All words are not of equal importance for instruction. Some words require a deep dive of meaningful scaffolded inquiry of the complexities of words in various contexts, while others require a brief definition.
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Students need an abundance of exposure to solidify their understanding of words. Teachers need to allow time to process the information through frequent opportunities to hear the meaning of words, expose new words in multiple contexts, and opportunities for active involvement. It’s the active involvement that supports students in developing a deeper understanding of the word and how it is used flexibly.
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Women are celebrated and remembered as we look at opportunity and equality. Because March doesn’t stay silent, it awakens from its slumber. It’s fearless.
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Education has over 100 years of studies showing students having difficulties with word knowledge and word relationships beginning with Thorndike (1917) and Davis (1944). In 1950, Kottmyer wrote about teachers having “vexing problems” with vocabulary instruction.
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When students know how to paraphrase it means they understand what they are reading, and I think it helps develop their writing. Paraphrasing is an important skill for all forms of communication in school and work, but it can be challenging for all students, and it’s crucial for college, whether in academic writing or academic discussions.
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“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.” – Maya Angelou
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Poetry and fluency are like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Their reciprocal relationship complimented one another and their dancing was expressive, emotive, fluid, easy to understand and a joy to watch. It was a visual language. Similarly, fluency in reading is pleasing to the ear and mind, so the text is easier to understand and allows one to create a movie in your head.
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Our young children are inquisitive. They are trying to understand the world around them by asking questions, LOTS of questions, about their immediate world, their neighborhood, and their larger global society. In this post, I want to share Global Book Bags (GBB).
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International Women’s Day is the time to celebrate the women who have made a difference in our lives, and our world. It’s also a time to reflect, question, and challenge stereotypes and bias towards women.
One such way to reflect, question, and challenge stereotypes and bias towards women, is to introduce young children through a dialectical process involving picture books, articles, literature and online pieces where they can examine characters, real people and their contributions to society. And learn to become fearless!
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Way back in the 15th century, the aristocratic Italian Borromeo families created a coat of arms. Their coat of arms bears three interconnected rings to show the indissoluble friendship and unity. The removal of one link would break the balance and harmonious relationship. Nonetheless, I only know this because I was trying to persuade my husband to visit this stunning island, but it wasn’t all bad, as we agreed on Paris. It is interesting to note that this symbolic representation and cohesion is also found in early Buddhism and Viking cultures.
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