Teacher Resources - Two

Ideas on Teaching

Making writing communicative require the teacher's total expertise, because learners need to be given tasks that are intellectually satisfying, especially when writing. Teachers get a lot of tips here: www.teachingenglish.org.uk/

Are you an effective teacher?

Before answering yes or no, please see this article. Then make up your mind what kind of teacher you'd like to be. Click on this address: http://ftad.osu.edu/Publications/TeachingHandbook/chap-3.pdf

103 Things to Do Before/During/After Reading
By: Jim Burke (1998)

View this article for a collection of interactive activities that help kids become more involved in the stories that they read.

25 Activities for Reading and Writing Fun

Doing activities with your children allows you to promote their reading and writing skills while having fun at the same time. These activities for pre-readers, beginning readers, and older readers includes what you need and what to do for each one.

A Teacher's Guide to Using Newspapers to Enhance Language Arts Skills

Newspapers expand the curriculum with an unlimited amount of information to use as background for learning activities. Discover new ways to use the newspaper in your language arts studies, with these activities from the Newspaper Association of America.

A Weekly Procedure for Teaching Spelling

When students study spelling words, they usually memorize a sequence of letters that they promptly forget once the test is over. Learn about a method for teaching kids spelling words that focuses them on the sequence of sounds in words first. Also learn tips for creating a successful spelling program.

ABC's of Phonemic Awareness

With little or no direct instruction, almost all young children develop the ability to understand spoken language. While most kindergarten children have mastered the complexities of speech, they do not know that spoken language is made up of discrete words, which are made up of syllables, which themselves are made up of the smallest units of sound, called "phonemes." This awareness that spoken language is made up of discrete sounds appears to be a crucial factor in children learning to read.

Activities for Struggling Readers

Children with disabilities can benefit from the same language and literacy activities as all young children: being read to, having rich conversations, and playing games with sounds. However, children with disabilities may need these activities to be modified or intensified for maximum benefit. Find out about activities for struggling readers in these suggestions for parents.

Audiobooks: Ideas for Teachers

Encourage students to become better listeners and readers through audiobooks.

Community Stories

Literacy activities can take on a new meaning when students are reading and writing about their own community. Children learn the true value of print when they document the oral histories of the elders in their town.

Comprehension Instruction: What Works

Without a strong background in basic skills like decoding and vocabulary-building, comprehension is impossible. This article offers research-based strategies for building on these and other skills to increase student understanding of what is read.

Family Stories

Children can learn about family heritage at the same time they are improving their literacy skills. Using family-based writing projects, you can build a connection with parents, and help children see the value in their own heritage and in the diversity around them.