Chandra Manning. 6-12 Instructional Facilitator. Asheboro City Schools. NC. USA

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Smore Reading Tips for Parents

Smore* is a Web 2.0 tool for creating and publishing web-based flyers.  I have created one with reading tips for parents of middle school students.  Be sure to scroll through for all the information, including an Animoto video.  Please share this flyer or Animoto by adding a link to your Edmodo, wiki, Google site, or letter home.


*If you would like any help with Smore or Animoto, please let me know; I will be happy to assist.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Summer Reading

Summer reading loss refers to the decline in children's reading development that can occur during summer vacation times when students are away from the classroom and not participating in formal literacy programs (Allington & McGill-Franzen, 2003).  Researchers have uncovered evidence that summer reading loss is significant, particularly among at-risk students.

Before your students leave for the summer, talk up the importance of reading, especially while they are on summer break.  Possibly hold a book swap the last day of school.  Ask your neighbors, family, and friends for old books that you can give to your students for the summer.  Send students, especially the ones you know have economic hardships, with at least one book for the summer.  Remind students to visit the public library.  Here is a list of the 2013 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) to get them started:  http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/quickpicks/2013/topten.

I hope teachers take time to read, too!  Here is a list of books suggested for educator summer reading that I compiled from Tweets and blogs:

  • Losing Our Minds by Deborah L. Ruf
  • Readicide by Kelly Gallagher
  • What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker
  • Brain Rules:  12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina
  • You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned by Swen Nater and Ronald Gallimore
  • Outliers:  The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
  • Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire by Rafe Esquith
Do you have a book suggestion for us teachers to check out?  Leave your name, title & author, and comments.

~Chandra