Reading expert Linda Farrell shows third grader Xavier how to read and spell unfamiliar multisyllable words. To figure out how many syllables are in a word, Ms. Farrell teaches Xavier to ask two questions: How many vowels are in the word? Are the vowels together or apart? In a separate video, Ms. Farrell listens to Xavier read aloud to help him read with accuracy.
To comprehend a story or text, young readers need a threshold of knowledge about the topic, and new, tougher state standards place increasing demands on children's prior knowledge. This article offers practical classroom strategies to build background knowledge such as using contrasts and comparisons and encouraging topic-focused wide reading.
ELLs of diverse backgrounds may struggle to grasp content and may approach the content from very different perspectives. Drawing on your students' background knowledge and experiences, can be an effective way to bridge gaps and to make the content more accessible. This article offers a number of suggestions to classroom teachers as they find ways to tap into the background knowledge that students bring with them.
In this special Reading Rockets video series, experts answer real questions from families about how to support their child'en's learning during COVID-19. This month, we're focusing on the challenges of using technology for schoolwork. (Developed in partnership with the National Education Association).
Reading expert Tim Shanahan explains why he thinks it's a mistake to lower the standards — long term, we want all kids to become successful readers and thrive. He says, "This pandemic is an educational disaster for many of our boys and girls. Lowering our standards and our efforts to accomplish them will not make it better for the kids; it will just reduce the likelihood that we'll do what is necessary for their success. Please don't lower those benchmarks."
Book tasting gives children the opportunity to choose and sample different kinds of books — and talk about what they like and don't like. Get tips on how to set up book tastings virtually and get families involved in a group read. Kids will be predicting, connecting, and reflecting during this engaging activity. (From Achieve the Core)
Browse this resource library from the Educating All Learners Alliance where you'll find strategies, case studies, video, and more on a range of topics including assistive technology, IEPs, Universal Design for Learning, and executive functioning. You may also want to look at their resources on assessment, intervention, and family engagement.
Kadir Nelson is a gifted artist whose extraordinary talent continues to be celebrated — by young readers, teachers, the American Library Association awards committees, literacy organizations, and many others in the world of children's books. In 2020, he won the Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his powerful illustrations in The Undefeated. Nelson says, “…when it comes to the artwork that I do, I'm telling human stories, and they're essentially human truths.”
Listen in to our conversation with the 2017 Winner of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Dr. Bishop talks about why kids need to see all kinds of people and cultures in the books they read, filling classroom libraries with diverse books to read all year round, celebrating children through poetry, and more.
Anna Kim is an illustrator, author, and advocate of diversity of role models for all children. As an Asian-American growing up in the U.S. — Anna was born in Seoul, Korea — she saw few positive representations of her culture. She’s come to Book Life to tell us more about how her experiences motivated her to write and illustrate her first picture book, the delightful Danbi Leads the School Parade (an Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book for 2021!)
Since the very first celebration in 1998, NEA’s Read Across America has generated enthusiasm for reading nationwide, raised public awareness for children’s literacy, and supported educators, parents, and others in their ongoing efforts to motivate kids to read. NEA offers new resources for March 2 and year-round activities that “Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers.” It’s time to start thinking about which great books you’re going to share on March 2 and plan your (virtual) reading celebration!
What does your child love to explore and learn about? At our companion project, Start with a Book, you can dig into dinosaurs, bugs, birds, planes, music, sports, superheroes, inventors, art, stars and planets, the ocean, and more — 24 kid-friendly topics in all (plus tips on reading aloud and ideas for writing). For each topic, you'll find hundreds of recommended books, hands-on activities, educational websites, and interactive apps to deepen the learning.
Children learn when they make connections between what they hear and what they know. One way parents can help make these connections is called a think aloud, where you talk through your thoughts as you read. Here are three ways to use think alouds, with examples from some of our favorite kids' books. (In English and Spanish, from our Growing Readers series).
Find easy at-home comprehension activities (from Reading 101: A Guide for Parents, developed in partnership with the National Education Association):
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!
