Free Help: Improving Your Child's Reading (and Learning) Habits

If you've ever wanted to explain subject and predicate agreement to an impatient elementary school student, have I got some sympathy for you!

I also have a website to recommend: K12Reader Reading Instruction Resources for Teachers & Parents.

In addition to simple instructions and free worksheets (with answer keys) the site also includes reading recommendations, by grade, as well as more than 20 book award lists, from Caldecotts to Golden Kites and a few I'd never heard of.

Have fun with that reading, grammar, and spelling homework. Just remember to let your kids do some of it...

~Diane Stresing

Wikipedia Loves Libraries 2013

I'll admit I've been a closet skeptic of Wikipedia, but this is too good to ignore: Wikipedia Loves Libraries is a real, live, in-person event hosted by libraries worldwide, or as Wikipedia puts it,  

"a general initiative for improved Wikimedia engagement with libraries (and archives), and more concretely an annual campaign of wiki-workshops and edit-athons at libraries around Open Access Week in October/November."

Those workshops and hands-on "Edit-athons" are among the actual activities for real people - although most of the time, those real people will be sitting in front of screens, not old-fashioned books. But that's OK, because libraries aren't *just* about books, they're about information and knowledge. So. Go, if you can. Bug your local library to join in and host an event.

This is cool!

~Diane Stresing

Luck o' the Readers

If everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day, what we need is a patron saint of reading. Then, at least one day a year, everyone would be a reader.

Oh, I can dream, can't I?

Goodreads has some seasonal recommendations to get young readers into the spirit of the holiday - whether you want to impart some actual historical information about St. Patrick or stick to lighter fare.

And - this is especially for homeschoolers, because I just assume all elementary school teachers know about this treasure trove of a site - for anyone with young children, I highly recommend you turn on the printer and visit Enchanted Learning for some free printable books, St. Patrick's Day activity sheets, coloring pages, and read-aloud stories.

Now as you go off to read, be sure you're whistling a happy tune. 

Help for struggling new readers (or over-achievers)

Got kids who need a little help with reading? Try some of the suggestions you'll find at Starfall. The site was launched thanks to a former reluctant reader and so effective it made the education section of Time magazine's current  50 best websites list. Visit the site to find free (yes, free!) fun and games and a good shot at reading improvement. Recommended for K-2nd graders.

Got over-achieving readers? You know - the 4th-grader who can handle any adult title, but maybe not the context? Librarians can be your best source of recommendations. Don't overlook those "older" titles, like The Phantom Toll Booth and Stuart Little. Vocabularies have changed a bit over the past few decades - enough to slow down a young (eager) reader and to teach a few new words along the way.

They'll thank you when it's time to take the SAT.
 

Back-to-School Reading Quizzes

These reading quizzes provide a fun challenge for students heading back to school, grownups bent on self-improvement, and anyone looking for a socially redeemable way to waste time on the computer. (e.g., if it's not Facebook or online gambling, it must be OK.)  Put on your thinking caps; good luck.


This one's hard!
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/quiz/reading1.htm

Fun reading comprehension practice
http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/mathlabplanets.htm

Lots here, including vocabulary quizzes, for K-8th graders.
http://www.quiz-tree.com/English_smain.html

Wiser Wednesday

It's Wednesday, and if you're like my friend Janice, you know that means it's time for more brain exercise!

Don't worry, it's not heavy exercise today. Just a little stretch and warm-up. 

The What kind of reader are you? quiz was almost pure fun. And, I'll admit, not terribly insightful. I learned I am a dedicated reader who is "convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more."

Now that you're warmed up, how 'bout a little speed reading? See how you do compared to the 'average' (whatever that is) with ReadingSoft's free online test.  If you clock in at 1,000 wpm, let me know; I'll change the headline to Warp Speed Wednesday.

... and they're off!

_____________________________________________
URLs, in case the links above don't work for you:

http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_kind_of_reader_are_youhttp://www.gotoquiz.com/what_kind_of_reader_are_you

http://www.readingsoft.com/index.html

Reading Levels - Lexiles better than Grade Levels?

OK, in concept, the Lexile Framework for Reading sounds great. But in practice, it's ain't great yet. Why? Because only about 16 states are using it. If you're in one of those 16 states, lucky you. Maybe you understand what BR means and those letters lead you to books that are just right for your little readers.

I'm not so lucky. Fortunately, I just found Scholastic's Teacher Book Wizard page, which is better than a translation of the Lexile scale; it's an online tool that can quickly help you find books your child is likely to like, or challenge him, or both.

In case the link above isn't "live," here's the full url:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewCustomSearchForm.do?RowsPerPageOptions=10&RowsPerPageOptions=50

If you've got kids, I bet you'll find it useful. Keep 'em reading!

PS: Thanks to Susanna Leonard Hill, award-winning author of Not Yet, Rose and several other children's books, for mentioning the confusion surrounding the Lexile Framework.

Coming soon: The expanding Worst-Case Scenario

To clarify, the series is expanding. I like to think that by definition, the worst-case scenario couldn't expand to get worser. Right? We can hope...

Anyway, the very popular Worst-Case Scenario book, card, and board game survival series is introducing a new title for young readers, The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Mars; available from Chronicle Books in September. Look for it...and look closely, there's a lot to see.

At the end of 5th grade, a child should be ready to manage a level V text without help. But don't stop there, parents of young readers! There's a lot more to the guided reading concept, and  parents can pick up the basics, quickly, thanks to this nice site from Duke University:
http://dukes.stark.k12.oh.us/marl/curriculum/guidrdg.html#dominie

A short list of sample comprehension questions at the end of the first page help parents who want to help their kids boost comprehension (and therefore, enjoyment...and grades!) as well as vocabulary and other basic reading skills. And isn't that really the best case scenario?