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It is back to school already!?!? I think most of us are wondering what happened to summer break; I know I am. Break time is over with and it is back to the books and I know that there are probably many households that are “refreshing” their reading skills. We did slack off a bit during the summertime in our reading, which I really did not intend to do, so we are going to have to play catch-up to get back on track.
My oldest son is in the 2nd grade this year and, from the words of his mouth, he says “Second grade is hard; it is only for smart people.” I have to chuckle every time he says that. The biggest challenge that our household faced last year was in reading. I have searched for ways to help to make reading a bit easier and here are some things that I have found:
a. Consistency, consistency, consistency. Did I mention consistency? Yes, I feel that is the most important aspect. When you do things in repetition, you tend to finally “get” things after a certain time period – everything just “clicks”. So, I am determined to spend a certain amount of time, on a daily basis, with my child to go over the basics until he grows tired and weary, and can recite what was set out to be learned.
b. Make learning fun. Find a character that your child enjoys and make use of that character. Spice up the routine every now and then so the “routine” does not become so routine.
c. Progress and reward chart. Your child is just like you are – loves to see progress. Make a chart at where they are starting from to where they want to go. You will be amazed at how excited they can become once they see that they are progressing, and what a better way to celebrate their progress than with a reward? Now, the reward does not have to be anything extravagant, maybe take them out to an ice cream treat or to see a movie that they have been wanting to see. It will make them feel special and, most of all, it will make them feel proud of themselves.
The vitality of mastering early reading and comprehension skills is so crucial to our children’s future. Reading IS their future. So, whatever steps that we, as parents, need to take to ensure the best possible learning in literacy for our children, we need to take. Reading may be their future but our children are our future.
True dyslexia affects between 5% and 17% of the United States population, and in some countries this is even higher at a huge rate of 50%! So what is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is defined as a disorder that manifests itself as a difficulty with reading, spelling, and even sometimes mathematics. It is separate and distinct from reading difficulties resulting from other causes, such as a non-neurological deficiency with vision or hearing, or from poor or inadequate reading instructions.
Dyslexia is thought to be the result of a neurological defect, and though not an intellectual disability, it is variously considered a learning disability, a language disability, and a reading disability, among others. Dyslexia is diagnosed in people of all levels of intelligence (normal to above).
Children may have dyslexia or a learning disability if they have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Letter or word reversals when reading. (Such as was/saw, b/d, p/q).
- Letter or word reversals when writing.
- Difficulty repeating what is said to them.
- Poor handwriting or printing ability.
- Poor drawing ability.
- Reversing letters or words when spelling words that are presented orally.
- Difficulty comprehending written or spoken directions.
- Difficulty with right – left directionality.
- Difficulty understanding or remembering what is said to them.
- Difficulty understanding or remembering what they have just read.
- Difficulty putting their thoughts on paper.
Children with dyslexia do not exhibit these symptoms due to poor vision or hearing but because of brain dysfunction. The eyes and ears are working properly but the lower centers of the brain scramble the images or sounds before they reach the higher (more intelligent) centers of the brain. This causes confusion as well as frustration for the learner.
When a child is having learning difficulty, it is best to have your child examined, a neurodevelopmental exam to be exact. This includes testing of hearing, vision, neurological development, coordination, visual perception, auditory perception, intelligence, and academic achievement.
The main reasons for reading problems are:
- Ineffective reading instruction
- Auditory perception difficulties
- Visual perception difficulties
- Language processing difficulties
Over 180 research studies to date have proven that phonics is the BEST WAY to teach reading to all students. They also have shown that phonics is the ONLY WAY to teach reading to students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.
Children and adults who do not learn to read through an intensive phonics program often have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Below grade level reading achievement
- Slow reading
- Poor comprehension
- Fatigue after reading only for a short while
- Poor spelling skills
- Lack of enjoyment from reading
If it is found that your child suffers from a learning disability, most of the time this can be resolved with a few simple techniques and procedures. But it does take a little extra time to get your child up to speed. In my opinion, if these techniques are provided with lots of love, patience, and understanding, then that will make the situation so much easier and it will give your child confidence that he or she CAN move ahead and start learning in a whole new productive manner.
Week 7 High Frequency Word List
1. get
2. into
3. not
Week 8 High Frequency Word List
1. me
2. run
3. red
**I forgot to post my three words for my word list last week, so I doubled up this time! 
**
~ Amy E. Snyder
Have you received your form yet? You know the one – where you fill out for the Census? The one where you have to include your family member count. Most people disregard the forms, but it is very crucial to get a proper head count for our children and family members. We just received ours today and it literally took less than five minutes to fill out and this was for a family of four. Don’t worry, your information is used only for statistical purposes only and the severity of importance it has is high. Our children’s educational funds depend on this, as well as other important factors. And, this costs you nothing. The form that you mail back comes with an envelope in which postage is already prepaid.
WHY IS THE CENSUS SO IMPORTANT?
“A complete and accurate count of our nation’s youngest is critical to their health and education, and the future strength of our communities and labor force,” said Robert M. Groves, director of the U.S. Census Bureau.
The federal government uses Census data to determine how to best distribute more than $400 billion in annual funds, including $26 billion earmarked for educational services and other programs to benefit children. Undercounting will mean some communities won’t get the funds that they need.
The full Census occurs only once every 10 years, therefore a child born today will be in the fourth grade during the next national Census. Missing them this year means the child would spend their first decade of life with reduced health, education and community services because the federal government is unaware of the need.
Click HERE to see a message from Dora about the Census! In a video called “Children Count Too,” Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer stresses the importance of including infants and young children on 2010 Census forms.
Click HERE to visit the 2010 Census website to learn more about the campaign, download web buttons, forms, and more. Again, census data are used to determine the number of representatives your state receives in the U.S. Congress, as well as your community’s representation in the state legislature. The data are also used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds each year to communites for estasblishing and improving schools, hospitals, roads and senior servies.
Please do your part because EVERY child counts!
As parents, we all know how important a good education is to our children. To me, however, I feel that reading and writing skills are priority. Don’t get me wrong, I hope that both of my sons excel in all subject areas, but I will place emphasis on their reading and writing skills.
Reading is the foundation for the development of many other areas in children’s, as well as adult, lives. Reading skills opens up the imagination of a child. A child that is a great reader has better comprehension and analytical skills than those who don’t read quite as well or as often. And, avid readers process information faster as noted in research presented by the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.
Here are some other advantages for your child while reading:
- Reading develops creativity in a child that a TV show or a movie could not. It makes their imagination stretch to the unknown as they read each paragraph of a story. It makes them visualize what the author is describing from each word that is written.
- Reading develops critical thinking skills.
- Reading increases vocabulary.
- Reading gives your child access to any topic. For instance, if a child can read well and they are exposed to their library, internet, books, etc., then whenever they need to find an answer to a question, they have the whole world at their fingertips.
- Reading can teach about other culture’s that your child may not be familiar with.
- Reading can be a time of bonding for parent and child or grandparent and a grandchild.
This list could go on and on and on. So, how can I improve my child’s reading skills? Here are a few things that I feel works:
- Make time to read to your child or with your child every day.
- Surround your child with plenty of books and other reading materials.
- Show genuine interest in your child and their progression with their reading skills.
- Take regular trips to the library.
- Possibly have your child join a book club or reading club at your local library.
- Encourage writing, whether it be writing or a story or writing in a journal, encourage writing.
I have always been an avid reader and reading has always came easy for me, so I try not to take that gift for granted. My oldest son is having a bit of a harder time than what I had but, hopefully, with these tips, he will improve and enjoy it more and more as he becomes older.
Week 6 High Frequency Word List
- me
- up
- go
~ Amy E. Snyder
My oldest son came home the other day with a Scholastic book order form. I remember these from the time I was a child in school. I absolutely LOVED getting them! Actually, I am still excited to get them when my son brings them home, as silly as it sounds.
I looked through the current order form and I am excited about ordering this new book “While the World Is Sleeping” by Pamela Duncan Edwards. This is a bedtime storybook in which the scene is set as you are taking a ride on a white owl at nighttime to explore nature wtih foxes, porcupines, raccoons, fish, mice and so on, all while their day begins as the rest of the world is asleep. I tried to find some reviews (as I am a firm believer in reviews) and it had EXCELLENT reviews. Also, while in my search for more about this book, I found that it is listed at over $10 more on other sites if not bought through Scholastic. WOW! That is a saving!
After my book review search, I started thinking about book clubs. Many years ago I was a member of a book club. You know the one – where you pick out five books and pay a penny for them, with the promise of buying a certain amount in a certain time period. It made me wonder about book clubs for kids. I guess you can say Scholastic is sort of a book club, not in the sense that you have to purchase a certain amount of books in a particular time frame, but in the sense that you get deeply discounted prices and your school gets rewarded for the purchases also. They have been around for years and I just think they are great. If you are interested in finding out more about them, or if you just want to check out their site and see what kind of books they offer, you can click here to view that.
But, book clubs just aren’t for some people. Some people don’t want to feel obligated and I can understand that. If you are one of those people, then Big Universe is the place for you and your children!
With a small fee (as low as $6.95 per month that allows unlimited book reading, create unlimited books, and share unlimited books), you have access to thousands of different books online – all at your fingertips! And, as stated previously, you have the option of being able to create, publish, and even print your own book! The site gives you over 7000 images to chose from to help out with your book debut. What a great way to get your child’s imagination rolling! But if creating your own book seems too much at first, take your time, find a book that you think your child would be interested in, and just read. The site has TONS of fiction and nonfiction books of all academic subjects with quizzes at the end to assess comprehension. The colors on the site are amazing and the pictures just jump out at you!
So, whether you prefer book clubs to online sites or vice versa or possible both, just remember to take the time to read with your child(ren) as it is the stepping stone to a brighter future!
Week 5 High Frequency Word List
1. go
2. on
3. my
~ Amy E. Snyder
Taking time to read with your child = interest in reading your child takes.
Do you agree with the above “equation”? I do. I have found that the amount of time I put into an activity with my children, the more interest they take in it. For example, if I make it a point to spend time with my oldest son reading, he grabs a hold of that time and really takes interest. I show him that I am genuinely interested in spending “reading” time with him and he grabs all of the attention that I give to him. And, on busy days, he even questions me as to when we are going to have our “reading” time together.
During the early years of children’s lives, they grow accustom to routines. It is during this time in their lives that we should plant good roots for important routines and habits. Taking time to read with your child should be one of your main routines. This not only helps them to develop better literacy skills, but it also shows them that this is an important time to spend together. And, what better way is there to end a day as to have your favorite little one on your lap, reading along with them to one of their favorite books, opening up their imaginations, and building on their vocabulary, all usually with a few giggles here and there and a happy ending to boot!
When we take time out of our lives, and come on, our kids do know how busy we are these days, it shows them that they really are important. And, when we express to them the importance of reading and how it builds a solid foundation to their future and show them that it is important enough for us to spend that time with them doing that activity, they WILL take interest, and I can almost guarantee you that they will do it to the best of their ability also.
To some children, reading comes natural. To others, they have a more difficult time. But either way, if you just show a little interest, that interest will go a very long way. To the ones that read easily, this will give you quality time with your child in a way that they will never forget. And to the ones that have a little more difficulty, this will give them that extra boost, help, and confidence for them to gain a better understanding of reading. As they strive to “impress” you by their reading capabilities, they are turning the wheels in their mind to grasp what they learned the night before…and soon, they reading will be a natural thing to them and their doors of the future will be open wider than before.
Week 4 High Frequency Word List
1. you
2. that
3. it
~ Amy E. Snyder
Phonics Blending...A New Way For Children To Learn Reading
My son has been bringing home schoolwork with single and multiple letters circled in sentences. I have to admit, I was rather confused about what was going on. I had looked at these pages for a few weeks and never questioned them. So when I finally did question him about this, he told me what was happening (in his own little way). Then I figured it out and realized they were teaching him phonics blending. Here is a little bit about phonics blending from what I have learned:
Phonics blends are groups of consonants whose sounds blend together. As children become more confident with the alphabet consonants, they start to blend these letters together. Consonant blends are what is known as letters that do not have any vowels between them.
Each letter within the blend is pronounced individually, but quickly, so they ‘blend’ together.
Blends are usually composed of two or three consonants and can begin or end a syllable or word.
Here are some common examples of this:
bl, br, str, sl, and so on….
Upon doing my own research, via the internet, about the success of phonics blending as a way of teaching a child to learn how to read, I have found that the success rates are high with this. And, interestingly, I also found stated in multiple places that this can prevent a form of dyslexia from happening, known as “artificially-induced whole word dyslexia.”
There is also a neat way to make your own phonics blend wheel. Follow these instructions:
What You Need:
- two paper plates
- scissors
- marker
- brass fastener
What to Do:
- Place the paper plates on top of one another, and poke a small hole straight through the center. Separate the plates.
- Use scissors to cut a 2” square in the top plate. The square should be about an inch to the right of the center hole.
- Use the marker to write a blend on the right side of the window, such as “at.” (See the list below for some common first grade blends.) Be sure to write the blend about the same height as the cut-out window, and use lower-case letters.
- Attach the two plates with a brass fastener at the center. The plate with the blend and window should be on top.
- Use the marker to write a letter (or a cluster of onsets) on the portion of the bottom plate that appears in the cut-out window, such as “c”. Turn the bottom plate clockwise until the “c” disappears, then write a different letter in the window. Continue in this manner, writing a letter, then turning the plate, until you come back to the letter “c.”
- Now it’s time to play! Hand your child the plates, and have him turn the wheel until a letter appears in the window. Assist him in blending the onset with the rime to form a word.
Some common first grade ending blends include:
-ab, -ag, -ack, -at, -ap, -an, -am, -ad, -ake, ate; -ed, -en, -ell, -eck, -eel, -est; -id, -ill, -ig, -ick, -ip, -ide, -ike; -op, -ot, -ock, -og, -oat; -ug, -uck, -ut.
Also on my journey with my search through the internet, if you allow your children to play games on your computer, here is a great link that has tons of games regarding phonics blending, vowels, and this isn’t just a reading site either. It has all categories that you would need. I will be using this site on a regular basis. Click here to go to that site.
So on my journey of just asking a simple question about my child’s homework, I have been opened to a whole new world of modern teaching…and I am thankful that my son is being taught this way. It just makes sense to me.
Week 3 High Frequency Word List
1. is
2. like
3. see
~ Amy E. Snyder
These “pigeon” books are a huge hit with my son. They reflect exactly the way that a determined young child would act in order to get their way. Notice I said “determined“.
Basically it is a simple book with simple drawings, but it is great. The story is about a bus driver having to leave the bus and he urges his readers to NOT let the pigeon drive the bus. And, of course you guessed it, the pigeon wants to drive the bus and tries to persuade the reader to allow him to do so.
This book allows true interaction with your child as your child soon learns a variety of words that the pigeon is “shouting” throughout. Therefore, this is not a bedtime book – this book will really get your child involved and in high gear! And in the process, it produces a lot of giggles!
This book ALWAYS brings a laugh when read. It is a must-have for any child. You, as an adult, will enjoy it just as much! It is one that will not sit on your shelf very often.
Week 2 High Frequency Word List
1. a
2. to
3. in
Hi everyone. I would like to take this time to introduce myself as I am new to Big Universe. My name is Amy Snyder and I am a 35-year-old mother of two boys, ages 7-years-old and age 20-months-old, and this makes me truly aware of the importance of literacy.
I have found, in my own experience, that reading is much harder than learning how to speak. Speaking comes natural to children – they hear, they listen, and then they speak. Reading is much different as it has to be learned.
I am going to start my post off with a list of 3 words out of the 100 on the high frequency word list. Each weekly post that I write, I will include 3 more. It is said that if a child can learn these words, then the child can read approximately 70% of what is needed for the future. Amazing isn’t it?
Also, I will be writing about children’s books that I have read, and we have a favorite about not letting a pigeon drive a school bus that I will write about next week, and about literacy in multiple ways.
I hope you enjoy spending quality time with your children as they begin to explore and learn a whole new world while learning to read.
Week 1 High Frequency Word List
1. the
2. am
3. and
Tip: Write these three words on separate index cards and quiz your child on these words. You will be amazed at how quickly they can learn by repeating this process a few times.
- Amy E. Snyder
