Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Ways to Help Your Young Writer
Here is a post from a great website www.readingrockets.com about how to help your student grow as a writer.
Launching Young Writers
Find out why writing is so important in our lives, as well as practical
suggestions for activities to help your child become a stronger writer.
Related
Note: This article
was adapted from two articles written by the U.S. Department of Education, and
was compiled by Colorín Colorado. The article refers to the child in the female
gender, but all activities and suggestions apply to both genders.
Writing is an
important part of our daily lives. It is, however, a difficult skill to learn
and master. By getting a head start with some simple activities, you can help
your child begin to develop her writing skills at an early age. By doing so you
will be contributing to her future success as a student and as an adult while
teaching her how to express herself.
In this article, we
provide some reasons that writing is an important skill for people of all ages,
as well as a list of suggestions that will help your child become a stronger
writer.
Why is writing important?
Writing is
practical.
Every day, we need to write in order to complete our tasks, whether we are filling out a form at the doctor's office or writing an important letter. These tasks require us to write clearly, and organize information effectively.
Every day, we need to write in order to complete our tasks, whether we are filling out a form at the doctor's office or writing an important letter. These tasks require us to write clearly, and organize information effectively.
Writing is an
important element of a student's education.
Whether students are writing by hand or on the computer, many assignments and exams require students to write short answers or longer essays as a way of assessing what they have learned. As students get older, they will be expected to show more sophisticated writing skills, and to complete more sophisticated tasks through their writing. In addition, many colleges and universities require students to write essays as part of their admissions application.
Whether students are writing by hand or on the computer, many assignments and exams require students to write short answers or longer essays as a way of assessing what they have learned. As students get older, they will be expected to show more sophisticated writing skills, and to complete more sophisticated tasks through their writing. In addition, many colleges and universities require students to write essays as part of their admissions application.
Writing can be an
important element of an employee's job.
Employees in many kinds of jobs are required to write on a daily basis. Perhaps they are taking phone messages and doing administrative work, or writing research reports and newspaper articles. Whatever the task, their ability to do their job well may depend on their ability to write. Many job applicants also must submit a resumé and a letter of application when applying to a new job.
Employees in many kinds of jobs are required to write on a daily basis. Perhaps they are taking phone messages and doing administrative work, or writing research reports and newspaper articles. Whatever the task, their ability to do their job well may depend on their ability to write. Many job applicants also must submit a resumé and a letter of application when applying to a new job.
Writing is an
important form of communication.
Writing letters and emails is a common way of keeping in touch with our friends, relatives, and professional colleagues. Writing is frequently the final stage in communication when we want to leave no room for doubt, which is why we write and sign contracts, leases, and treaties when we make important decisions.
Writing letters and emails is a common way of keeping in touch with our friends, relatives, and professional colleagues. Writing is frequently the final stage in communication when we want to leave no room for doubt, which is why we write and sign contracts, leases, and treaties when we make important decisions.
Writing can be an
important outlet.
Many people find writing to be therapeutic, and a helpful way to express feelings that cannot be expressed so easily by speaking.
Many people find writing to be therapeutic, and a helpful way to express feelings that cannot be expressed so easily by speaking.
What can you do?
It's important to
remember that writing can be as difficult a subject to teach and assess as it
is to learn. Many students have trouble writing with clarity, coherence, and
organization, and this can discourage them from writing if they feel
frustrated.
That's where
parent involvement can make a big difference. Encouraging your child to develop
strong writing skills at a young age, and to become a better writer as she gets
older, can have a lifelong positive impact on her writing, and may make writing
an easier and more enjoyable process for her
To get you
started, the Department of Education offers a number of ideas of things you can
do help your child become a stronger writer. While many of these ideas apply to
younger children, they can be adapted for older children as well.
Ideas for parents: how to help your child become a stronger writer
What you need
- Pencils,
crayons, or markers
- Yarn or
ribbon
- Writing paper
or notebook
- Cardboard or
heavy paper
- Construction
paper
- Safety
scissors
Before getting started
Provide a place
It's important for your child to have a good place to write, such as a desk or table with a smooth, flat surface. It's also crucial to have good lighting.
It's important for your child to have a good place to write, such as a desk or table with a smooth, flat surface. It's also crucial to have good lighting.
Provide the
materials
Provide plenty of paper (lined and unlined) and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons.
Provide plenty of paper (lined and unlined) and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons.
Brainstorm
Talk with your child as much as possible about her ideas and impressions, and encourage her to describe people and events to you.
Talk with your child as much as possible about her ideas and impressions, and encourage her to describe people and events to you.
Activities for young children
Encourage the
child to draw and to discuss her drawings
Ask your child questions about her drawings such as:
"What is the boy doing?"
"Does the house look like ours?"
"Can you tell a story about this picture?"
Show an interest in, and ask questions about, the things your child says, draws, and may try to write.
Ask your child questions about her drawings such as:
"What is the boy doing?"
"Does the house look like ours?"
"Can you tell a story about this picture?"
Show an interest in, and ask questions about, the things your child says, draws, and may try to write.
Ask your child to
tell you simple stories as you write them down
Copy the story as your child tells it, without making changes. Ask her to clarify anything you don't understand.
Copy the story as your child tells it, without making changes. Ask her to clarify anything you don't understand.
Encourage your
child to write her name
Practice writing her name with her, and point out the letters in her name when you see them in other places (on signs, in stores, etc.). She may start by only writing the first few letters of her name, but soon the rest will follow.
Practice writing her name with her, and point out the letters in her name when you see them in other places (on signs, in stores, etc.). She may start by only writing the first few letters of her name, but soon the rest will follow.
Use games
There are numerous games and puzzles that help children with spelling while increasing their vocabulary. Some of these may include crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, and cryptograms designed especially for children. Flash cards are fun to use too, and they're easy to make at home.
There are numerous games and puzzles that help children with spelling while increasing their vocabulary. Some of these may include crossword puzzles, word games, anagrams, and cryptograms designed especially for children. Flash cards are fun to use too, and they're easy to make at home.
Turn your child's
writing into books
Paste her drawings and writings on pieces of construction paper. For each book, make a cover out of heavier paper or cardboard, and add special art, a title, and her name as author. Punch holes in the pages and cover, and bind the book together with yarn or ribbon.
Paste her drawings and writings on pieces of construction paper. For each book, make a cover out of heavier paper or cardboard, and add special art, a title, and her name as author. Punch holes in the pages and cover, and bind the book together with yarn or ribbon.
Day-to-day activities
Make sure your
child sees you writing
She will learn about writing by watching you write. Talk with her about your writing so that she begins to understand why writing is important and the many ways it can be used.
She will learn about writing by watching you write. Talk with her about your writing so that she begins to understand why writing is important and the many ways it can be used.
Encourage your
child to write, even if she's scribbling
Give your child opportunities to practice writing by helping her sign birthday cards, write stories, and make lists.
Give your child opportunities to practice writing by helping her sign birthday cards, write stories, and make lists.
As your child gets
older, write together
Have your child help you with the writing you do, including writing letters, shopping lists, and messages.
Have your child help you with the writing you do, including writing letters, shopping lists, and messages.
Suggest
note-taking
Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings, and to describe what she saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.
Encourage your child to take notes on trips or outings, and to describe what she saw. This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.
Encourage copying
If your child likes a particular song, suggest that she learn the words by writing them down. Also encourage copying favorite poems or quotations from books and plays.
If your child likes a particular song, suggest that she learn the words by writing them down. Also encourage copying favorite poems or quotations from books and plays.
Encourage your
child to read her stories out loud
As your child gets older, ask her to share her stories with you. Listen carefully without interrupting, and give her positive feedback about her ideas and her writing!
As your child gets older, ask her to share her stories with you. Listen carefully without interrupting, and give her positive feedback about her ideas and her writing!
Hang a family
message board in the kitchen
Offer to write notes there for your child. Be sure that she finds notes left there for her.
Offer to write notes there for your child. Be sure that she finds notes left there for her.
Help your child
write letters and emails to relatives and friends
These may include thank you notes or just a special note to say hello. Be sure to send your child a letter or card once in awhile too so that she is reminded of how special it is to get a letter in the mail. Consider finding a pen pal for your child.
These may include thank you notes or just a special note to say hello. Be sure to send your child a letter or card once in awhile too so that she is reminded of how special it is to get a letter in the mail. Consider finding a pen pal for your child.
Encourage keeping
a journal
This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people she likes or dislikes and why, and about things she wants to remember and do. If she wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them together.
This is excellent writing practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage your child to write about things that happen at home and school, about people she likes or dislikes and why, and about things she wants to remember and do. If she wants to share the journal with you, read the entries and discuss them together.
Things to remember
Allow time
Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercise. Good writers often spend a lot of time thinking, preparing, and researching before starting to write. Your child may dawdle, sharpen a pencil, get papers ready, or look up the spelling of a word. Be patient — this may all be part of her preparation.
Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercise. Good writers often spend a lot of time thinking, preparing, and researching before starting to write. Your child may dawdle, sharpen a pencil, get papers ready, or look up the spelling of a word. Be patient — this may all be part of her preparation.
Respond to your
child's writing
Respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing. Make it clear that you are interested in what the writing conveys, which means focusing on "what" the child has written rather than "how" it was written. It's usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.
Respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing. Make it clear that you are interested in what the writing conveys, which means focusing on "what" the child has written rather than "how" it was written. It's usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage when your child is just getting ideas together.
Praise your
child's writing
Take a positive approach and find good things to say about your child's writing. Is it accurate? Descriptive? Original? Creative? Thoughtful? Interesting?
Take a positive approach and find good things to say about your child's writing. Is it accurate? Descriptive? Original? Creative? Thoughtful? Interesting?
Avoid writing for your
child
Don't write a paper for your child that will be turned in as her work, and don't rewrite your child's work. Meeting a writing deadline, taking responsibility for the finished product, and feeling ownership of it are also important parts of the writing process.
Don't write a paper for your child that will be turned in as her work, and don't rewrite your child's work. Meeting a writing deadline, taking responsibility for the finished product, and feeling ownership of it are also important parts of the writing process.
Help your child
with her writing as she gets older
Ask your child questions that will help her clarify the details of her stories and assignments as they get longer, and help her organize her thoughts. Talk about the objective of what she is writing.
Ask your child questions that will help her clarify the details of her stories and assignments as they get longer, and help her organize her thoughts. Talk about the objective of what she is writing.
Provide your child
with spelling help when she's ready for it
When your child is just learning how to read and write, she may try different ways to write and spell. Our job is to encourage our children's writing so they will enjoy putting their thoughts and ideas on paper. At first, your child may begin to write words the way that she hears them. For example, she might write "haf" instead of "have", "frn" instead of "friend", and "Frd" instead of "Fred." This actually is a positive step in developing her phonemic awareness. Keep practicing with her, and model the correct spelling of words when you write. As your child gets older and begins to ask more questions about letters and spelling, provide her with the help she needs.
When your child is just learning how to read and write, she may try different ways to write and spell. Our job is to encourage our children's writing so they will enjoy putting their thoughts and ideas on paper. At first, your child may begin to write words the way that she hears them. For example, she might write "haf" instead of "have", "frn" instead of "friend", and "Frd" instead of "Fred." This actually is a positive step in developing her phonemic awareness. Keep practicing with her, and model the correct spelling of words when you write. As your child gets older and begins to ask more questions about letters and spelling, provide her with the help she needs.
Practice,
practice, practice
Writing well takes lots of practice, so make sure your child doesn't get discouraged too easily. It's not easy! Give her plenty of opportunities to practice so that she has the opportunity to improve.
Writing well takes lots of practice, so make sure your child doesn't get discouraged too easily. It's not easy! Give her plenty of opportunities to practice so that she has the opportunity to improve.
Read together
Reading and writing support each other. The more your child does of each, the better she will be at both. Reading can also stimulate your child to write about her own family or school life. If your child has a particular favorite story or author, ask her why she thinks that story or that person's writing is special.
Reading and writing support each other. The more your child does of each, the better she will be at both. Reading can also stimulate your child to write about her own family or school life. If your child has a particular favorite story or author, ask her why she thinks that story or that person's writing is special.
As you read and
write more with your child, you will be building an important foundation, and
taking steps that will help your child to become a better reader, writer, and
student. Your efforts now will make a difference — and it may be just the
difference that your child needs to succeed!
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Poetry
This year, every Friday will be Poetry Friday. We kicked off last Friday with some poetry centers, designed to introduce each student to different types of poetry. Two centers were focused on silly poems and free verse poems. Students illustrated each type of poem and then compared their picture. Another center had students listening for rhyming words in poetry and circling them. Our last center incorporated instruments from Mrs. Hazelrigg and had students reading poetry to find the rhythm!
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Math Common Core Parent Workshop
What is Common Core math? Why the change? What is Eureka Math? Join us at our Parent Workshop on Thursday, November 19th from 4-5 PM for answers!
Click here to download the RVSP form and send it in to school with your student. We look forward to seeing you there!
Click here to download the RVSP form and send it in to school with your student. We look forward to seeing you there!
Monday, November 2, 2015
Spelling City
If you're looking for another way to practice spelling words, Spelling City might be your answer! I have recently updated all of my spelling lists. Find the Lesson we're on for the week and play games, take a practice spelling test, etc. Use the picture below to link you to the site.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Landforms
This week in social studies we learned about many types of land forms:
Peninsula
Mountain
Hill
Desert
Plain
River
Lake
Ocean
We used our new knowledge to create our own island with at least 4-5 land forms. Each student created their own names for their land forms. See us working hard below:)
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Fire Prevention Month
October is Fire Prevention Month. Today Grades K through 2 were lucky enough to have had a visit from our community volunteer firefighters from Station 18!
Monday, September 28, 2015
Eureka Math Homework Helper
Please take note: Math homework can be solved using ANY strategy. Use what works best for your family. Below you will find a video to help with homework following the Eureka Program.
Please use this link to get to Eureka Math's website for Parent Support. There is a ton of resources there, including more videos and specific helpers that go with each lesson.
Please use this link to get to Eureka Math's website for Parent Support. There is a ton of resources there, including more videos and specific helpers that go with each lesson.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Welcome Back:)
It's hard to believe we've already completed the second week of school! At this point we're fully immersed in our second grade curriculum.
Reading
We've started our Journeys Unit with the story Henry and Mudge (a great series if you're looking for a good read for your student). We're focusing on putting the story events in order, known as Sequence of Events. You can support this work at home by asking:
"What happened first in the story? Next? How did the story end?"
Writing
We're learning to look at our world through writers eyes...always with the thought in mind that that could be a great story! We're writing about small moments or seed stories...stories that have actually happened to the student but are a snippet of time (minutes instead of hours or days). Support this by pointing out things that happen in your students life that they could write about. For example:
The night the air conditioner broke and we were so hot!
The walk to school in the morning.
Math
We have begun a pilot program that the district is trying out, called Eureka Math. We began this new program by learning about number bonds and adding ones, then tens in problems such as 43+6=...we looked for an easy problem to solve first such as 3+6=9 and then added the tens to get our answer of 43.
Watch the video below for an idea of how we're doing this. This is not homework that the students had, but simply an example of how we're solving problems right now.
Social Studies
Our student teacher, Ms. Berback, has been teaching the students about cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West). Ask them about playing Simon Says with directions!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Subtraction with Regrouping
It's that time of year!!! We've been dabbling in subtraction all year long but it's (finally) time to put our noses to the grindstone and perfect our borrowing skills! Here's a great Youtube video to show how and why we regroup. It may come in helpful at home while reviewing homework!
Monday, March 9, 2015
Dr. Seuss Writing
Celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday last week, we began creating "Seuss-like characters" and writing fictional stories about these characters. First students paired with a friend from the other second grade class. Then they combed through Dr. Seuss books to notice similarities about Dr. Seuss' characters. They developed and named their character.
From there, the students created a story map. We are now drafting our Dr. Seuss stories. They are fabulous! See the students with their character below!
Imagine Learning Computer Program
Imagine
Learning is a great new web-based resource I'd like to share with you.
K-2 is currently piloting a web-based reading program called Imagine Learning. Imagine Learning builds, reinforces, and allows students to practice reading skills such as phonics, decoding, fluency, comprehension, etc. Each child has taken a "placement test" on the computer and the program has uniquely placed each 2nd grader into their own self-paced program. This program is especially great because each child's program is individualized and is catered toward their personal strengths and needs. It reinforces skills through animated lessons and interactive games much like a video game or cartoon so the children are extremely engaged in the learning. The children log onto Imagine Learning for about 20 minutes each day, and now we are able to offer access at home!
Desktop/Laptop
1. Open up your preferred browser (Chrome, IE, Safari, etc.) and type the following IP address exactly as it appears into your address bar: 208.97.60.185
[No www or .com needed - Simply copy and paste the group of numbers with periods as it appears into your address bar and hit enter]
2. Make sure your pop-ups are not being blocked.
3. You will be prompted to download the Unity Player. Open and follow the steps on screen to download this application.
4. If the webpage does not show the Imagine Learning login screen once the Unity Player has been downloaded then refresh the webpage.
5. You will be prompted to allow the program to use your microphone. Hit allow.
6. Have your child type in their username and password. Every child's username is the first initial of their first name and their full last name i.e. kyerger and their password is their lunch number.
iPad/Tablet
1. Download the Imagine Learning app from the app store.
2. Type the following IP address into the 'Engine Number' space: 208.97.60.185
3. Have your child type in their username and password. Every child's username is the first initial of their first name and their full last name i.e. kyerger and their password is their lunch number.
4. You will be prompted to allow the program to use your microphone. Hit allow.
I have no guarantees on how long we will have this program since it's technically a pilot program, but in the meantime let's make use of this great resource! Set aside some time after playing in the snow tomorrow to log onto Imagine Learning!
K-2 is currently piloting a web-based reading program called Imagine Learning. Imagine Learning builds, reinforces, and allows students to practice reading skills such as phonics, decoding, fluency, comprehension, etc. Each child has taken a "placement test" on the computer and the program has uniquely placed each 2nd grader into their own self-paced program. This program is especially great because each child's program is individualized and is catered toward their personal strengths and needs. It reinforces skills through animated lessons and interactive games much like a video game or cartoon so the children are extremely engaged in the learning. The children log onto Imagine Learning for about 20 minutes each day, and now we are able to offer access at home!
Desktop/Laptop
1. Open up your preferred browser (Chrome, IE, Safari, etc.) and type the following IP address exactly as it appears into your address bar: 208.97.60.185
[No www or .com needed - Simply copy and paste the group of numbers with periods as it appears into your address bar and hit enter]
2. Make sure your pop-ups are not being blocked.
3. You will be prompted to download the Unity Player. Open and follow the steps on screen to download this application.
4. If the webpage does not show the Imagine Learning login screen once the Unity Player has been downloaded then refresh the webpage.
5. You will be prompted to allow the program to use your microphone. Hit allow.
6. Have your child type in their username and password. Every child's username is the first initial of their first name and their full last name i.e. kyerger and their password is their lunch number.
iPad/Tablet
1. Download the Imagine Learning app from the app store.
2. Type the following IP address into the 'Engine Number' space: 208.97.60.185
3. Have your child type in their username and password. Every child's username is the first initial of their first name and their full last name i.e. kyerger and their password is their lunch number.
4. You will be prompted to allow the program to use your microphone. Hit allow.
I have no guarantees on how long we will have this program since it's technically a pilot program, but in the meantime let's make use of this great resource! Set aside some time after playing in the snow tomorrow to log onto Imagine Learning!
*Thanks to Katie Riley for the explicit directions on logging in!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Reading Suggestions to Make Reading Time Fun!
With the cold and the snow outside, it's a great time to pick up a good book inside. If you have reluctant readers (or even if you don't!), this link has a ton of suggestions for making reading time fun and getting your reader to want to read. Check it out!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Mexican Murals
During the month of January we have been studying the culture of Mexico in Social Studies. This past week we are creating a mural in a group of 2-3 students to show what we learned. Murals include sugar candy skulls from Day of the Dead, the Mayan Step Pyramids, the Mexican flag with the legendary eagle eating a snake on a cactus from the Aztec culture. We decided to create murals based on the Mexican artist we learned about, Diego Rivera, who was known for his murals documenting people and event from around the world.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
QE Family Literacy Night
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Thursday, January 22, 2015
Brain Breaks
It sounds like we're really working on something tough, but mostly we're taking a 30 second breather and letting our brains and bodies relax. We use a website called www.gonoodle.com to help transition from one activity to the next. It especially helps our brains get ready for something new and helps both our body and brains be ready to focus and learn new information. Here we are doing a gonoodle brain break where we were learning different handshakes!
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Reflex Math
In QCSD, we have been using a new, exciting program to teach kids and have them practice their math facts. In second grade, we're focusing on addition and subtraction facts. Reflex Math is an awesome way for students to learn and secure facts through a game-type program. Kids love to log time in Reflex Math so they can earn points to change their avatar and unlock new games. Click on the picture below to take you to the Reflex Math website where students can sign in and launch a session now! A session should last until the green light in the upper right-hand corner is lit. This indicates that the student has absorbed all the facts that he can for the day!
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