Beginning in this week's homework packet, students will be able to choose three spelling activities from the new "spelling tic-tac-toe" worksheet. Selected activities can be three in a row, three in a column, or three diagonally. Students should circle their choices and then use a separate (preferably lined) piece of paper for each practice activity.
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These conversation starters are so much better than "How was your day?" I found these on iMom, where you can find more family conversation starters: http://imom.com/tools/conversation-starters/after-school-talk/
To truly enjoy reading, it needs to become second nature. Children should read both silently and aloud and develop fluency--the ability to read smoothly and expressively--so that not too much time and effort is spent struggling with decoding words. One of the best ways is to practice with familiar text, even if a child chooses to read the same book over and over again.
Many struggling readers don't enjoy reading to themselves and haven't developed the stamina to read independently for sustained periods of time. In the classroom, reading with a peer often helps to engage better with the text, and it's also fine to read to a sibling or even the family pet at home. In point of fact, a study by UC Davis showed that second graders who read aloud to the family dog for ten weeks improved their reading skills by 12%. The bottom line is, however, that children benefit most when a parent reads with them, taking the role of an encouraging listener and partner, every day for at least 20 minutes. But what if a parent doesn't have the time? And what if a child is anxious about reading aloud and making mistakes? Here are two high-tech options that have been shown to be helpful: 1) Use an iPod Touch or iPad. I have found that children love reading into a recording device and playing back their recording, and the iPod's audio memo feature is no exception. If a Mac product isn't on hand, I have seen a tape recorder (I know, how archaic!) work wonders, too. 2) Audio books. Research has shown that listening to audio books, which reinforce the flow of words, can also improve a child's ability to read aloud. Listening to books on tape, CD, or the computer brings opportunities to hear examples of good literature and fluent reading, as well as to expand vocabulary and ultimately become better readers. |
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