06 Feb

While I’ve been away I haven’t been posting here on my website lately, but I am writing every day, as a Featured Blogger for BAM, under EdWords. Check out my blog posts I’m sure you will enjoy.  My last blog was about Dr. Seuss, and Read Across America, The NEA’s signature project, each year celebrating Dr. Seuss birthday. Get ready for a grand Seussitastical party celebration, March 2nd! On a less joyous, but hopeful note, NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)…..

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27 Dec

I am behind on everything, including my literacy blogs. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Now that life is slowing down a little, I was so inspired by this article  I have to share it with you. I recently read that worldwide 58 million children are not in school. (UNESCO). Add to that, in our country 51% of public school children live in poverty, many more are on the edge. Poverty matters. For many children it’s no small…..

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05 Dec

I can’t think of a better way to spend a winter day before the holidays. Wishing you all quiet moments, reading with your classrooms and families. Leaving footprints on your reading hearts, Rita

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26 Oct

Today I am describing basic reading mechanics, as you teach your budding reader. I hope this is helpful! This is a little different than what I have been sharing with you, but it’s still early in the academic year and may be what you are looking for. Emerging readers begin in a print awareness stage. Littles recognize that thought can be written, they look at print- the letters, spaces between words, how to handle books and recognize what a word…..

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26 Sep

WHY AMERICANS CAN’T WRITE A stunning article from the Washington Post caught my attention this week. It is a MUST READ. Interesting timing, because lately I’ve been reading that English majors are disappearing and cursive writing is on the wane. Do we really want that? Reading, writing, speaking and listening in a tech balanced language arts program seems pretty obvious, but something’s not right. Did the pendulum swing too far? Why Americans Can’t Write, authored opinion piece by Natalie Wexler shook…..

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18 Sep

First, a brief historical perspective. Best ways to teach reading to children (and adults) have been debated for over a hundred years. Cracking the code continues to be studied and discussed. I learned to read with Dick and Jane. Technology has vastly improved learning opportunities, but I do not believe in learning to read on a screen. I believe there is no one perfect method, or pedagogy, no one program that teaches everyone to read. Reading programs come and go, skills…..

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06 Sep

Our littlest angels are learning to read and write.  We are all teachers and learners, together. In celebration of Labor Day weekend, my goal is motivate and inspire you. Beginning Sept. 8, International Literacy Day, spotlight shines on the development of literacy, U.S. and worldwide. Our hopes and dreams for children everywhere highlight the intense need for literacy. Individuals and grassroots movements gain momentum. I’ve never been prouder. According to RIF (Reading Is Fundamental), 65% of fourth graders read at…..

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25 Aug

Here’s how to boost kids’ comprehension. Check out these classroom-perfected success secrets. A big help for Back-To- School gear up! These strategies work with Non-fiction/infotext, a big focus in Common Core. Most kids K-8 benefit from many of my favorite activities. As easy as A B C D E! #Let’s Plain Talk, Together! What really matters to help kids understand what they read?  A. Make Connections. Start by connecting to the prior lesson, as a quick review. Find out what…..

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21 Aug

Kids learn vocabulary in a variety of ways, but it starts with sight words! After the alphabet, make sure you are constantly pointing out basic sight words. Sight words are instantly recognized so no decoding (phonics) is necessary. Before you know it, your child is showing you the sight words. Sight words make up about half of all reading material, so it’s a good idea to spend time as a fun home project. This requires practice and repetition. Any parent, tutor or coach…..

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18 Aug

Change of pace with this interesting, thought-provoking HuffPost article. I am in the middle of half a dozen blogs about teaching reading. This caught my ‘eye’ on Facebook. I think it will generate a great discussion with your friends, family and colleagues. Be sure to ask your own kids what they think about it, too! If you saw the movies Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers you undoubtedly recall the scene where Gaylord’s parents made a giant shrine of his…..

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