Remedial Reading Chatboard

Using drama as a "bate" to entice children to read!

by Margaret Tourond-Townson

Dec 25, 2009

Teaching a special language class approximately grade 3 level, I found that choosing to read simple plays with the children motivated them to do Readers' Theatre with their favorite plays... and their very favorite play we produced! Each child read his or her part and in fact soon memorized it even though I never even suggested they memorize! It go...See More

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sara We also call 'research papers' research papers when they're not that at all. That drives me crazy but what drives me even more crazy is when no one understands that our 'research papers' aren't that. Margaret was pleasantly quick to acknowledge the difference but I confess my ignorance - what is Readers Theatre really? And what is "bate"?

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Jan 5, 2010

Margaret Tourond-Townson Hi Sara I certainly know that Readers' Theatre is a dedicated term however as a teacher I have learned that to use a play that was not written expressly for Readers' Theatre really works. Now what should we say.... only use RT scripts or try out other plays as well for the class to have exposure to more drama and to actually learn more...especially...See MoreHi Sara I certainly know that Readers' Theatre is a dedicated term however as a teacher I have learned that to use a play that was not written expressly for Readers' Theatre really works. Now what should we say.... only use RT scripts or try out other plays as well for the class to have exposure to more drama and to actually learn more...especially the active children.

I'm thoroughly amused at the "bait" turning into "bate"! Confession time, I've been writing without my glasses on. AND I am also writing a lot in French these days and trying to learn Spanish as well. I think the impact on my spelling is somewhat deBATEable! Sorry! Cheers and best wishes for 2010! Margaret

On 1/05/10, sara wrote: > We also call 'research papers' research papers when they're not > that at all. That drives me crazy but what drives me even more > crazy is when no one understands that our 'research papers' aren't > that. > Margaret was pleasantly quick to acknowledge the difference but I > confess my ignorance - what is Readers Theatre really? And what > is "bate"? > > > > >> Hi Mae I can fully understand your frustration about calling >> plays "Readers' Theatre". I agree they are not. However teachers >> can use the strategy of Readers' Theatre with a variety of plays >> to 1. test the waters and see the kids' reactions to the play >> 2. edit the play with the students -personalize if you will >> 3. teach ideas,information and empathy in a play by a > couple of >> "read throughs" which might be the better term. That is a >> valuable stragegy for teachers I assure you. I have done it many >> times with excellent results! Cheers and thanks for writing. >> Margaret >> >> On 12/29/09, Mae in Texas wrote: >>> Reader's theatre is a genre different from plays. It has its >>> own specific attributes. The script looks different and the >>> performance is done differently. A play is a play is a play. >>> A play is not reader's theatre. Reader's theatre is not a >>> play. Somewhere, somehow, someone in education started >>> calling plays "reader's theatre", and it caught on like >>> wildfire, except that reader's theatre is its own genre. I've >>> been in two reader's theatre troupes and I've taken college >>> courses specifically on reader's theatre. It's a crazy battle >>> to fight, but I can't help myself. My district calls our unit >>> on plays "reader's theatre", and it drives me absolutely >>> nuts. So sorry to hijack...Mae

Jan 5, 2010

Win Free License for Online Vocabulary Building Program

by Nell Kauls

Dec 30, 2009

Attention Teachers!

Win A FREE LICENSE for The First 4,000 Words for your Class and your School!

The First 4,000 Words is an interactive web-based program used to teach the 4,000 most frequently used English words to English Language Learners and struggling readers in grades 1 through 4. This research-based and field-tested progr...See More

New Teacher looking for 15min fluency activities

by Paula B

Jan 2, 2010

Hi: I am a new resource teacher (gr3-6) and I am looking for quick (10-15min) fluency activities that would be suitable for all grade levels.

Jenn Hi! Repeated readings. Find material at your students' independent/instructional reading level (what they can read comfortably) and have them re-read the passage each day until they hit the target goal. At the upper grades I tend to use 120-150 as passing for a passage. Students are timed for one minute, then I count up the number of words they rea...See More

Jan 2, 2010

Special language needs children gain confidence doing drama!

by Margaret Tourond-Townson

Jan 5, 2010

The International Reading Association just published its RTI document with respect to establishing principles for reading interventions. Although I favor many of the reforms proposed by the commission, I do have problems with some of the initiatives, especially those that deal with assessments. Specifically, the commission advocates only "authentic...See More

Response to Intervention

by Mark Pennington

Jan 9, 2010

Teaching Themes

by Stephen

Jan 13, 2010

Hi,

I have just started to teach themes in books, and it has been difficult. Any suggestions or graphic organizers to share?

Stephen

Sara On 1/13/10, Stephen wrote: > Hi, > > I have just started to teach themes in books, and it has > been difficult. Any suggestions or graphic organizers to > share? > > Stephen

You don't say what age but I'd ask - are they comfortable with the concept of the message of the book? What message(s) could we take away from thi...See More

Jan 22, 2010

Reading Mastery Materials

by Carol DeSilva

Jan 17, 2010

My school is in the process of buying some Reading Mastery materials and I am scouring the web for cheap deals. I have found RM 3 Rainbow, classic and Plus. I need to know if the stories are the same in these editions or were they changed over the years? Are the story books interchangable? I have the teacher books for level 3 plus edition and level...See More

George On 1/17/10, Carol DeSilva wrote: > My school is in the process of buying some Reading Mastery > materials and I am scouring the web for cheap deals. I > have found RM 3 Rainbow, classic and Plus. I need to know > if the stories are the same in these editions or were they > changed over the years? Are the story books > interchangab...See More

Feb 2, 2010

word and sound discrimination

by Rita

Jan 17, 2010

I am looking for lessons to teach word and sound discrimination. Thank you for your help!

Carol Try looking at the Florida Center for Reading Research, fcrr.org They have a lot of activities for all ages.

On 1/17/10, Rita wrote: > I am looking for lessons to teach word and sound > discrimination. Thank you for your help!

Jan 18, 2010

reading and transferring answers to a scantron

by Rosie

Jan 23, 2010

I have a student that I am tutoring that has difficulty transferring answers from a booklet to a scantron sheet. Any suggestions?

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Pat Wyman Rosie,

As a reading specialist, and university instructor with online courses in reading and perception solutions, most likely your student struggles with some undected visual problems.

You may want the student to take the Eye-Q Reading Inventory on [link removed].

Kids who have trouble copying or circling things can have...See MoreRosie,

As a reading specialist, and university instructor with online courses in reading and perception solutions, most likely your student struggles with some undected visual problems.

You may want the student to take the Eye-Q Reading Inventory on [link removed].

Kids who have trouble copying or circling things can have visual acuity problems at near, focusing problems, short attention span and do things like lose their place, have poor comprehension and more.

The fact that you mentioned this child is in special education tells me that this child may have other undiagnosed issues as well, but the inventory will give you a very quick view of why the problem exists and what to do about it.

All the best, Pat Wyman HowToLearn.com

On 1/23/10, Brett wrote: > Rosie, > > I'm assuming he can't circle the answers in the workbook because no > one is allowed to mark up the book; is that correct? If that is the > case, then just photocopy the page(s) from the workbook (if allowed) > and have the student circle the answers on the photocopy, OR have the > student write the problem numbers and answers on a blank sheet of > paper. When the student is completely finished testing, you (or > someone you trust) can transfer the student's answers on to the > Scantron sheet. > > Of course, I suppose if the student has trouble transferring answers > to the Scantron sheet, he may have an equal amount of difficulty > transferring to a blank sheet of paper. Consequently, photocopying > the workbook page(s) and having the student answer on the copy (by > circling the correct letter, etc.) would be your best bet, assuming > photocopying the workbook is allowed. > > I work as a para in a middle school LD resource classroom, and it is > sometimes my job to transfer answers to Scantron sheets. Unless there > is a rule specifically forbidding this type of "accommodation" for > your reg ed student, I don't know why it would be disallowed. (Unless > the primary purpose of the assessment is to determine the student's > ability to transfer information from one place to another.) > > Brett > > > On 1/23/10, Rosie wrote: >> HI Linda, >> The student does not have an IEP. He has to use the scantron >> sheet and he can't circle the answers in the workbook and >> transfer them over later. >> >> >> >> On 1/23/10, Linda wrote: >>> On 1/23/10, Rosie wrote: >>>> I have a student that I am tutoring that has difficulty >>>> transferring answers from a booklet to a scantron sheet. >>>> Any suggestions? >>> >>> 1. Does the student have to transfer the info to the scantron >>> or will the booklet answers be acceptable? In some situations >>> this is perfectly fine. >>> 2. is this student classified- does the IEP have any >>> modifications for this? if not, put them in. >>> 3. Can you transfer the information after the student has >>> placed the answers in the booklet? >>> 4. If the student has to use scantron because he/she is not >>> classified, then perhaps using a ruler or index card on both >>> the scantron sheet and the booklet will help. >>> 5. Sometimes using a colored overlay over the scantron may >>> help enhance the areas that need to be marked. >>> [link removed]

Jan 24, 2010

Jo Seeing your later post that says no IEP. I suggest large sticky notes to help the student keep his/her place on the scantron sheet.

Also, I agree with the poster discussion vision issues. I have children with vision issues. Scantrons were the death of them. Easy for teachers, SATs, etc but horrible for many kids.

Maybe he needs ...See More

Jan 24, 2010