Semantic gradients is a group of related words placed on a continuum that allows students to make connections between known words and new vocabulary. Reading Rockets has fun and engaging activities that help students deepen their understanding of related words. Research states that vocabulary instruction is an essential skill that students need to improve reading… Read More Effective Vocabulary Instruction that Increases Reading Comprehension
Are your students Writing About Mathematics? Or, are they Engaged in Mathematical Writing?
Teachers have received limited guidance about writing during math instruction (Casa, Evans, Firmender, & Colonnese, 2017). Because of this, it is important to distinguish between writing about mathematics and mathematical writing. Writing about mathematics prioritizes the learning of literacy; but mathematical writing emphasizes mathematical reasoning (Casa, et al., 2017). This type of writing includes text,… Read More Are your students Writing About Mathematics? Or, are they Engaged in Mathematical Writing?
The Power of Writing to Strengthen Reading
It is often suggested that if learners struggle with reading they should do more writing! Students can benefit from multiple writing opportunities such as writing about books they are reading (with sentence starter prompts as needed), small -group, shared writing called Predictable Chart Writing, and Thinking Logs for mathematical writing. The Center for Early Literacy… Read More The Power of Writing to Strengthen Reading
Writing and Assistive Technology
Speech-to-text, also known as speech recognition, is replacing word processing and word prediction. Recently, it has improved dramatically and is usually a built in feature with new products (i.e., tablets, smartphones, TVs, cars, and glasses). Unlike dictating to a tape recorder, speech-to-text can display text for the student and be repeatedly read as often as… Read More Writing and Assistive Technology
Speech-to-Text Using Google Chrome
Speech-to-text can assist in writing, reading, math, and learning foreign languages. It can help students complete work more efficiently and produce a better product. All students can benefit from speech-to-text and it can open opportunities for struggling students and students with disabilities. ********************************************************** Speech-to-Text Using Google Chrome ********************************************************** Speech recognition using Google Chrome is the… Read More Speech-to-Text Using Google Chrome
Writing Across the Content Areas
It is important for students to have daily opportunities to write. One way to provide regular writing practice for students is to ask them to write about what they are learning during math, science, and social studies lessons. A great benefit of writing about a specific content area is that it increases comprehension. Research… Read More Writing Across the Content Areas
Meaningful Writing Prompts
Now that you are ready to teach writing skills and your students have the necessary means to write, what comes next? Richard Allington (2012) reminds us that students should be given opportunities to write about something personally meaningful every day. Let’s examine some great ideas for writing prompts that will be meaningful and interesting to… Read More Meaningful Writing Prompts
