September has arrived, and the feeling of fall is in the air. With the changing of the season comes the opportunity to put in place some back-to-school habits that can help your children build their literacy skills. Here are four practical ideas to help your family kick-off the school year. 1. Keep Up With a Reading Log Many schools request children to read at home several times a week. Even if the school does not…
If you are reading a fiction or poetry passage, your goal is to think about the type of mood the author is creating, which is similar to the tone, and how the details are used to help you understand the mood the author is trying to create. Pay special attention to symbolism and imagery throughout the piece. Read the following passage, and think carefully about the details that are being used. Notice the use of…
Does your child continually put off starting their summer reading? Does she protest that there is plenty of time and that you are being ridiculous for suggesting getting started now? Some students hate to read and will always avoid it, but even those who enjoy books sometimes resist reading in the summer. Here are some strategies you can try to help your child finish up that last minute summer reading. These first two strategies may…
In my previous post, I stressed the importance of teaching empathy to children in school and at home in an effort to prevent bullying. Empathy, as opposed to sympathy or compassion, is a starting point for understanding both ourselves and other people from the inside out. In that vein, here are some wonderful books that can help teach your child about empathy. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. August Pullman was born with a facial difference that,…
It’s hard enough to be a kid these days, but English language learning students get an extra level of challenge. Research shows that reading comprehension in English Language Learners gets a boost when students have access to culturally relevant books, however. Candis Grover, director of literacy and Spanish development at educational website ReadyRosie, says, “Story is both individual and collective. Students need more than just a few scattered stories; we need to give them a large…
If you love to read, chances are you will love using Goodreads, an innovative, interactive, and enchanting website for book lovers. One of the primary uses of Goodreads is to keep track of what you’ve read, are reading, and want to read. You will automatically have those three lists on your account to which you can add your books. You can also make lists according to anything you want (genre, character type, a book club,…
Not sure what to read next? Check out one college student’s list of favorite young adult books for high school readers. Reading levels provided by Scholastic and Lexile. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Before Steven Spielberg’s 2018 film adaptation is brought to the big screen, read this futuristic story about a young man seeking fortune, adventure, and escape from reality in a massively multiplayer online world. He must dodge obstacles and solve puzzles for…
Not sure what your child should be reading next? Check out one college student’s list of favorite books for middle school readers. Reading levels provided by Scholastic and Lexile. How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found by Sara Nickerson. This book was probably my all-time favorite as a child. Any reader would enjoy unraveling this curious, exciting, and dramatic mystery tale about two young sisters, the boy next door, a series of strange homemade…
Not sure what your child should be reading next? Check out one college student’s list of favorite books for elementary school readers. All reading levels provided by Scholastic. Peppermints in the Parlor by Barbara Brookes Wallace. I first read this book when I was in the third grade, and I reread it countless times over the years. It’s an exciting mystery set in a cobweb-filled mansion; the orphaned Emily must unravel the secrets of Sugar…
In today’s day and age, parents have all the information the Internet can hold at their fingertips when it comes to what can help their children. Music is heralded as one of the best methods of stimulating development, but how does it work? For starters, music positively affects all areas of child development, helping them develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Music can also improve motor, language, and literacy skills in young children, as it teaches…
