Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Read, Read, Read


Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.
- Marilyn Jager Adams


About Reading Rockets
Website: http://www.readingrockets.org

Reading Rockets is a national multimedia project offering information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help.

The Reading Rockets project is comprised of PBS television programs, online services, and professional development opportunities. Reading Rockets aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, administrators, and others who touch the life of a child by providing accurate, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle.

Reading Rockets is an educational initiative of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital, and is funded by a major grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The project is guided by an advisory panel made up of leading researchers and experts in the field of reading.

The link below will take you directly to the YouTube videos of authors and other personalities discussing how they got into writing or why reading is so valuable.  One in particular, Allen Say, appeals to me.  I identify with something he said, "Writing English has always been a terrifying prospect to me." It is my secret desire to write children books someday.

http://www.youtube.com/user/wetalearningmedia

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Teacher Resources

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·         Super Teacher Tools       SuperTeacherTools.com is dedicated to providing technology tools for teaching that are quick and easy to download, learn, and start using in your classroom.

In the site, you will find a variety of review games, classroom management software, and other miscellaneous tools for educators.
·         IXL Math      IXL is the Web's most comprehensive math practice site. Popular among educators and families, IXL provides unlimited questions in more than 2000 topics.
·        Teachnet.com     The mission of Teachnet.com remains unchanged since its beginning: to connect teachers and give them a voice.
http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/ 
Teacher Created Materials publishes quality research-based educational resources in all curriculum areas for teachers and students at all grade and skill levels.
·       
      Teacher Created Resources
·         Storybird - Collaborative Storytelling Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read, and print. Read them like books, play them like games, and send them like greeting cards.

           ReadWriteThink   ReadWriteThink, their mission is to provide educators, parents, and afterschool professionals with access to the highest quality practices in reading and language arts instruction by offering the very best in free materials.

Resources for Teachers to use in the Classroom

·         SMART Technologies

·         BrainPOP

·         EducationCity

·         Study Island

·         ReadWriteThink

·         Super Teacher Tools

Links to Videos and Other Informational Resources for Teachers

·         TeacherTube

·         Discovery Education

·         NetTrekker

·         DISCUS

Other Topics


Suggested Reading on Other Topics

·         A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Ruby K. Payne (2005) aha Process, Inc. 4th edition.

·         Explaining Reading. Gerald G. Duffy (2009) Guilford Press.

·         Reading Essentials. Regie Routman (2002) Heinemann.

·         Wondrous Words. Katie Wood Ray (1999) National Council of Teachers of English.

·         What a Writer Needs. Ralph Fletcher (1992) Heinemann.

Differentiated Instruction

Suggested Reading on Differentiated Instruction

·         A Culture of Quality: A Reflection on Practice. Ron Berger (1996) Annenberg Institute for School Reform.

·         Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites. Marsha L. Tate (2007) Corwin Press.

·         Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites. Marsha L. Tate (2010) Corwin Press.

·         Brain-Based Learning: The New Paradigm of Teaching, 2nd Edition. Eric Jensen (2005) Corwin Press.

·         How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms, 2nd Edition. Carol Ann Tomlinson (2001) Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

·         The Differentiated Classroom - Responding to the Needs of All Learners. Carol Ann Tomlinson (1999) Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

·         Integrating Differentiated Instructions & Understanding by Design. Carol Ann Tomlinson (2006) Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).