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Spelling

May30

One concern that I hear voiced by home school moms is the issue of spelling. How do you help a poor speller become a better speller? I have read many articles about this and the general consensus is that you are either a natural speller or you aren’t. It’s similar to a person who has a natural tendency toward math or science. This doesn’t mean that you give up and don’t do anything about it. There are methods that will help them improve.

First, be certain they know the sounds each letter makes. Does your student “hear” the difference between the vowels? The short /e/ and /i/ sound similar so be sure and provide a great deal of practice before moving forward. Also teach a simple rule that each syllable must have a vowel.

Secondly, teach the phonics rules and patterns that make the sounds. Write lots of words that are examples of that rule and have your child copy the words while saying each letter out loud when writing it. For example: /a/  as in cat, bat, rat, tack, flat, etc. Review and quiz before moving on to the next spelling rule.

Third, some words do not follow a set of rules and are easier if memorized. There are 220 words and 95 nouns used in 50-70 percent of our everyday reading and are known as Dolch sight words. Have your speller practice these each day- beginning with 5 words and then adding 5 more the next day if s/he is ready. Have your student do 10-20 words a week, depending upon their ability. Don’t rush the process as it is like anything else that is being learned; it takes time. Here is a link for the Dolch words with flashcards that you can print. click here. Once your student has finished one list, move on to the next until they have mastered reading and spelling them.

Lastly, practice, practice, practice! We retain 90% or higher when we say aloud what we are learning. So, spelling words out loud while writing each of them, having spelling bees (competitions), or jumping rope while spelling are all great ways to reinforce what is being learned. Here are some games to make and play as well.

Bingo Games

Wordsearches

Summer Spelling Pages

Looking for a curriculum or want some help in choosing one? Happy with your spelling program, but are looking for a supplement? Here is a list and a review of products from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. I have also added some choices to the list. This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have a curriculum you like and find beneficial to your family please post a comment about it for others to read. Thanks!

Free Electronic Books

May21
A Picture of a eBook Español: Foto de eBook Бе...

A Picture of an eBook (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I thought it was about time that I posted something just for you! I have a hard time staying up on all that I have to do, but everyone needs “down time”.

I like to read and thought you might too. Here are some websites to investigate that have free kindle books. If you don’t have a kindle, no problem! You can get this free kindle app that can be put on your computer or laptop. click here  I have also found some websites that are not limited to kindle readers. Not really interested in an eReader and rather have an audible book? I have some websites for that too. Pamper yourself. It will energize you. 🙂

Pixel of ink  has a variety of books and articles to read and helps if you are new to the kindle scene.

Gutenberg has book classics that are no longer copyrighted in the United States. You can also read on your computer or laptop if you don’t have a kindle. An interesting side note is this website was created by Michael Hart, the creator of eBooks who believed that books and literature should be as free and as plentiful as the air we breathe.

Many Books has been coming up on my radar the last few days. One of my friends said it is her new favorite place. There are more than 29,000 eBooks available for Kindle, Nook, iPad and most other eReader devices at this site.

Free Book Spot has over 90 categories for your viewing pleasure.

Free audible books are available if you enjoy listening instead of reading. Here are two websites that I found to get you started.

Books Should Be Free

Open Culture

Are you interested in listening to an audio version of the Bible? I have really enjoyed this free version. You can download it for the iPad, iPhone, and Android as well as listen to it on your computer. You can also read along with it as it is being dramatized.  If you like it, please consider donating. Bible.is

~Lisa~

 

Organizing Thoughts in Writing: Venn Diagrams

May14

The Comparison/Contrast Paper

A few weeks ago I was tutoring a young man and told him he would be writing a comparison/contrast paper by using a Venn diagram. His response was a blank expression and a question some of you may be asking, “What is that?”

I am glad you asked. Let me show you!

I know it looks like two overlapping circles (which they are), but these two circles  are a graphic organizer that help a writer compare and contrast two items. It is particularly useful to people who are visual learners or are having a difficult time being able to generate how items can be different and alike.  Let me give you an example of what I am discussing so you can teach this to your child(ren).

In this compare and contrast paper we will look at land animals and sea animals. This will be at an elementary level, but can easily be adapted for younger or older students. You can require less or more depending upon your student’s knowledge base.

Starting with the circle to the left, label  directly above it Land Animals. Label the circle to the right as Sea Animals and the overlapping area as Shared.

Now, inside the land animal circle list all the characteristics of these creatures that are different from sea animals.

Next, do the same with the circle to the right for the sea animals.

Last, list all of the characteristics that are shared by both land and sea animals. (Note that I listed they all don’t live in the same place. I was thinking of habitats. Some land animals live in Africa while others live in South America and some sea animals live in the Mediterranean Sea while others live in a different body of water.)

Now that you have determined similarities and differences, it is time to write the paper. There are three different ways to write a comparison/contrast paper: whole-to-whole; similarities-to-differences; and point-by-point.

In a whole-to-whole paper you say everything there is to say about the first topic (land animals) and then everything there is to say about the other topic (sea animals). The paper would be constructed like this: paragraph 1- introduction, paragraph 2- land animals, paragraph 3-sea animals, and finally paragraph 4-conclusion.

When writing a similarities-to-differences paper you show all of the similarities of the topics and then tell how they are different. The paper would be constructed like this: paragraph 1- introduction, paragraph 2- similarities of land animal and sea animals, paragraph 3-differences between land animals and sea animals, and finally paragraph 4-conclusion.

If a point-by-point paper is being written the author first discusses one point about land and sea animals and then discusses the next point. A different type of graphic organizer would be better suited for this type of paper.  Click here.  Point-by-Point comparison and contrast uses a separate section or paragraph for each point. Point #1 for your paper could be information about where animals of land live and then where animals of the sea live. (You may be thinking that it is obvious they live on the land and in the sea, but being specific would be beneficial.) You’d begin a new paragraph for Point #2. For consistency, begin with the same item in each section of your point-by-point paper. The paper would be constructed like this: paragraph 1- introduction, paragraph 2- how land and sea animals breathe, paragraph 3- how land animals and sea animals move, and so forth, until your concluding paragraph. (source:http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/compcontrast)

Resources:

Do you want some practice before you try this on your own? Have Fun Teaching has worksheets for younger students to find differences. They also have some topics that have already been chosen for your student to compare and contrast such as You and I .

Venn Diagram Template 1

Compare:Contrast Chart Candy What child doesn’t like candy? This is not a Venn diagram, but rather a chart I made that younger students can use.

Compare/Contrast Chart A general compare/contrast chart that is discussed above in the point-by-point paper.

Organizing Thoughts in Writing: the Idea Wheel

Apr30

Students of all ages struggle with getting thoughts on to “the paper”. I have found that organizing thoughts are a critical and necessary step to help writers in the head-to-hand process of communication. There are many ways to organize thoughts, anywhere from making a list; to writing uninterrupted for 3-5 minutes ; to worksheets that help corral ideas into a logical process. I have a few graphic organizer worksheets that I found on the internet that will be useful in assisting your writer.  As I show you the various types of graphic organizers I will give you instructions on how to use them so you have success in teaching. This week I am going to discuss the Idea Wheel.

The Idea Wheel can be used when you are trying to generate ideas for topics in which to write. This can be particularly useful for when you have a student that says they have nothing to write. The idea here is to give the student four broad categories at the beginning and then narrow it down to where they can write about one of them. As you can see from the photo, Malcolm has written several ideas for each section.

After we looked at each of these categories he decided he had enough to write more about a subject that he knows quite well, coffee. This is important for your student to feel confident they have enough to say about the topic they have chosen. If they do not, stop there for the day and come back to it the next day.

Below is a picture of the next step in this process. I gave Malcolm another idea wheel so he could write details about coffee, one of the topics he listed in his idea wheel. Your writer may need guidance and some ideas to help with the various categories. The upper left-hand quarter of the circle is Brewing Methods, the upper right-hand quarter of the circle is Types of Roasts, the bottom right-hand quarter section is Places to Drink Coffee.

This may take time so do not let the process become laborious. Set the timer for 5 minutes and let your writer know this so it keeps things moving along. You can adjust the time accordingly as you will have some students who need 1 or 2 more minutes.

If you have a beginning writer, do not have them write more than one or two ideas in each section. Adjust the time spent in writing ideas to 3 minutes instead of 5 minutes if necessary. Remember, the principle behind this is to help them see they have something about which to write.

Writing requires thought and may not come as easily as some other subjects. Be sure to remind your writer to: 1) write about something that interests them and 2) pick a topic for which they have a knowledge base. This makes the process of writing less difficult and promotes success.  I would advise you to sit down and go through the process with your student(s). You get an idea of how your writer feels and they can see that you have an interest in this too.  Have everyone share what was written after the activity has been completed.

The first few times you do this may be difficult, but continue because it will help your writer focus on what to write.  Just like anything new you try, it is feels awkward, but it will pay off and I think it will cause your writer(s) to create better papers.

Now that this process is completed the actual writing of the paper can begin. If your writer gets stuck, refer back to the wheel for ideas. Not every idea needs to be written about if your student is doing well.

An author always likes to have an audience! Share the stories at dinner or call Grandma to have your author read their story to an interested and doting family member.  If there is any interest, send me your author’s story and I will  post it. If you have a student who loves to draw, have them add pictures to their story. I am sure this will be a keepsake and you can use this as an example of writing for a portfolio review.

If you have a senior high student you can use the wheel without the cute pictures in the upper right hand corner.  If you think the wheel will be met with resistance, divide a paper into four sections. Guess what? I actually use this type of organizer sometimes when I am trying to generate blog topics. I like to see different ways to organize as there is something about doing things the same way all the time that gets to be mundane for me so I like to mix things up a bit. I even like the wheel with the pictures, but I am an elementary teacher by trade and at heart. 🙂

Okay, are you ready? Get set, write! If you have questions or comments please let me know.

Next topic of organizing writing: Venn diagrams for Comparison/Contrast Papers

Fiction: Junior, Senior High

Apr16

It is difficult at times to find books that are appropriate for junior high students since adult themes are introduced earlier and earlier. Here are some titles that I have read that are “good stories” and I think your student(s) will enjoy. There are also senior high titles listed below them.

** JH  junior high  SH senior high

My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George  JH A story of a young man living by himself in the wilderness and the adventures he has while there.

Artemis Fowl, Eion Colfer  JH Artemis is a boy genius who is spoiled and doesn’t always do the right thing. It is fantasy with fairies, but I thought it was a good adventure book for my early teen sons and led to many discussions concerning consequences and honesty. There are several in this series, all of which we enjoyed.

Redwall, Brain Jacques JH A great tale of good versus evil, with good triumphing. Junior high students will enjoy reading them on their own. If you can find this on CD, listen to it to get the full effect of the text. I love how the author narrates his own book and has other actors as well. They are well done and make the book come alive. If you like this book you will be pleased to know there are many more titles to choose from as Mr. Jacques was a prolific writer. There is also an animated series you can purchase based upon the books.

The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis JH, SH  This is a seven book series of the adventures of children who were sent away to the country during World War II.  I am recommending these for junior and senior high because of the symbolism that is in each of these books.

The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien SH  This is the first book in the series, Lord of the Rings, and my favorite one of the epic struggle between good and evil. This is wonderful on CD and the whole family will enjoy it.

Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle SH I never tire of reading about Sherlock Holmes. His power of observations and deduction have made these stories a favorite since they were first written in the 19th century. If you own a kindle, any of the books can be downloaded for free.

A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens SH  John 15: 13 states, “Greater man has no man, than he lay his life down for a friend” is true in this story set during the French Revolution. I have read this book a half-dozen times and it never fails to move me to tears, it is that powerful. This is another book that is free for your kindle.

The Robe, Lloyd C. Douglas SH A fictionalized account of the Roman guard who won Jesus’ robe. This book was made into a movie so you can have your student write a comparison/contrast paper between the book and movie.

Happy Reading! 🙂