I have taken some time tonight to add some useful articles that I've found on either teaching, or encouraging, children to read.
In the future, I am going to try to be more specific about how I categorise these articles and links, so that they are of most benefit to readers of my blog.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Fantastic Reading program in Sydney Australia
I've come across this awesome reading program in Sydney, Australia.
www.pareto-education.com
It is phonics based and the Principal in charge says they will have your child reading in the "most efficient and fun way possible". It seems they have put a greal deal of thought into their reading program.
www.pareto-education.com
It is phonics based and the Principal in charge says they will have your child reading in the "most efficient and fun way possible". It seems they have put a greal deal of thought into their reading program.
Useful article: Homeschool and Reading
Homeschooling reading should be an essential part of every home school experience. All states prescribe minimum educational requirements for education which includes mandates that certain subjects be taught. Reading is always listed among those minimum standards either directly or as part of language arts.
Parents who plan to home school their children should become familiar with the requirements of their state before deciding on a curriculum provider.
The State of Georgia requires home schools to provide a basic educational program which "educational program must provide instruction in at least reading, math, language arts, social studies, and science." Ohio mandates that home schools provide instruction in "language, spelling, reading, geography, writing, history of the United States and Ohio, national, state, and local government, mathematics, science, health, physical education, fire prevention, fine arts, music, first aid, and safety." Illinois requires instruction in English in "Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Fine Arts, Physical Science, Physical Education, and Health." These states are representative of the minimum education requirements for home schools in most states.
And not just any type of reading will meet these state mandates. Most states require some form of academic assessment which must show some degree of academic progress by home schooled children as specified in the law. Thus, not only must parents teach homeschooling reading, they must teach a level of reading which can be assessed by nationalized tests or independent evaluation by competent teachers or officials.
There are many reading programs from which parents can choose for their home school. However, before exploring such alternatives, parents should do some soul searching to determine if they possess the competency to teach a formal level of reading. Parents should keep in mind that some states set forth minimum standards for tutors who are hired to assist in the home school.
If you would like more information about homeschool lesson plans as well as general information on homeschooling, please visit http://homeschoolingbasics.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Rodriguez
Parents who plan to home school their children should become familiar with the requirements of their state before deciding on a curriculum provider.
The State of Georgia requires home schools to provide a basic educational program which "educational program must provide instruction in at least reading, math, language arts, social studies, and science." Ohio mandates that home schools provide instruction in "language, spelling, reading, geography, writing, history of the United States and Ohio, national, state, and local government, mathematics, science, health, physical education, fire prevention, fine arts, music, first aid, and safety." Illinois requires instruction in English in "Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Fine Arts, Physical Science, Physical Education, and Health." These states are representative of the minimum education requirements for home schools in most states.
And not just any type of reading will meet these state mandates. Most states require some form of academic assessment which must show some degree of academic progress by home schooled children as specified in the law. Thus, not only must parents teach homeschooling reading, they must teach a level of reading which can be assessed by nationalized tests or independent evaluation by competent teachers or officials.
There are many reading programs from which parents can choose for their home school. However, before exploring such alternatives, parents should do some soul searching to determine if they possess the competency to teach a formal level of reading. Parents should keep in mind that some states set forth minimum standards for tutors who are hired to assist in the home school.
If you would like more information about homeschool lesson plans as well as general information on homeschooling, please visit http://homeschoolingbasics.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Rodriguez
Useful article: Reading games for children
Reading Game Choices
Are you looking for a reading game to help your child who is just learning to read, or who may be struggling with reading? Even children who love to read can also build skills and knowledge with a good reading game. The good news is that there are a wide variety of games on the market today that will help your child with reading skills and knowledge. The only hard part for you is choosing the best reading game for your child. Here are a few tips:
Choose a game that matches your child's age and skill level. If you get a reading game that is too easy, then your child will be bored and will not build any skills. If you get a game that is too hard, your child will be frustrated and will not build any skills. Each reading game should be rated for age level on the package, but if your child is struggling, you should also look at the content of the game to make sure that the skills on the game are appropriate. For instance, if your child is just learning to recognize letters, you should not get a game that works on comprehension.
Next, choose a reading game that has more than one skill level or type of activity-a game that will "grow" with your child as they get new knowledge and skills. As your child gets better, it can introduce new rules and obstacles that have to be met and overcome. If there is more than one type of activity, there will be a greater level of interest.
A good place to find a reading game is to look on educational sites. If they do not have games on them already, they may have suggestions, ratings and recommendations for games that will build reading skills in your child. A lot of times the games on these sites are even free.
The last point that you should consider when choosing any educational game for your child, is that you should make sure that it is fun. If it is not fun, your child will not want to play it and it will not do them any good. Whether it is a computer game or a board or card game it should be challenging but not too hard and it should have surprises and incentives that are appealing to the age of child that is playing.
Author: Eriani Doyel
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel
Are you looking for a reading game to help your child who is just learning to read, or who may be struggling with reading? Even children who love to read can also build skills and knowledge with a good reading game. The good news is that there are a wide variety of games on the market today that will help your child with reading skills and knowledge. The only hard part for you is choosing the best reading game for your child. Here are a few tips:
Choose a game that matches your child's age and skill level. If you get a reading game that is too easy, then your child will be bored and will not build any skills. If you get a game that is too hard, your child will be frustrated and will not build any skills. Each reading game should be rated for age level on the package, but if your child is struggling, you should also look at the content of the game to make sure that the skills on the game are appropriate. For instance, if your child is just learning to recognize letters, you should not get a game that works on comprehension.
Next, choose a reading game that has more than one skill level or type of activity-a game that will "grow" with your child as they get new knowledge and skills. As your child gets better, it can introduce new rules and obstacles that have to be met and overcome. If there is more than one type of activity, there will be a greater level of interest.
A good place to find a reading game is to look on educational sites. If they do not have games on them already, they may have suggestions, ratings and recommendations for games that will build reading skills in your child. A lot of times the games on these sites are even free.
The last point that you should consider when choosing any educational game for your child, is that you should make sure that it is fun. If it is not fun, your child will not want to play it and it will not do them any good. Whether it is a computer game or a board or card game it should be challenging but not too hard and it should have surprises and incentives that are appealing to the age of child that is playing.
Author: Eriani Doyel
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eriani_Doyel
Useful article: Helping autistic children to learn to read
Teaching autistic children reading skills can be a daunting task. Some children will never read, but many higher functioning children can learn to some extent and can end up being excellent readers.
Teaching autistic children to read has a very unique set of challenges that requires a parent or teacher to have a lot of patience. It can be like teaching children without autism but with the problems magnified.
Sometimes they can be very cooperative, but for the most part, autistic children have huge problems with attention span, lack any type of motivations to learn to read, and they have problems with figuring out the rules of reading and grammar when compared to children who do not have autism.
Learning to read should be fun for any child, but when it comes to autistic children, you have to reach them on their level, so make sure you chose a method that meets their needs.
For some children sounds are important and using music as a tool to teach musically inclined autistic children to read is a very good move. There are some programs out there on the market that will use music and singing to help a child with autism learn many things. Some also employ the use of games. These interactive methods usually help with attention span and interest, two of the biggest obstacles in this endeavor.
One important thing to remember when teaching an autistic child to read is that most reading requires creative thinking and this is something that many children with autism struggle with. This means that when learning, it is best to focus on materials that are based in reality. Stories about children like them going through their day might be a good place to start. Steer clear of stories that are full of fantasy people like princesses and talking animals.
Continue reading for tips on teaching visual thinkers and sign up for the free Autism newsletter below.
Anyone teaching an autistic child to read should remember that many think visually. This means they are more likely to learn about words and letters through visual stimulation. Almost every child has a special interest, and autistic children are no exception. If they like trains, you may want to use them as a visual guide to learning how to read. If they are interested in the subject matter they are more likely to pay attention for longer periods of time, and are more willing to learn because they will find it interesting.
Each child is different and will learn at a different pace and in a different manner. Don’t be afraid to make use of the reading programs on the market designed with autistic children in mind. These have generally developed either through experience or with strong science behind them. They may be the best way to go about teaching autistic children reading when it seems they have no interest in doing so.
By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on autism. In the newsletter you'll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans
Teaching autistic children to read has a very unique set of challenges that requires a parent or teacher to have a lot of patience. It can be like teaching children without autism but with the problems magnified.
Sometimes they can be very cooperative, but for the most part, autistic children have huge problems with attention span, lack any type of motivations to learn to read, and they have problems with figuring out the rules of reading and grammar when compared to children who do not have autism.
Learning to read should be fun for any child, but when it comes to autistic children, you have to reach them on their level, so make sure you chose a method that meets their needs.
For some children sounds are important and using music as a tool to teach musically inclined autistic children to read is a very good move. There are some programs out there on the market that will use music and singing to help a child with autism learn many things. Some also employ the use of games. These interactive methods usually help with attention span and interest, two of the biggest obstacles in this endeavor.
One important thing to remember when teaching an autistic child to read is that most reading requires creative thinking and this is something that many children with autism struggle with. This means that when learning, it is best to focus on materials that are based in reality. Stories about children like them going through their day might be a good place to start. Steer clear of stories that are full of fantasy people like princesses and talking animals.
Continue reading for tips on teaching visual thinkers and sign up for the free Autism newsletter below.
Anyone teaching an autistic child to read should remember that many think visually. This means they are more likely to learn about words and letters through visual stimulation. Almost every child has a special interest, and autistic children are no exception. If they like trains, you may want to use them as a visual guide to learning how to read. If they are interested in the subject matter they are more likely to pay attention for longer periods of time, and are more willing to learn because they will find it interesting.
Each child is different and will learn at a different pace and in a different manner. Don’t be afraid to make use of the reading programs on the market designed with autistic children in mind. These have generally developed either through experience or with strong science behind them. They may be the best way to go about teaching autistic children reading when it seems they have no interest in doing so.
By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on autism. In the newsletter you'll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans
Useful article on encouraging children to read
Encouraging children to read can often prove to be a difficult task. This is why it is important to help children to discover the joy in reading. This article discusses different techniques to assist this to happen.
Bringing a book to life will certainly encourage a child to read. Reading can also be used as bonding time for a child and parent; which will also encourage a child to read. As long as they enjoy the experience and are not given reading as a punishment or a chore they will benefit and find the joy in reading. This will subsequently help them to develop. There are many ways to do this, some of which are more effective than others. Please read on to discover the implicating factors I have found to be beneficial.
To keep a child's brain active their imaginations need to be inspired. Research has proven that children develop faster through play. It can be hard to get a child to love reading that is why it is important to choose the right books. It is beneficial to correspond the interest and hobbies the child has to the books they are offered. The more relevant to their tastes the more enjoyable it will be and the more joy the reading will become. The hobbies and interests your child has could well be marketed by a subscription or series of reading materials. This is perfect for on-going enjoyment of literature.
The time and timing in which your child reads is also important. It is known that a child will absorb information if it is read before bed. It can also spark imaginative and positive images for dreams. Bed time is also a relaxed and comfortable time to delve whole into a book. A child will of course not enjoy reading during dinner time, while a parent is vacuuming or over breakfast.
It is important that for a child to enjoy reading the correct atmosphere must be set. Maybe a special fun room full of books could be available. If not, maybe a little special reading space where a child can enjoy being. Fun colours and shapes, sparking creativity would be helpful. It is important that it is quiet at the time your child is reading. It is said that you mustn't choose a book by its cover but where children are concerned it is important that the cover is colourful, fun, sparks interest and is engaging.
It is important also, that children can physically see parents and other adults reading for pleasure. It is a researched fact that children act as their role models do. Consequently that is usually the parents so it is important that parents read regularly and a child is witness to that.
Reading with children makes them discover the joy of reading as they enjoy spending time with parents. They feel special and are proud when they get compliments for their reading. It is also a conversation starter and can develop all sorts of understanding for all aspects that are within the themes of the book. A book can also inspire other enjoyable activities as a development of the book itself. Spending personal time with your children will make them feel special and they will appreciate that they are able to share something.
Visiting libraries can often be a fun and enjoyable experience for children. There are usual fun interactive workshops and activities taking place with children at certain days of the week. Children certainly discover the joy of reading on these as they tend to meet other children, make friends and appreciate their special treat.
It can also be more enjoyable if your child if they are encouraged to interact with older siblings. It is perfect to involve the whole family in reading games. Understandably there will be an array of reading levels but the concept will be the same. Maybe the older ones could read to the younger ones or visa versa. Shared reading in groups is related to enjoyment and development so this is definitely worth a try.
All in all, in conclusion, as long a parent praises children's efforts they will be filled with joy and will be eager to read. Reading should never be used as a punishment. It must always be thought of something fun and enjoyable. To help a child discover the joy of reading is certainly the right path to success.
Kaley Herrick
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaley_Herrick
Bringing a book to life will certainly encourage a child to read. Reading can also be used as bonding time for a child and parent; which will also encourage a child to read. As long as they enjoy the experience and are not given reading as a punishment or a chore they will benefit and find the joy in reading. This will subsequently help them to develop. There are many ways to do this, some of which are more effective than others. Please read on to discover the implicating factors I have found to be beneficial.
To keep a child's brain active their imaginations need to be inspired. Research has proven that children develop faster through play. It can be hard to get a child to love reading that is why it is important to choose the right books. It is beneficial to correspond the interest and hobbies the child has to the books they are offered. The more relevant to their tastes the more enjoyable it will be and the more joy the reading will become. The hobbies and interests your child has could well be marketed by a subscription or series of reading materials. This is perfect for on-going enjoyment of literature.
The time and timing in which your child reads is also important. It is known that a child will absorb information if it is read before bed. It can also spark imaginative and positive images for dreams. Bed time is also a relaxed and comfortable time to delve whole into a book. A child will of course not enjoy reading during dinner time, while a parent is vacuuming or over breakfast.
It is important that for a child to enjoy reading the correct atmosphere must be set. Maybe a special fun room full of books could be available. If not, maybe a little special reading space where a child can enjoy being. Fun colours and shapes, sparking creativity would be helpful. It is important that it is quiet at the time your child is reading. It is said that you mustn't choose a book by its cover but where children are concerned it is important that the cover is colourful, fun, sparks interest and is engaging.
It is important also, that children can physically see parents and other adults reading for pleasure. It is a researched fact that children act as their role models do. Consequently that is usually the parents so it is important that parents read regularly and a child is witness to that.
Reading with children makes them discover the joy of reading as they enjoy spending time with parents. They feel special and are proud when they get compliments for their reading. It is also a conversation starter and can develop all sorts of understanding for all aspects that are within the themes of the book. A book can also inspire other enjoyable activities as a development of the book itself. Spending personal time with your children will make them feel special and they will appreciate that they are able to share something.
Visiting libraries can often be a fun and enjoyable experience for children. There are usual fun interactive workshops and activities taking place with children at certain days of the week. Children certainly discover the joy of reading on these as they tend to meet other children, make friends and appreciate their special treat.
It can also be more enjoyable if your child if they are encouraged to interact with older siblings. It is perfect to involve the whole family in reading games. Understandably there will be an array of reading levels but the concept will be the same. Maybe the older ones could read to the younger ones or visa versa. Shared reading in groups is related to enjoyment and development so this is definitely worth a try.
All in all, in conclusion, as long a parent praises children's efforts they will be filled with joy and will be eager to read. Reading should never be used as a punishment. It must always be thought of something fun and enjoyable. To help a child discover the joy of reading is certainly the right path to success.
Kaley Herrick
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaley_Herrick
Article on phonics worksheets
There are a lot of websites offering free phonics worksheets, but when selecting good kindergarten phonics worksheet it's important to keep in mind the fact that the group your teaching is extremely young.
What that means is, don't try and throw anything too tricky into the worksheet. I'll look at some of the different kinds of worksheets that are available so that you can get some ideas for designing your own worksheets and using worksheets that are actually relevant to kindergarten students.
Letter tracing: This is where you have a dotted line spelling out a word, with the picture next to the word, and the goal of the exercise is for students to practice writing while improving their phonetic skills. For instance, they might trace out the words for bat, ball, and basket. This is a really good, straightforward activity.
Connect The Letter To The Correct Sound/Word: These are activities where you draw a line between a letter and the picture items that start with that letter. For instance, you'd draw a line from the letter A to the word "Apple" and the letter L to the word "Lemon". This activity is good, but takes a lot of monitoring to make sure that students are correctly connecting the letters. It's best as a homework activity, where parents can help to make sure their children are correctly connecting the letters to the words.
Letter Books: These are books that frequently use the same phonemes over and over so students can understand them (the link between a letter and the sound it makes). For instance, "Baby bear bounced balls".
These books are really good, especially if you have the book as a colouring book that you can fill out together. Here's a good activity: say the sound like "b says...buh buh, ball" and then students race to colour in their balls in their workbook. You can hang these up after and everyone will have fun.
Find the mistake: These activities are terrible for young kids. An example might be, cross out the word that doesn't begin with the right letter, or correct the misspelled word. I know, seems like common sense, but I've seen some teachers try to teach young children using these kind of word sheets which are just ridiculously confusing for young learners.
Crosswords: Excellent for 7 year olds, rough for kindergarten kids. Search "crossword generator" on Google and you can build your own crossword. Older students really like this; younger students would be a no go.
What's the best way to teach your child reading? Some approaches work brilliantly, while others can damage your child's chances to read successfully. Find out more about reading techniques at...
http://www.minidavinci.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_K_Dolan
What that means is, don't try and throw anything too tricky into the worksheet. I'll look at some of the different kinds of worksheets that are available so that you can get some ideas for designing your own worksheets and using worksheets that are actually relevant to kindergarten students.
Letter tracing: This is where you have a dotted line spelling out a word, with the picture next to the word, and the goal of the exercise is for students to practice writing while improving their phonetic skills. For instance, they might trace out the words for bat, ball, and basket. This is a really good, straightforward activity.
Connect The Letter To The Correct Sound/Word: These are activities where you draw a line between a letter and the picture items that start with that letter. For instance, you'd draw a line from the letter A to the word "Apple" and the letter L to the word "Lemon". This activity is good, but takes a lot of monitoring to make sure that students are correctly connecting the letters. It's best as a homework activity, where parents can help to make sure their children are correctly connecting the letters to the words.
Letter Books: These are books that frequently use the same phonemes over and over so students can understand them (the link between a letter and the sound it makes). For instance, "Baby bear bounced balls".
These books are really good, especially if you have the book as a colouring book that you can fill out together. Here's a good activity: say the sound like "b says...buh buh, ball" and then students race to colour in their balls in their workbook. You can hang these up after and everyone will have fun.
Find the mistake: These activities are terrible for young kids. An example might be, cross out the word that doesn't begin with the right letter, or correct the misspelled word. I know, seems like common sense, but I've seen some teachers try to teach young children using these kind of word sheets which are just ridiculously confusing for young learners.
Crosswords: Excellent for 7 year olds, rough for kindergarten kids. Search "crossword generator" on Google and you can build your own crossword. Older students really like this; younger students would be a no go.
What's the best way to teach your child reading? Some approaches work brilliantly, while others can damage your child's chances to read successfully. Find out more about reading techniques at...
http://www.minidavinci.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_K_Dolan
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