March 22
In the News
Balancing creativity discipline in life: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-04/19/content_1426898.htm
Howard Gardner is like a movie star in the educational world, as his friend
Michelle Vosper puts it.
Could brain implants liberate students with
disabilities?: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5003
For years, futurists have dreamed of machines that could translate pure thought
into action. Now, human trials are set to begin on an interface involving chips
implanted in the brain that one day might enable students with severe disabilities
to communicate effectively and even learn in a traditional classroom setting.
Harnessing Technology to Serve Adult Literacy:
http://www.alri.org/harness.html
This site has technology solutions for ordinary adult education classroom needs
and problems. Most of the technology solutions (Web sites and others) have been
suggested by teachers working in adult basic education/ESOL.
How to Adapt Your Teaching Strategies to Student
Needs: http://www.readingrockets.org/article.php?ID=446
Teachers are often asked to modify instruction to accommodate students with
special needs. This practical article has a bulleted list of ideas to try with
students who have difficulty listening, reading, writing, spelling, and more.
In America Books: http://www.inamericabooks.com/main.php
This website gives students insights into America's immigrant populations. Lerner
Publishing Group, publisher of the In America book series, offers this
free tool.
In Cities, a Battle to Improve Teenage Literacy:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/14/education/14read.html
Thousands of high school students are held back each year because they cannot
read well enough to absorb information from their textbooks.
New format hastens textbook accessibility: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5218
Students with disabilities can anticipate faster access to curriculum materials
now that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has formally endorsed a voluntary
national publishing paradigm known as the National Instructional Materials Accessibility
Standard (NIMAS).
SchoolBookings.com: http://schoolbookings.com/
Five Star Publicaitons puts schools and authors together with on this website.
For schools, it offers free access to a database of authors and illustrators,
and tips on setting up events and building a network.
Sharp increase in autism
sparks a crisis in schools:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.edbeat01aug01001750,1,1450939.column?coll=bal-local-headlines
" Marjorie Shulbank, a disabilities specialist in the State Department
of Education, holds up a bar graph that looks like one side of a very steep
mountain."
Skill Builder Modules To Improve Reading Skills
Of Dyslexic Readers:
http://www.educationnews.org/skill-builder-modules-to-improve.htm
Educational Help, Inc. announces the release of Skill Builder Modules for improving
reading skills of dyslexic readers. The Skill Builder software can be used at
school or at home. Each module features specific word lists that are grade or
subject matter appropriate. The reader spends 20 minutes a day using the Skill
Builder module until mastery of that module is achieved.
Spitzer Agreement to Make Web Sites Accessible
to the Blind and Visually Impaired: http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/aug/aug19a_04.html
From the article: Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced settlements
with two major travel web sites that will make the sites far more accessible
to blind and visually impaired users...., Ramada.com and Priceline.com will
pay the State of New York $40,000 and $37,500, respectively, as costs of the
investigation.
Tim and Moby Talk About Dyslexia: http://www.sparktop.org/explore/brainpop/bpdyslexia.html
Many kids with learning or reading disabilities don't have a good understanding
of their difficulties. This can lead to harmful self-thoughts, such as "there's
something wrong with my brain" or "I'm just dumb." Luckily, BrainPop
offers three-minute animated movies that kids can watch online that explain
complex subjects such as dyslexia, ADD, and bullying in amusing but accurate
ways.
TV411: http://www.tv411.org/index.shtml
By combining television, print, the Web, video, and community outreach, ALMA
takes an unconventional approach to helping adults improve basic reading, writing,
and math skills.
TV and ADHD: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/local/9195993.htm?1c
Area experts say TV shouldn't be big part of child's day, but they can't point
to viewing TV as a cause of the disorder.
Understanding the special-ed
system: http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2004/08/01/understanding_the_special_ed_system/
"Sometimes letters come slowly, sometimes the meaning
of the words. Sometimes a 6- or 7-year-old just seems slow, unfocused like a
lens. Sometimes it will be a teacher who first raises the suspicion that the
child just cannot keep up with the class."
What We Sing, We Remember Forever!: http://www.educationnews.org/what-we-sing-we-remember-forever.htm
In 1962 a former primary grade teacher and mother of three preschool children
was washing dishes and talking to her youngest son to keep him nearby and occupied
as she completed her task. She had been tutoring beginning and remedial reading
students for years, but was still surprised by what she learned in that conversation
with her 4 year old.
4-Blocks
Four Blocks is the name of a reading/writing method laid
out by Patricia Cunningham. Basically, it uses four main "blocks"
to teach and practice the skills of reading and writing. One is self-selected
reading, one is guided reading, one is working with words, and one is a writing
workshop. The program emphasizes kids working at their reading levels for independent
reading, supporting children in accessing and understanding reading that may
be slightly above their level, lots of modeling of reading strategies and written
work. It fits in with reading/writing workshop and differentiating instruction.
Four Blocks is the idea of teaching reading four times a day - phonics; writing;
self selected reading; and guided reading. Guided
Reading the Four Blocks Way is focusing all the students attention on comprehension.
You set a purpose in your before reading, then during reading, the children
work in a variety of formats (small group, whole group, echo reading, shared
reading, partner reading, individual reading, etc.), then the children work
in an after reading discussion making sure that every child
knows what was learned.
Some books by Patricia Cunningham:
Phonics They Can Use
Classrooms that Work: They Can All Read and Write
4 Blocks Literacy in Kankakee: http://www.k111.k12.il.us/lafayette/FourBlocks/
The Carbo Reading Styles Program-National Reading Styles Institute (NRSI): http://www.nrsi.com/
Four Blocks Literacy Center: http://www.readinglady.com/4blocks/
Includes PowerPoint presentation of Four Blocks
The Four Blocks Literacy Model: http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks/about_fourblocks.html
Four Blocks: Research: http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks/research.htm
The Perfect Guided Reading Lesson: http://teachers.net/gazette/AUG02/sigmon.html
Sifting and Sorting Through the 4-Blocks Literacy
Model-Considering a Reading Basal Series?: http://teachers.net/gazette/APR03/sigmon.html
One district added a 5th block to the 4 Block model: Community Reading and Conversation.
Through conversation about reading and writing, community building takes place
within the classroom. Students practice skills and techniques that result in
high levels of critical and creative thinking.
These conversations may tke the form of authentic conversations around a shared
text, student generated discussion where the teacher acts as a facilitator rather
than a questioner, and many times are literature circles and paired reading.
Word Wall Activities: http://www.wfu.edu/~cunningh/fourblocks/block4.html
Just in case you're running a bit stale with your spelling lists or word walls,
here are numerous suggestions for word wall activities for elementary classrooms.
Word Wall Lists: http://www.k111.k12.il.us/lafayette/fourblocks/word_wall_grade_level_lists.htm
For kindergarten through third grade, find weekly lists to use for your classroom
word walls. The site suggests printing each batch on different colored card
stock, and includes those categories as well.
Word Wall Routine: http://www.k111.k12.il.us/lafayette/fourblocks/word_wall_routine.htm
Working within the four blocks literacy framework, word walls have established
a solid footing in elementary classrooms. Here are some suggestions on how to
use them to your best advantage, with further extension activities.
6-Traits
6+1 Trait Writing: http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/department.asp?d=1
6-Traits Writing Rubric: http://www.middleweb.com/ReadWrkshp/RWdownld/MvaleRubric.pdf
Ginny's Educational WebPages: http://www.geocities.com/ginnyks/sixtraitupdate.html
Sandy Hoodenpyle's 6+1 spreadsheets scoring guide: http://www.middleweb.com//mw/images/Scorguide6traits.xls and student friendly version: http://www.middleweb.com//mw/images/SFriendly6traits.xls(cancel the login window and the spreadsheets open)
Six Traits of Writing Forum: http://teachers.net/gazette/AUG02/new2.html
Six Traits Posters: http://www.readinglady.com/Six_Trait_Writing/index.html
The Writing Process: A Web Tutorial with Conn McQuinn &
Mona Roach, Ph.D: http://www.psesd.org/technology/writeprocess/default.html
The Puget Sound Educational Service District has come up with a quick tutorial
for teachers on how to teach the five stages of writing: prewrite, draft, revise,
edit, and publish. Tell your students it's like making a pizza, where you first
gather the ingredients for your story and then assemble it. Be sure to click
on the video player to watch the stages being taught in an actual classroom.
Practical ideas
-Have kids circle the 2 traits on the 6-trait rubric that THEY want graded.
It puts some differentiation into the grading and is less to think about than
6-traits. It definitely saves time.
Big6
Big6-An Information and Problem Solving Process: http://www.big6.com/
The Big Six: http://www.gardensprings.fcps.net/library/thebig6_files/frame.htm
This is a seven slide PowerPoint presentation of questions.
Exemplary Big6 Implementations in K-12 Schools:
http://www.big6.com/showarticle.php?id=215
This site contains a list of schools which displayed excellence in helping students
learn essential information and technology skills using the Big6 approach.
Big6 Bulletin Board: "Santa Uses the Big6 to Plan Ahead!": http://www.big6.com/showarticle.php?id=320
Practical ideas
-Here's a suggestion to introduce the whole process to
middle age students.. Try explaining to them that they are already expert researchers--they
just don't know it yet, but that they do research every day of their lives.
Then divide them into groups of 4 or 5 and tell them to pretend that they are
going to a
movie together this weekend. Brainstorm the first Big6 step--what movie, what
questions do they need to ask & have answered to choose a movie-- like the
cost, time, theater, how they can get there, and so on. Move on to Step 2--where
can they find out this info--newspaper, calling the theater, Internet, and so
on. Which one is the best source and why? How do they use the newspaper (find
the entertainment section of the paper)--and find all the answers to their questions,
choose a movie and report to the whole group what they decided and why. For
the last step, they can reflect on any info that was difficult to find (not
all newspapers tell the cost, for instance) and how they could find out that
information were they to do it again.
- Big6 when checking out library books
Step 1: Students come to check out sci-fi/fantasy. Define
the task, & decide on the important information, which are the characteristics
of sci-fi/fantasy books.
Step 2: Discuss where to locate sci-fi/fantasy.
Step 3: Do a few booktalks.
Step 4: Kids search, look through the books, etc.
Step 5: Kids check out books.
Step 6: The next week., kids tell me if their book met the criteria, and if
they enjoyed it.
Fountas/Pinnell Literacy Collaborative Way
Fountas/Pinnell uses data
to drive the small homogenous guided reading groups. The data comes from running
records that you do with the students to determine their reading level and assess
the strategies they are using. Then, you plan your instruction based on the
strategies they need to use. Independent strategy use is the goal. They use
a Shared Reading component for Large Group work. They emphasize Vigotsky's "zone
of proximal development" as the key for developing lesson plans for reading.
The plan shifts from K-3rd grade based on the students development and ability
to be more independent in a Reading Workshop approach. F/P has phonics books
you can buy that are K, 1st, and 2nd grade.
Independent Reading Ideas
DEAR - drop everything and read - students read books independantly on their
own reading level
Story Card - students read an assigned story and draw a picture and/or write about their favorite part. This can be varied by having students write the problem and solution of the story they read. This helps monitor comprehension.
Illustrate - students draw pictures of words from the word family they are studying that week.
Big into Small - students take a large word (sometimes I make it seasonal like Thanksgiving) and make as many smaller words as they can out of it. Magnets can be used to do this so they can just slide the letters around.
Pocket Chart - Cut up a song or poem that is familiar to the students. This can be done line by line or word by word. Students take the cut pieces and assemble it correctly. You can provide them with a copy of the song or poem.
Word hunt - students look for certain words in their reading.
Integrated Curriculum
Center for Problem Based
Learning: http://www.imsa.edu/team/cpbl/cpbl.html
Kathy Nunley's Layered Curriculum: http://www.help4teachers.com/
Reciprocal Teaching: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/atrisk/at6lk38.htm
Lexile Framework for Reading
Lexile Framework for Reading: http://www.lexile.com/
Spelling
50 Common Spelling Errors: http://dissc.tees.ac.uk/Mistakes/Spelling/Test/word1.htm
50 commonly misspelled words: http://www.sentex.net/~mmcadams/spelling.html
When Two Vowels Go Walking: http://pbskids.org/lions/songs/two_vowels_rp.html
Do you remember the song "Conjunction Junction" from Schoolhouse Rock?
Putting words to music is a great way of remembering things! The Between the
Lions site has a wonderful song and animation called "When Two Vowels Go
Walking" that explains the rule for when a vowel is silent.
Daily Spelling Bee: http://www.zdaily.com/words.shtml
Online test of spelling skills
Daily Spelling Bee: http://www.zdaily.com/words.shtml
Online test of spelling skills
Dictionary
of Prefixes and Suffixes: http://www.spellingbee.com/pre_suf_comb.pdf
Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/index.html
Houghton-Mifflin spelling site: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmsv/smg/index.html
For grades 1-8, this site was created to go along with the Houghton-Mifflin
textbook series. It is an
interactive game for spelling.
Learn to Read: http://www.starfall.com/n/level-a/index/load.htm?f
This is an excellent interactive site for phonetic spelling.
look, cover, write, check: http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/toftwood/lcwc.html
Merriam-Webster OnLine: http://www.m-w.com/
This site has a dictionary, thesaurus, free subscription information for Word
of the Day email, toolbar that allows you to look up words on any webpage, and
games.
Prefix Game and Associated Worksheets: http://members.aol.com/twittwoo/grpdfs/prefixgame.pdf
Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee: http://www.spellingbee.com/index.shtml
Some Rules and Suggestions about Spelling: http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/spelling.htm
"Spellbound" home page: http://www.spellbound.tv
Although this site is an advertisement for the movie, it also
has a hangman game to play and other interesting information.
Spelling Hub- an online interactive spelling program for grades 5-8 (with sound): http://spellinghub.com/spelling/spelling.cfm
Spelling - Harcourt Brace. grades 1 through 6: http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/harcourt_brace_spelling.html
Spelling With Spellit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/spellits/index.shtml
Spelling Worksheets from Spelling it Right: http://www.spelling.hemscott.net/exlist.html
Sweating That Spelling Test: http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_k4_teacher_st.php?id=03010994210&gl=k4
Ultimate Spelling Quiz: http://www.ocstc.org/pdf/spellquiz.pdf
Words and Pictures: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/index.shtml
This site began in March 1998
by Janet Luch.
Email comments and questions to studyplans@yahoo.com