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Mar

Common Core State Standards Provides Pre-Reading Guidelines

March 9, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

The debate about when and how to teach children to read often focuses on the skills involved in reading itself. However, establishing pre-reading skills is equally or even more important. Pre-reading skills mean starting early in a child’s life by introducing him or her to books and basic skills that pave the way for increased literacy. The Common Core State Standards Initiative provides ten pre-reading standards that kindergarteners should master in order to prepare them for first-grade reading. Parents and teachers can use the standards as part of making reading fun when sharing books with young children.

Since kindergarteners usually do not read fluently, many skills require teachers or parents to give prompts and support. For instance, prompting children to point out key details in a text, such as the story’s plot, major characters, and settings prepares them to navigate more difficult texts. Young children should also be able to say who wrote a story and who illustrated it, as well as what the relationship is between the text and the pictures. One way to help children build this skill is to read the text, then ask them to point out the parts of the picture that show the story happening.

Kindergarten-age readers are just starting to collect a vocabulary, so stories may have many words they don’t know. Another important pre-reading skill offered by the Common Core Standards is the ability to point out words the reader doesn’t know and ask what they mean. Often, kindergarten-aged readers can do this without prompting, especially if they are used to asking what words or symbols mean when they hear conversations or see them in their everyday lives. Finally, children should be able to compare and contrast stories, even if they cannot read themselves. With teacher or parent support, kids can develop strong pre-literacy skills that will serve them well as they learn to read.

Mar

Greyhounds Make Reading Fun

March 7, 2011 By admin 5 Comments

Primary schools in Staffordshire, England have started an unexpected program to help kids build confidence in reading. Instead of reading to a human audience, kids read aloud to the classroom’s “listening dog,” a greyhound named Danny.

The program, which originated in the U.S., is called Reading Education Assistance Dogs, or READ for short. The program pairs retired racing greyhounds with children who have difficulty reading aloud. To improve their reading skills, the children read to the greyhounds. Unlike human listeners, greyhounds do not correct children or show impatience when they stumble over words. In turn, the patience of their audience gives children increased confidence in their reading skills.

The program is one of the many innovative teaching methods designed for making reading fun. One of the perks of the READ program is starting early: even kids who cannot yet read may share books with the dogs, often showing the dogs the pictures as they interpret the story. The program therefore encourages literacy skills starting with pre-readers, as well as encouraging both literacy and public speaking skills in older children.

The READ program relies on greyhounds because of their uniquely calm temperaments. When they’re not running, greyhounds are typically calm, relaxed dogs who rarely bark. In addition, their short coats are less likely than those of other dogs to trigger allergies, giving more children the chance to show off their reading skills to their new audience. READ’s greyhound “staff members” go through about five months of training to prepare them for working with children.

Teachers in charge of the Staffordshire program report that they are already seeing improvements among their students. These include improved reading and speaking skills in one student with Down’s Syndrome, whose relationship with the class’s READ greyhound has also developed her self-confidence when dealing with her teacher and classmates.

Feb

How Illiteracy Affects Women in Developing Countries

February 23, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

In highly developed nations, the ability to read and write is considered the norm. Laws exist for providing education to children. In many developing countries, the problem of illiteracy is widespread. Women make up the segment of the population that suffers most from this problem. Because women are the first educators of their children and spend immense time with them in the early years, educating women will result in significant advances for future generations.

How Women are Affected by Illiteracy

Studies in developing countries show that when a woman does not know how to read and write, her longevity is heavily impacted. Illiterate women live shorter lives than those who can read and write. This is in large part because the inability to read and access information is extremely limited. A woman who cannot read will often rely on others to read and explain information to her. Or, she may not make an effort to seek out information knowing that she is burdening others in doing so. A literate woman can find information everywhere, at the library, on the internet, in bookstores and on the book shelves of friends and family.

Findings About Women Who Cannot Read or Write

The majority of the world’s illiterate population are women. When a woman can read and write, she tends to have children later in life and also has fewer numbers of children. Illiterate women are known to start having kids at an early age. It is also common for this population to have more than six children. Additional observations about illiterate women are that they themselves and their children suffer from greater health issues. They are less likely to seek out health care guidance. Their babies are more likely to die at birth or at a young age. The attention they give to eating healthy diets and choosing more nutritious foods for themselves and for their children is much less when compared to a literate woman.

Creating greater access to education for individuals all over the globe will empower a future generation that is better equipped for the challenges of life.

Feb

Good Property Management is the Key to City Schools

February 18, 2011 By admin 11 Comments

One of the most important features of any city is its school system. In fact, it is one of the primary considerations for families in deciding where they want to live. Thus, for a city to prosper, it needs to have a good school system.

The road to a good school system is good property management, not only for the schools themselves, but for their surrounding areas as well. Cities have to make property management a high priority for the good of its schools and residents.

The Risks of Poor Property Management

A city’s school system can significantly suffer from poor zoning management. If the area surrounding the school is impoverished, then families will not want to send their children there. Subsequently, without a well managed school, the neighborhood suffers and is more at risk to crime.

Such a situation can create white flight or school segregation as families with means relocate to areas with better performing schools. This then hurts the students and teachers who find themselves academically bereft. Poor property management by a city can also mean schools get built in overly urban areas that lack park space and are full of congestion, giving children less to do.

Benefits of Good Property Management

On the other hand, a city that exhibits successful property management can better the lives of its residents with its school system. By providing better places for families and teachers to live, and better property where schools can thrive, the overall city benefits from an increase in population and cultural opportunities.

Students can experience more after-school programs, as well as the integration with others from different backgrounds and races. Schools that are in demand create neighborhoods that are in demand.

Cities need to operate like Mesa property management or property management companies in its jurisdiction. Taking this approach will ensure thoughtful planning, which leads to less urban sprawl and better schools.

Feb

Life Challenges Posed by Adult Illiteracy

February 16, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

Globally, there are about one billion adults who are lacking in basic literacy skills. This is considered about one-fourth of the world’s population. If you look only at countries that are least developed, the overall rate of illiteracy is nearly 50%. Moreover, the majority of those lacking in literacy are women. Adult illiteracy is not highly visible or prevalent in developed countries, but it does exist. The challenges it poses for an adult’s quality of life are immense.

The Impact of Adult Illiteracy on Quality of Life

When an adult does not know how to read or write, he has a harder time living a full and enriched life. The ability to read is necessary for many everyday tasks. Being able to read the instructions on a bottle of medicine is one example. Understanding important legal documents before signing them is another need. Important notifications from transportation authorities, landlords and health insurance providers are just a few other examples where the ability to read is important for adults. Adults who cannot read are often dependent on others to carry out specific everyday tasks, as well as in dealing with emergencies and unexpected events.

Adult Illiteracy and Income Potential

In a society where employees are expected to be able to read job ads, employer contracts, intercompany memos and work-related emails, the ability to read and write are a given. When adults cannot do these simple tasks, their opportunities are extremely limited. An adult may be perfectly intelligent but without access to educational opportunities, his income potential will be limited. He will then be relegated to performing jobs that do not fully utilize his mental capacities.

Clearly, teaching adults how to read and write will improve their life opportunities. It will allow them to contribute to society in meaningful ways and enable them to enjoy a greater quality of life.

Feb

How Community-Based Organizations Can Remedy Adult Illiteracy

February 10, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

The implications of illiteracy are far reaching in the lives of adults who cannot read and are lacking in basic academic skills. Community-based organizations can potentially present a solution for this debilitating problem. By virtue of their all-embracing dynamic, non-profit organizations in community settings can potentially create perfect environments for adults who want to improve their life opportunities.

Defining Community-Based Organizations

Any non-profit organization that serves a local community can be considered a community-based organization. A community room in a housing facility is one example. Gathering centers for cultural groups are another example. Recreation centers in city parks are also places where community members can gather. Some of these environments serve recreational purposes only. However, in situations where initiatives have been taken to provide enrichment programs for local community members, opportunities exist for addressing the problem of adult illiteracy.

The Advantage of Community-Based Organizations for the Adult Learner

Some adult learners may not possess reading skills, but they still hold down jobs. They may be employed in housecleaning activities, babysitting or other jobs requiring manual labor. The advantage of a community center that offers literacy classes for adults is the accessibility. An adult can walk or take a short drive to the center and squeeze in a class in between his other daily obligations. Additionally, such centers are generally more relaxed than formal academic environments. For adults who have been out of school for many years, the less formal atmosphere is less intimidating and more inviting.

Strategies for Improving Adult Literacy in Community Centers

Community centers can be staffed by caring volunteers who tutor adults on their free time. In more structured community centers, management can apply for grants and funding to provide educational tools and resources. Group classes can be organized to meet the needs of the general adult population. Flyers written in simple language can be posted about the classes in local grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops and other locations to spread the word.

Feb

Using Creative Movement to Enhance Reading Skills

February 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

One of the more innovative teaching practices is using dance and creative movement to teach reading skills to young children. At first glance it may seem that the two skill sets are unrelated. However, closely examining the relationship creates a more convincing argument for integrating the arts, such as creative movement, into the traditional classroom.

Exploring Individual Learning Styles

Understanding the effectiveness of creative movement in teaching a child how to read requires first acknowledging that not all individuals learn the same way. The typical approach to teaching reading is through trial and error and teacher correction, where the correct alphabet sounds and words are eventually mastered. When it comes to learning, one child may need visual images and pictures of the words being spoken. Another child may need to hear the words spoken more than others. A third child may need to get up and move around, to write the words or to draw pictures of the images or stories being read.

Creative Movement and Reading

Studies show that integrating a dance or creative movement element into reading instruction does indeed accelerate the learning process. There may be a variety of reasons for this. The varied activity very likely captures the attention of children when compared with the less stimulating sit-down approach. It may also be that being tasked with dancing out the story of the reading passage increases students’ focus and encourages them to make a greater effort in understanding the words.

Implementing Creative Movement in the Reading Classroom

Teachers do not have to be trained dancers to use this technique. Children are quite creative and just need permission to move around. Playing music and writing words on the board will help young children to imitate the movements of their favorite animals. Telling students that they will be dancing out the story encourages them to tune in to every detail. Using creative movement in the reading classroom is an effective way to improve reading comprehension and an understanding of the chronology of events.

Feb

Using Instructional Software to Improve Adult Literacy

February 3, 2011 By admin 7 Comments

The problem of adult illiteracy is widespread enough that educators must actively seek out effective solutions. When an adult cannot read, his life opportunities are drastically limited. Teaching an adult how to read can be a difficult process. Adults are self-directed and do not respond well to educational strategies designed for children. Quality instructional software products that teach reading skills to adults can be effective educational tools in many respects.

A Self-Directed Approach

A mature adult who is working to improve his reading skills will very likely appreciate a self-directed approach. Give him the tools he needs to master reading and enough motivation to do so, and watch him tackle the task. Using a web-based reading course can help an adult in many ways. He can move along at his own pace in his learning process. He can review lessons as many times as he would like. This factor alone makes instructional software a useful tool for adults. Sitting in a classroom with others or having to repeatedly ask a teacher questions can be humiliating for some adults. Being able to direct their own learning process using instructional software often removes learner anxiety and builds confidence.

Instructional Software With an Audio Component

Quality reading software will have an audio feature with adjustable speeds. An adult needs the ability to slow down or accelerate the pace of the audio to match his reading skill level. Hearing the words spoken out loud will help him to match the sounds to the text, which is highly effective for speeding up the learning process.

Software With a Grading Feature

To increase motivation and gauge progress, the ideal reading software will present reading comprehension questions. Answering the questions should then generate a simple performance report that grades the progress of the adult learner.

With reading software, an adult can learn at a comfortable pace, avoid embarrassment and gauge his own progress. Such technological tools are also tremendous time savers for educators.

Feb

Improving Learning Through Reducing Learner Anxiety

February 1, 2011 By admin 5 Comments

People learn more easily when they are calm and relaxed. When educators create comfortable learning atmospheres, they help learners to learn more quickly and more easily. Many strategies exist for putting learners at ease in the classroom setting.

Adequate Preparation and Planning

Learners of all ages benefit from a structured learning environment. Teachers can create such an atmosphere by being organized and prepared. Taking time to plan carefully can help establish structure in a classroom. When a teacher is disorganized or unsure of what to do next, student attention wanders. This is especially problematic for the younger ages because these are the times when less obedient students take charge and cause disruption. Trying to regain a calm and relaxed atmosphere can be difficult after such an interruption. Adequate preparation and planning allows the learning to take place in a continuous fashion.

Practicing Patience

When a teacher is patient with his students, he helps them to remain calm. An impatient teacher who does not allow students enough time to process information and answer questions creates the type of anxiety that interferes with learning. Teaching is really about drawing out each individual’s potential. Being patient with learners demonstrates a belief that each student has it in him to learn and respond appropriately.

Using Encouragement and Humor

Some of the best teachers are those who are encouraging and good-natured. Letting students know that they are on the right track helps to energize them. Encouraging student progress through continual rewards, accolades and a simple smile can help to remove all anxiety and evoke a sense of accomplishment in the student. Gifted teachers are also so relaxed in front of the class that they can easily find opportune moments for lightening the mood, cracking a joke and letting students know that learning can be a fun experience.

Jan

Women’s Literacy in Agricultural Areas

January 29, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Recent studies have revealed the alarming fact that almost 800 million adults in the world today are illiterate, and that one of every three women in the world cannot read. Because in so many under developed areas of the world women are responsible for the majority of all food production in addition to keeping their homes and raising their children, it is incredibly difficult for those women to ever have the opportunity to achieve literacy. Women in agricultural areas typically work an average of 16 hours per day, every day of the week, to grow and prepare food, wash and to procure water and fuel for their families. In many cultures, education is forbidden to women for legal or religious reasons, and in other areas, fathers and husbands simply do not allow their women to learn how to read.

Research has also shown that literacy in women is the single largest factor in the development of small or poor countries. The fact is that even four years of education can make the difference in food production, making women’s literacy of prime importance in many global areas. While other sociological problems like war, hunger and human rights usually gain more publicity, the fact is that women’s literacy may prove to be not only more important, but also a factor in resolving these other problems. Educated women are far more likely to seek medical attention for themselves and their children, and statistically have fewer children at a much more mature age. Literate women are also able to pass on both their knowledge and their respect for literacy to their children, since they traditionally spend more time with them than fathers. It should be obvious teaching women to read would do much more than increase their employment opportunities, but also help to elevate entire communities and regions.