Practice Makes Perfect

Let's get creative with the ways to master sight words.  Having fun and changing the way you approach the process will make a real difference for children who are learning them.  Give it a try so that reading fluency and good comprehension skills are the happy result!

http://www.readingresource.net/support-files/spellingpractice.pdf

FLASHCARDS for Tricky Sight Words

There are 38 high frequency words that kids simply cannot decode (or sound out)  They must be learned by sight.  Click below to access flashcards that will help youngsters begin to master them.
 
http://www.readingresource.net/support-files/sightwords.pdf

Math Myths & Sterotypes

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/08/important-facts-to-know-about-learning-math/

Adults: Facebook/Twitter "Know-How"

These guides helpful; I'm eager to share them with the professionals and families I serve.  Digital citizenship is a part of educating our young people.

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/09/what-parents-must-know-about-facebook.html

Reading Fun at PBS? Yes!

Between the Lions

http://pbskids.org/lions/games/

GAME	DIFFICULTY	SKILL	NOTES
“The Quiet Machine”	Matching letters to pictures	*beginning sounds	Phonemic awareness
Leona’s Coloring Pages	Reading and writing	*beginning reader activity	Printable book
“The Messy Attic”	Picture identification	*listen, then follow directions	Pre- reading skill
“Arty’s Smarty Doors”	Rhymes	*rhyming words	Pre-reading skill
“Dub Cubs”	Rhyming words	*word families	Reading skill
“Hopposites”	Opposites	*words with opposite meanings	Reading skill
“Sky Writing”	Letter recognition	*varying styles of the same letter	Reading skill
“Monkey Match”	Match	*letters, sounds, rhymes	Reading skill
“Theo’s Puzzles”	Letter recognition	*consonant puzzles	Puzzles & a video
“Trampolini Game”	Word meanings	*inflectional endings ‘er, ‘est	Reading skill
“Blending Bowl”	Match blends with endings	*-ack, -an, -ap, -ar, -est, -ick, -ig, -ip, -it, -ock, -op, -up, -uck matched up with beginning blends	good for partners
“Synonym Sam’s Lab”	Choose synonyms	*this game is self-checking	good for partners
“ABCD Watermelon”	identify missing letters	*alphabet recognition	Pre-reading skill
“Alphabet Soup”	unscramble letters	*reader uses given letters to find a solution	101 riddles
“Chicken Stacker”	phonemic awareness	*listen and read words with the same short vowel sound	Five sets words
“Flood”	categories	*listen and read book titles	Hints given
“Fuzzy Lion Ears”	phonemic awareness	*letter sounds beginning/middle/ending	Six rounds
“Word Play”	good for partners	*read words and then  “click” to see the action	25 words: three sets
“Talking Gizmo”	recognize parts of a sentence	*readers experiment with sentences and word order	J good for partners
“Pounce”	word matching	*listen, then choose a word	Reading skill
More Literature	Pre-K through fifth graders	http://pbskids.org/lions/stories/	Kids can listen and read along with stories.

Songs and videos:  http://pbskids.org/lions/videos/

Let's Talk

Keep the conversation going is essential.  Specifically---members of the school community owe it to parents to discuss openly & often any and all concerns they mutually feel are important.  Don't  hesitate to contact Parkside teachers or administrators.  Student success is our business.

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Working_Schools/

The 2012 Global Readaloud

 Books are powerful things & kids deserve knowing they're connected to others. 
 Can you take part in this project?  I hope we'll embrace it at Parkside in October.
 Complete details follow:

http://www.globalreadaloud.com/

Repeated Reading Story for October

Young readers benefit from reading text that's repeated.  One excellent, free printable comes from Kathy Law (below) who blogs on "First Grade Alacarte."   You can also follow her on Pinterest.   

http://firstgradealacarte.blogspot.com/2011/10/orange-pumpkin-orange-pumpkin.html

2012-13 DIBELS Next Reading Benchmarks

Parkside pupils are evaluated using goals from the University of Oregon.  There have been recent increases in state and federal standards calling for stronger literacy skills that yield higher-level comprehension processes.  Kindergarten through grade six goals: 


https://dibels.uoregon.edu/docs/DIBELSNextRecommendedBenchmarkGoals.pdf