer hitches at Trailer Hitch Universe!

Games Are A Fun Way To Teach Kids

How often have you looked back and thought that much of what you studied in school has proved to be irrelevant. If you can think like this and agree to this statement, imagine what you children go through when they go through boring lesson after lesson, doing homework and studying while not understanding the actual reason why they are being subjected to such boring information.

The fact is that unless a task has relevance for us, it looses its importance. Many kids crib about how boring mathematics is or how difficult and irrelevant science seems to them.

It is up to the parents and teachers to make these learning a fun activity with a meaning so that the kids can appreciate why they are learning certain things. Experiments, real life examples and expedition can bring alive the information in text books.

Today there are many companies with presence on the website that provide helpful learning tools guised as games to make learning a fun-filled activity. You may have seen that younger kids hate reading and it is impossible to find a magazine or book that will interest them. But hand them over a video game and they will be busy for hours together.

Even as video games per se have no informational content, there are many reading tools that come in the format of a video game, endearing itself to the child in the first instance. Role playing is one such category of games that can be adapted to video games and as the child goes through the instructions in the games and moves from level to level, the reading skills are honed. Depending on the role that is being played the child can learn maths skills by buying items in a virtual store, selling and managing a business and much more.

They can also acquire better reasoning skills by working their way through various obstacles and reaching their goals. There are also some games that enable the children to understand what they study in school better. These learning games have options that you can choose from and include demonstrations of the experiments that they have done in school, the option of running and managing a theme park, learning how to conceptualize and build things and more.

There are also options of board learning games that can be played with the family. These prove to be a nice way in which your child can learn while spending time with you.

The best part is that kids do not realize that they are learning skills that they need to acquire while playing thee games. It is the best situation where they get to play a game while you can ensure that they are learning and acquiring the skills that they are supposed to.

To find more information about giving your kids the best possible start by teaching them using games visit http://kids-tips.com


Related Posts:
Learning Programs For Early Childhood
Give Your Kids The Best Start - Introduce Books At An Early Age
Learning Programs For Early Childhood
Trust In God In Managing Your Fears
Why Johnny Can't Memorize
How To Use A Baby Footprint Stamp



Looking for a great gift? Give a Tree! Planting a Tree in someone\'s name is a great way to show them you care while helping the environment.

Learning Programs For Early Childhood

When you have children in your house who are not yet old enough to join regular school but definitely have the capability of acquiring some knowledge, one of the best things that you can do to help your child and yourself is to enroll him into an early childhood learning program.

These programs are obviously helpful for your child and also ensure that you get a break from the screaming, jumping, running and endless banter. Do not feel guilty about doing this because the early childhood learning programs are much needed by your child himself.

We tend to underestimate the capabilities of our children and do not realize that they have they have a much higher learning and grasping potential than what we can imagine. What we need to ensure is that we choose the right program that uses appropriate and apt skills to educate your child and ease him into the subsequent regime of curriculum and structured learning.

By opting for an early childhood program, you shall actually be doing your child a favor. With growing competition, anything that provides a head start to your child is an asset. These programs have the ability to act as initiation programs for your child to adjust easily when he starts going to regular school.

This is quite beneficial since a large number of kids take a long time to adjust and get accustomed to the large number of other kids that they encounter when they start school. Short attention spans do not allow them to immediately adapt to a teacher explaining concepts and ideas to them.

An early learning program is more fun then a specified curriculum and therefore acclimatizes the child, preparing him for what the future holds for him. It also helps the child in being able to pick things faster in a formal system when he joins one.

If you are anxious about letting your child go to an early childhood program, then you could consider the numerous choices available on the Internet. Cyberspace has a plethora of options for early childhood learning programs that use games and fun stuff while teaching the child about many things. The methods are so well defined and skillful that the child does not actually realize that while playing a game, he is learning along the way.

Even if you are looking at enrolling your child in a program where he can interact with other kids, try getting onto the net to start with and check out the various options that are available in your area or locality.

To find more information about giving your kids the best possible start by enroling them in an early childhood learning program visit http://kids-tips.com


Related Posts:
Games Are A Fun Way To Teach Kids
Give Your Kids The Best Start - Introduce Books At An Early Age
Computers - An Important Part Of School Life
The Wonderful Wines Of Sardinia
The Popular Cabinets For Your Kitchen
Old World Elegance Takes The Design World By Storm



Find great prices on trailer hitches at Trailer Hitch Universe!

Give Your Kids The Best Start - Introduce Books At An Early Age

Every one of us wants to give our children the best we can provide, of love, care and education. The best course is to prepare our children in a manner that will enable them to face the challenges life throws at them as they grow older. Keeping a child occupied, however, is one of the most trying jobs that parents face. Books for children, apart from helping in keeping the child occupied, can provide a lot of food for thought and are a major tool for educating children.

The habit of reading should be inculcated at an early age. After all, as they grow up they will be required to read and read more and read even more. If children are already familiar with books and have read books for children, you will find that they will not shirk from reading textbooks too.

In fact, books are the best gift you can give to your child. Books for children are available for all ages - toddlers, pre-schoolers, school going and teenagers. For smaller kids here are picture books that your young one may not understand to start with but they provide a positive association with books in general and this proves to be extremely beneficial as the child grows. Books for children that are meant for use during early childhood are very colorful and attractive. They are also made of soft material and do not harm children in any way. Reputable manufacturers ensure that the paper and ink used in them do not contain any toxic material.

As the child grows, you can look for books for children that have little words along with pictures. The child will understand that words tell a story and the pictures are associated with them. This has a very positive developmental effect on children and stands them in good stead later.

Once children cross three years you can buy books that have more of a story and less of pictures. Such books for children inculcate the habit of inquisitiveness and asking questions. Your child will reap the benefits of this habit when he/she joins school as it is only by asking questions that children can elicit additional information and knowledge from the teacher. You can also look for books for children that have rhyming words. Rhyming words are easier to memorize than simple prose. Such books for children help in developing a good memory in children.

Buying books for children is easy and once you explore the possibilities you will find it a pleasant experience shopping for them. Big book stores have separate display areas for books for children. Many stores go to great lengths to provide facilities to parents who bring their children along. They may have a play area or story time to keep children occupied while the adults look around for appropriate books.

Libraries too organize such programs to help develop the habit of reading among children. Lot of enterprising parents take upon themselves to start programs like book sharing and story time within their communities. This also provides a convenient platform for donating the books your child has outgrown from.

To find more information about giving your kids the best possible start by introducing books at an early age visit http://kids-tips.com


Related Posts:
Learning Programs For Early Childhood
Computers - An Important Part Of School Life
Can Kids Get Too Much School?
Learn Easy and Fun Strategies to Teach Your Retriever Puppy
Home Appliances | Air Conditioners Make Summer Enjoyable
I Hated My Job And My Boss



Find great deals on Rawlings baseball equipment at Garretson's Sport Center

Promotional Gifts - Using Promotional Items as Corporate Gifts

Promotional items are great when it comes to using them as corporate gifts for your business. It is one of the most popular ways to promote your company and the products or services that you are offering. This is so popular because it acts as a medium for you to place your company name and sales message to anyone without directly giving away your products or services for free.

Some examples of promotional items are office supplies, mugs, key chains, bookmarks, apparels, sports gears and so on. Promotional gifts are vital part of a company marketing plan. With the right gifts, you will be able to attract more customers and increase sales for your company. These gifts will help stimulate the interest of people, and establish a stronger link between your company and them.

So what are some of the characteristics that promotional gifts must have? Let us get into more detailed discussion:

1. Promotional gifts must contain company's name, tag line and logo. If you company is already very well-known in the market, by placing your logo on the gifts is usually sufficient. Regardless of size, all promotional items should make your company known.

2. Promotional gifts must remind people of your products or services. You should always relate your gifts with the name of your company brand or the type of people that your brand caters for. For example, if you run a cigarette manufacturing company, you might want to include your brand name or logo on ash trays or lighters. By relating your gifts with your product or company, you create easy recognition and association between your company and you consumers. This will help create a stronger impression of your brand in your consumers' mind.

3. Promotional gifts should have the right logo size. When it comes to obvious advertisement, it is almost certain that the consumers will not accept your gifts. A big print of your company logo at any portion of a tee shirt will make the person wearing it a walking billboard. Do you still think that your consumer will wear it out on the streets?

4. Promotional gifts should be of good quality. When it comes to marketing, quality is very important. If your company name is seen on low-quality promotional gifts, consumers will have second thought of buying your products or services. It will be more worthwhile to pay a little more for good quality gifts, rather than running the risk of spoiling your company's reputation.

Get more Unique Gift Ideas from the website below:

Click Here: More Unique Gift Ideas at... www.CoolStyleGifts.com

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.


Related Posts:
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Portable Dog Kennel
This All-Too-Common Situation Cries Out for Parenting Help
Fresh Fruit Gift Baskets



Looking for a cheap vacation? Find out about HouseCarers.com here!