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Teaching
children reading and math is more effective when teachers use core
teaching strategies which apply brain science to support learning.
ABOUT ME
While
teaching children reading and math for 28 years, I developed strategies
which I would like to pass along to other teachers and parents. With
experience in K - 8, I offer a wide range of activities.
AESTHETICS
Aesthetics and Learning
Aesthetics and learning are the perfect partnership because aesthetic activities improve the ability to remember.
Dance
Children Dancing
Children dancing is the perfect activity to improve memory and support learning.
Movement and Learning
Movement and learning are related, and dance in school is the ideal
activity for learning because it combines music with a steady beat and
coordination skills.
Drama
Drama in Schools
Drama in schools can be used effectively in classrooms to enhance learning and improve memory.
Readers' Theater
Readers Theater is one of the most effective reading fluency activities.
Scripts are readily available making teaching reading fluency and
learning it fun for everyone!
Art
Art in Education
Art in education may be used to improve reading skills as the benefit of
art education exists beyond the art room. Reading comprehension
activities using art especially help left handed children.
Teaching Math with Art
Using art in math significantly improves retention of key concepts and
vocabulary.
Strategies for Teaching Writing
Coordinate writing and art with a Flower Show in the spring by having
children design their own flower seed packets for holding "story seeds."
Math Center Activities
Interesting math center activities keep students engaged and learning.
Elementary and middle school math centers may include math labs in
addition to art projects and games.
Math Teaching Strategies
Art in math serves as a vehicle for memory and helps students remember key concepts and vocabulary.
Music
Music Education in Schools
Music education in schools can support reading comprehension and really
does not need to be confined to the music room. Links have been
established between music and learning as well as music and memory.
Benefits for Music Education
The importance of music in education to support brain function and
memory in academic subjects adds to the value of music education in
schools.
Songs for the Classroom
These clapping games incorporate crossing the midline and are a super
fun way to use movement and dance in your classroom.
Singing the Word Wall
Singing the Word Wall is a set of ten songs for singing the words on
word walls to learn basic sight words, increase sight
vocabulary, and improve fluency and comprehension.
Poetry
Teaching Children to Write Poetry
Teaching children to write poetry is a natural process since rhythm and
rhyme come naturally to most children. Teaching poetry is a great way to
help them express their feelings as well.
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Effective Learning Environment
An effective learning environment is key to helping children come to
know. This means creating a learning
centered environment that is brain friendly.
Cooperative Learning
Allowing children to work together has many benefits, and it is one of the best strategies for improving the memory of school aged children.
Creative Grouping
Creative grouping can maximize instructional time for Common Core standards. Having students organize themselves using criteria from the Common Core can be an effective way to promote critical thinking.
How to Motivate Students
Helping students discover their areas of gifted-ness is the key to motivation.
Children and Stress Management
School stress can negatively impact learning because children lose focus when they are under stress.
Classroom Time Management
Creative ways to make every instructional minute count
in order to make the best use of the time we have with our students.
Learning and Emotion
Learning and emotion are related. Creating a safe environment and making
learning fun with fun learning games can support memory and boost
achievement.
Learning Context
All learning must be placed in the learners
context if it is to have meaning.
Effective Classroom Management
Helpful tips for successful classroom management.
Reluctant Learners
How to motivate and involve reluctant learners.
READING
Coordination
Brain Exercises and Coordination
Brain
exercises and physical coordination are benefits of physical education
because mind and body are connected. Certain physical coordination and
occupational therapy activities support learning.
Physical Coordination and Reading
Physical
coordination and reading are related because physical exercise and
brain function are related. Some exercises for kids are particularly
important to reading, but how can you find time for them?
Memory Improvement Exercises
Spinning children in the direction of their dominant hand can
dramatically improve memory and recall. It is, in fact, one of the most
effective memory exercises available. And it costs absolutely nothing!
Educational Gadgets and Toys
Here is a collection educational gadgets and toys which can help get kids motivated and coordinated.
Gender Differences in Learning:Boys and Reading
Gender
differences in learning, particularly in the early childhood years,
require careful attention because some boys come to reading later than
girls.
Sight Vocabulary
The Importance of Vocabulary
Teaching reading to children is all about vocabulary because teaching a child to read is about teaching words.
Teaching Dolch Sight Words
Teaching
children reading begins with Dolch sight words, the most frequently
used words in kids reading. Teaching sight words with sight word games
and songs makes learning them easy and fun.
How to Teach Sight Words
Learning
how to teach sight words is key to effective reading instruction. The
protocol is the same for teaching first grade sight words, kindergarten
sight words, or those for any grade level.
Vocabulary Assessment
Vocabulary
assessment is an ongoing and necessary part of teaching sight words
with word walls. But how do you do a sight word assessment for word
walls?
A Year of Second Grade Sight Words
These
second grade sight words can be used to fill your word walls for an
entire year. They are the categories I used to build word walls for one
year with second grade students as Title I reading specialist.
Sight Word Games for Building Sight Vocabulary
Sight
word games are the best tool for teaching sight words. Especially
effective are word wall games and songs that increase sight word memory.
Word Walls for Teaching Sight Words
Word
walls are a very good method for teaching Dolch and other basic sight
words. Word wall activities, games, and songs give kids the essential
practice they need for mastery.
Songs for the Classroom: Sight Word Oldies
Songs
for the classroom are one way to help children learn and remember sight
words. These songs for learning support the use of music in education.
Word Wall Activities: Adopting Words
One
of our favorite word wall activities is adopting word wall words.
Students seem to enjoy all word wall games, but especially this
activity.
Word Wall Games: Scavenger Hunts
Word
wall games are free reading games for practicing both sight word and
content area vocabulary. Scavenger hunts are ideal examples which are
fun and easy to adapt to specific needs.
Word Wall Super Heroes
Word Wall Super Heroes make the words on your word walls come to life
for students as they create characters to fight evil doers. Kids of all
ages are attracted to the idea of super heroes,
and this activity is suitable for any word wall in any subject or grade
level.
Word Wall Families
The activity of categorizing resides in one of the highest tiers of Bloom's taxonomy. When
combined with designing and creating a home for a word wall family, this
activity provides an opportunity for children to use word wall words to think
critically and be creative at the same time.
Singing the Word Wall
Singing
the Word Wall is a set of ten songs for singing the words on word walls
in order to learn basic sight words, increase sight vocabulary, and
improve fluency and comprehension.
Testing Vocabulary
Learning
testing vocabulary and keywords used on standardized tests can give
scores an added boost. So put them on a word wall and let the fun begin!
You'll be glad you did because focusing on those critical testing words
can improve your students' scores on state tests.
Reading Fluency
Reading Fluency
Reading
fluency is what bridges the gap between Dolch sight words and reading
comprehension. Teaching reading fluency with various fluency activities
leads to the ability to read for meaning.
Reading Fluency Strategies
Reading
fluency strategies should include fluency activities related to
practicing words on walls. Once children have mastered most of the Dolch
sight words, it becomes all about practice, practice, and more practice
to build fluency.
Reading Fluency Activities
Reading
fluency activities build reading fluency which leads to improved
comprehension skills.Choral reading of poetry and partner reading are
two effective strategies for improving reading fluency.
Colored Overlays
Colored
overlays may improve fluency by improving visual perception, making
their use an important reading intervention strategy for treating
perceptual problems.
Children Writing Stories
Children
writing stories to read themselves is one of the most powerful reading
fluency strategies. If they write it, they will read it so teaching the
writing process is important to reading.
Readers Theater
Readers
Theater is an excellent reading fluency activities. Readers Theater
scripts are readily available making teaching reading fluency easy and
affordable.
Teaching Strategies for Reading Fluency
One
of the most effective teaching strategies for reading fluency is the
use of a simple red dot. Of all the fluency activities and strategies I
have used in teaching reading fluency, it is one of the most successful.
Comprehension
Reading Comprehension Activities
These activities will help you learn how to teach
reading comprehension. Your students will improve and you will better
understand the factors that affect reading for meaning.
Art in Education
Reading comprehension
activities using art especially help left handed children.
Music Education in Schools
Music
in the classroom can support reading comprehension.
Wall Words Support Reading
Wall
words in every subject should support reading, particularly reading
comprehension. Even in math class, there are activities which can be
used to help improve reading comprehension.
MATH
Math Teaching Strategies: The Language of Math
One of the best math teaching strategies is teaching math concepts through the use of math word walls which build vocabulary.
Math Terminology
Use
of correct math terminology is critical to teaching math vocabulary.
Placing math terms on a math word wall and using them daily makes
ongoing review easy and fun.
Why Have a Math Word Wall?
Why
have a math word wall? More than any other subject, math builds on what
is already known. The brain operates that way, too - attaching new
information to the old. So how can a math word wall help?
Teaching Kids Math Through Sight and Sound
Teaching
kids math through sight and sound is particularly useful in teaching
math vocabulary. When used along with a math word wall, involving the
senses can improve memory and recall.
Integer Rules and How to Teach Them
Integer
rules don't have to be confusing. When kids need help with integers,
and you need help teaching integers, these techniques may be just what
you need.
Teaching Math With Art
The connection between math and
art is often overlooked in articles about teaching math, but using art
in math significantly improves retention of key concepts and vocabulary.
Geometry
Geometry
terms in middle school geometry and elementary geometry are easy to remember when
geometry lesson plans include art projects.
Composite Figures
Composite figures are a wonderful opportunity to have fun
with art in math and cover Common Core standards at the same time.
Teaching Graphs and Charts
Teaching graphs and charts can be fun in math if graphs such as stem and leaf plots display data that is important to kids.
Coordinate System
Use free Facebook printable and other strategies to make learning the Cartesian coordinate system fun and creative.
Math Centers
Math
centers are one of the best math teaching strategies around. With
interesting math center activities, learning and teaching elementary and
middle school math is fun!
Math Center Activities
Interesting
math center activities keep students engaged and learning. Elementary
and middle school math centers may include math labs in addition to
games and other fun learning activities.
Exponents
Exponents are another math concept which can be reinforced
through the use of art. Visual representations of them help place the
learning in long term memory, especially for younger students who are still
developing abstract reasoning skills.
GAMES AND STRATEGIES
Word Walls
Word
walls are the best strategy for teaching both sight words and content area vocabulary. Word wall activities, games, and songs give kids the essential
practice they need for mastery.
The Power of a Red Dot
Placing a red dot in various places in text can improve both sight word recognition and reading fluency.
Word Wall Activities: Adopting Words
One
of our favorite word wall activities is adopting word wall words.
Students seem to enjoy all word wall games, but especially this
activity.
Word Wall Games: Scavenger Hunts
Word
wall games are free reading games for practicing both sight word and
content area vocabulary. Scavenger hunts are ideal examples which are
fun and easy to adapt to specific needs.
Memory Activities
Memory
activities can treat memory problems in children. Teachers can help
with remembering and can help parents understand health issues which can
cause working memory problems in children.
Focus Games
Focus
games for children are helpful in building concentration skills.
Teachers and parents can work together to identify the causes of
focusing problems and teach kids how to focus.
Educating Children with ADHD
Educating children with ADHD is most successful in a low
stress, brain friendly environment. Activities for children with ADHD are fun
and beneficial for all students so teaching the ADHD child becomes less about coping
with ADHD and more about educating children.
Buddy Bucks
Buddy Bucks give kids a lifeline during unit tests helping take some of the stress out of testing.
Educational Gadgets and Toys
Here is a collection educational gadgets and toys to help get kids motivated and focused.
Free Sight Word Games Sitemap
A
list of free sight word games found on this site which may be used for
learning basic sight words and Dolch words as well as content area
vocabulary.
Summer Learning Loss: What Teachers Can Do
Teachers
have an obligation to educate parents and raise their awareness of the
importance of providing some sort of learning activities for children
during the summer months.
FOR PARENTS
Focus Problems
It is important to examine factors which could be
responsible for focus problems and find solutions with parents as partners.
Parents as Teachers
Parents
as teachers means parents helping children learn. Busy parents and
especially single parents raising children can easily incorporate these
activities into the daily routine.
Baby Brain Development
You do not need a college degree and unlimited resources to foster baby
brain development at home. Even if you are on a budget – and who isn’t
these days? – there are ways to nurture the growth and development of
your baby's brain without breaking the bank.
Early Childhood Cognitive Development
Early
childhood cognitive development is a critical issue as there is rapid
brain development in early childhood. Parents and those teaching early
childhood can help optimize this brain development.
Benefits of Play
The
benefits of play are many because for children, play and learning are
one in the same.
Car Games
Car
games and activities including rhyming games and memory games for children.
Reading Together
Reading
together is one of the best ways to help your child be successful in school. Here are some tips to help make the most of this time together.
Learning Sight Words
How to help your child learn sight words while reading together.
Summer Learning Activities
Summer
learning activities can bring summer fun and learning together for the
whole family. Summer reading is just one summer learning activity which
can help prevent summer learning loss.
LANGUAGE OF TEACHERS
Descriptive Language
The tendency to look at children and describe them with such terms as “lazy,” “shy,” or “mean,” threatens to become
part of the culture in some schools. But what do those terms really mean? Looking
at these children clinically might lead us to a more helpful assessment of
their needs.