It’s that time of year again when we think of friends and family. Though this year’s celebrations are likely to be different, stories continue to delight and inform — and most importantly — to connect us. Celebrate this season of sharing with books and reading. This year's list includes charming new board books for the youngest ones, stories about animals and nature, historical fiction, graphic novels, sports stories, books about heroes who have made our world a better place for all, and stories about community, family, and friendship. Happy Holidays from Reading Rockets!
Award-winning children’s author Candace Fleming has written wonderful books about ordinary and extraordinary women — including Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart; Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life; and Boxes for Katje. Her newest book, Cubs in the Tub: The True Story of the Bronx Zoo's First Woman Zookeeper, introduces us to Helen Martini, another fascinating woman in history. Find out more about Martini’s extraordinary career, plus some suggestions from Fleming on how kids can learn about animals and how to care for them.
Professional sports can provide an introduction to history, depicting the times in which they are played. The games we follow with passion evolve over time to respond to current events and social changes. The handsome new book Gridiron: Stories from 100 Years of the National Football League — a collaboration by two sports aficionados, author Fred Bowen and illustrator James Ransome — is a fresh look at the sport, its history, and its strategies, all presented through detailed, intriguing stories. Bowen and Ransome give us a behind-the-scenes look at how they created the book in this exclusive interview.
If your child struggles with writing, it’s important to find new and engaging ways to encourage her to write. Here are some creative strategies to try — write a “convince me!” letter, play “tell me how”, make an “I can” book, create a family scrapbook, and more..
In this special Reading Rockets video series, experts answer real questions from families about reading and how to support your children at home. In one video, reading expert Sandra Wilborn answers a parent’s question, “How do I help my child learn new words while we read aloud?”
If you'd like to ask a question about how to help your striving reader, please write to us at: info@readingrockets.org
Learning to read is complex. Children must learn to do many things at the same time: decoding, reading with comfortable fluency, absorbing new vocabulary, understanding what the text says, and discovering that reading is pleasurable and builds knowledge about the world.
We hope our new guide will help you learn what it takes to become a strong reader and how to support your child’s reading and writing at home. You'll explore typical milestones for children in PreK through second grade, and discover a collection of easy, lively activities to build key literacy skills.
It can be daunting to ask about reading instruction when you don’t have teaching experience, but it’s a step all parents of K-3 children should feel empowered to take! In this new post from literacy coach and co-founder of the Right to Read project Margaret Goldberg, you’ll get a crash course in the “5 pillars” of effective reading instruction and then guidance on how to be an effective advocate for your child. What should you ask your child’s teacher? What are the signs that your child may not be receiving the instruction needed for later school success? And what should you look for in reading instruction in the primary grades?
Mary Amato has led writing workshops for children in poetry, song writing, fiction, mystery, and folktales, as well as workshops for teachers focusing on revision, creating character, and writer’s notebooks. In this interview, you'll discover ideas for engaging reluctant writers, the value of collaborative journals, and how her "WOW" strategy helps kids craft a story.
Digital storytelling can boost motivation as well as strengthen specific writing skills — such as sequencing and identifying important details. Knowing that their work will be viewed by many encourages young writers to pay closer attention to audience, purpose, and form. Learn more about the power of digital storytelling, including practical tips on selecting the right hardware and software.
Most young struggling readers will exhibit problems with decoding — because, initially, decoding is what is needed to make the process go. Accordingly, most schools send in the decoding/fluency cavalry early on when there’s trouble. But it’s different with oral language. Language deficiencies may not even be noticed until the students can decode reasonably well and the text demands begin to outstrip their language attainment. Obviously, we are in need of two streams of intervention: one focused on decoding and one on oral language.
Reading expert Linda Farrell helps third grader Michael master the ‘silent e’ pattern to help him become a more accurate and ultimately more fluid reader. She begins with making sure that Michael can distinguish between short and long vowel sounds in spoken words, then teaches him a multi-sensory way to recognize the short vowel and ‘silent e’ long vowel patterns in written words. Ms. Farrell emphasizes the need to practice each skill to the point of mastery.
Teaching Reading Is Rocket Science: A Conversation with Louisa Moats
At the Center for Development and Learning, we’re revisiting Dr. Moats’ influential paper 20 years after its first publication because so much has changed … and so little has changed. Paradoxical as this may seem, we need to update our knowledge of reading science, and also to contemplate why it has been so hard to get colleges and practitioners to act on the science, and stem the tide of reading difficulties.
Take this short survey to watch the conversation with Dr. Moats, Linda Farrell of Readsters, Kegi Wells of The Barksdale Reading Institute, and Alana Mangham of the Center for Development and Learning.
Browse our guide to supporting all learners, families, and educators. You’ll find a rich library of resources, including lessons plan collections, distance teaching strategies, resources on social-emotional learning, ideas for strengthening school-home partnerships, news stories, and more, updated weekly. (Produced in partnership with NEA)
If you’ve noticed your child is struggling with academics more than usual, but you’re not sure if it’s due to the pandemic or signs of a learning difference, this Notes from the Backpack podcast episode from the National PTA can help. Amanda Morin, senior expert at Understood.org, shares strategies for supporting students with learning differences during online and hybrid learning. Amanda offers advice on helping your kids stay organized, read social cues, manage distractions and more. (National PTA)
Check out this series of free 30-minute webinars tackling topics such as previewing vocabulary, word parts and context clues, text structure, and more. Additional resources on teaching beginning reading, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing can be found by browsing through this Padlet created by Keys to Literacy.
Virtual Lessons: Videos, Tools and Tips to Support Students with Intensive Needs
These lessons from National Center on Intensive Intervention provide short instructional routines to encourage practice opportunities using explicit instruction. Tips for how educators can share these lessons with parents and families and video examples of family members implementing the lessons are also available. These video and tips are designed to support students with intensive needs in the face of COVID-19.
Removing Barriers to Effective Distance Learning for All Students Webinar:December 8, 2020 at 1pm ET
Panelists will discuss common barriers with distance learning and offer practical strategies and resources. Sponsored by the Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR Center) and the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI).
Reading Rockets is a national educational service of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital. The goal of the project is to provide information on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. Reading Rockets is supported in part by the Poses Family Foundation and Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes.
Send your questions, comments, or suggestions to readingrockets@weta.org. Our mailing address is WETA/Reading Rockets, 2775 S. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22206. We look forward to hearing from you!
