Learning
The Reading Journey
“Everyone is a reader…Some just haven’t found their best route yet.” – unknown During a recent reading association meeting I was met with some interesting reading statistics: “Reading scientists” predict that 95% of students can be taught to read accurately and fluently. If this is true, how do we help our struggling readers in their journey to becoming successful…
Read MoreThe Dilemma of Guided Reading and the Rest of the Class
“But what is the rest of the class doing?” This is the question teachers often ask themselves when they begin to think about implementing guided reading. The answers or lack thereof are what make many shy away from implementing it because for guided reading to be effective, the rest of the class must be involved…
Read MoreSparking Comprehension
“To learn to read is to light a fire, every syllable that is spelled is a spark.” – Victor Hugo There is such a poetic beauty to Hugo’s words and I so wish to fan those flames in my young readers. This is my goal during guided reading –…
Read MoreIt Starts With Wanting to Know More
“Look at the map. Which is bigger in area, Greenland or Australia? Ah, Greenland you say. I traced the outline of Greenland and Australia and cut them out. Let’s look. How can we compare? Right. One way is to put one country on top of the other. You see Greenland is indeed larger. Now check…
Read MoreCurious Like George
When you were a kid, did you read the stories of Curious George? This timeless little monkey embodies the curiosity children possess. You probably know George, but do you know the story of his creators – H.A. and Margaret Rey? Hans Agusto Rey and Margaret Waldstein worked together on a variety of…
Read MoreAgain
“Again!” He pushes the book back into my hands. “Again, Ms. Sylvan, AGAIN!” We’ve read this one four times already today. “We’ve read this one so many times! Would you like to pick a different one this time?” “NO! THIS ONE! AGAIN!” Again. This one. Nothing else will do. If you work with…
Read MoreHow To Start Summer
Having to tell someone how to actually start a season may seem odd, but if you know educators, then you might know someone who needs this advice. We are in schools at least 9 months of the year, and at the end it is sometimes hard to say goodbye to our school year selves. In…
Read MoreThe Human Connection
“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” -Kid President While visiting with my mom, my daughter took out her phone and her nimble fingers went to work, quickly answering a text from a friend. She went on automatic pilot, tuning us out, as our inter-generational visit quickly came to a halt. My…
Read MoreThe Release Teaches
From the desk of Alice… It’s graduation season which always makes me reflective. This year my oldest child graduates high school and one of my nieces graduated college recently so I am currently immersed in conversations about announcements, ceremonies and celebrations. And please bear with me…in honor of Mother’s Day, I am going to wear…
Read MoreThe Power of a Smile
“I will never understand all the good that a simple smile can accomplish.” – Mother Teresa I just read The 43 Habits of Absolutely Happy People by Brendan Baker and I found myself actively participating in habit #2 – smiling. Then I came across an article in Psychology Today by Sarah Stevenson that reports smiling activates the “feel…
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