Grade Level. Sounds so definite, doesn't it? As if it was the admission price for 2nd grade or 9th grade. As if it was the admission charge to your school.
First of all, the word 'grade level' is a misnomer. We really should be saying Minimal Grade Level, because it is not a good thing to have your child "on grade level." Children who are on grade level feel like they are not good readers. They know from classroom observation that they are behind many other children.
And unfortunately, grade level is really a very general term. The criteria for each grade level changes somewhat depending on whether it is the textbook definition, the local school board's definition, your school's definition, or even the national government's definition.
The term "grade level" addresses a wide range of skills: number of sight words, ability to fluently read phrases, understanding of sentence structure, phonics skills, eagerness to pick up books, ability to preview pages, etc. etc. I find myself wanting to list every skill I notice in children at different ages and grade levels. But of course, that is counterproductive since most readers of this blog do not deal in those specifics on a detailed basis like I do, and the list does go on and on as well!
Fortunately, the fact that grade level is such a generic term works to our benefit also. Is your child on grade level? Well, yes, I could make a good argument that he or she is if they have achieved several of the criteria for each specific grade, even if your child has not achieved ALL of the long list of criteria.
We human beings like boundaries and rules and definitions and we tend to get sooooo carried away with them. Such is true of reading grade levels.
So let's cut to the bottom line. What do we want for each child?
1. To get to the point of liking books a lot.
2. To be able to read (or somewhat read in the case of a young child) a book that catches his or her interest when an adult is not around to help out.
3. To not even think of the word 'grade level' and to picture himself or herself as just a part of the reading community in school and at home.
We want each child to take reading for granted.
Is your child on grade level?
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
YOU be the teacher
My last two posts dealt with your elementary or middle school child who is not yet a good reader. Be sure you read those before reading this. They lay out the guidelines for a parent's involvement in teaching reading.
Once again, YOU, the parent, may be your child's best chance at learning to read. Each child deserves one-on-one reading time with an adult. Its the right way to learn. Its the best way to learn.
If you can read, you can teach your own child. Learning to read is not rocket science. It is science and it does need an organization and direction, but it is not beyond the ability of any reader who has the time and interest. HURST Reading Center has an excellent beginning reading program that will help you. It is the instruction they use when working with struggling readers, and is reasonably priced. And I will periodically post ideas on this blog that will also assist you.
If you feel your child will respond better when working with someone else, find a grandparent or an aunt or even a good friend to read with your child. If that doesn't work and if you can afford it, go to a professional tutor. Some are outrageously expensive, while some are very reasonable. The school may be able to help you, but don't count on it. I will address this issue in the future.
If you decide to teach your own child, go to the list of guidelines provided in the last two posts. Then read the following which is the list of DO NOTs:
1) Do not fix dinner or watch t.v. while your child is reading to you. Sit beside your child and look at the page with him or her. Dividing your time is fine when reading becomes casual and easy for your child. Right now it must be focused time.
2) Do not praise too much. Parents and teachers today throw around compliments that are meaningless. I have certainly been guilty of that insult myself. A huge smile shared at the end of a successfully read page or book says it all. Or a high five. Or even better, the praise of a character or the book as a whole. "I really like Annie (in The Magic Tree House series). She is a girl of action!" It's not that praise itself is bad. It's just that praise has become rote and meaningless with so many people.
3) Do not "test" your child in any way after reading. The testing of children is one of the worst aspects of schooling today. You know if your child has done well or not. Your child knows also. The child's teachers do too if they just had the time to work with each child individually or in small groups more often. Always remember, YOUR best learning times have not been followed by a test.
4) In the same way, do not criticize. Protect your child's self esteem in every way you can. If your child is bringing home very bad grades, you can try to work with the teacher to soften them in some way. You can definitely say (over and over and in many different ways) "I don't care about these grades at all. You are working hard. You are improving. You are going to be a very good reader one of these days soon." We always want to encourage hard work and effort over high achievement. It should be what we value in ourselves as well. And isn't it nice that hard work and organized effort often leads to achievement?
Good luck to you and your child. Do not put off learning to read even one more day!
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Once again, YOU, the parent, may be your child's best chance at learning to read. Each child deserves one-on-one reading time with an adult. Its the right way to learn. Its the best way to learn.
If you can read, you can teach your own child. Learning to read is not rocket science. It is science and it does need an organization and direction, but it is not beyond the ability of any reader who has the time and interest. HURST Reading Center has an excellent beginning reading program that will help you. It is the instruction they use when working with struggling readers, and is reasonably priced. And I will periodically post ideas on this blog that will also assist you.
If you feel your child will respond better when working with someone else, find a grandparent or an aunt or even a good friend to read with your child. If that doesn't work and if you can afford it, go to a professional tutor. Some are outrageously expensive, while some are very reasonable. The school may be able to help you, but don't count on it. I will address this issue in the future.
If you decide to teach your own child, go to the list of guidelines provided in the last two posts. Then read the following which is the list of DO NOTs:
1) Do not fix dinner or watch t.v. while your child is reading to you. Sit beside your child and look at the page with him or her. Dividing your time is fine when reading becomes casual and easy for your child. Right now it must be focused time.
2) Do not praise too much. Parents and teachers today throw around compliments that are meaningless. I have certainly been guilty of that insult myself. A huge smile shared at the end of a successfully read page or book says it all. Or a high five. Or even better, the praise of a character or the book as a whole. "I really like Annie (in The Magic Tree House series). She is a girl of action!" It's not that praise itself is bad. It's just that praise has become rote and meaningless with so many people.
3) Do not "test" your child in any way after reading. The testing of children is one of the worst aspects of schooling today. You know if your child has done well or not. Your child knows also. The child's teachers do too if they just had the time to work with each child individually or in small groups more often. Always remember, YOUR best learning times have not been followed by a test.
4) In the same way, do not criticize. Protect your child's self esteem in every way you can. If your child is bringing home very bad grades, you can try to work with the teacher to soften them in some way. You can definitely say (over and over and in many different ways) "I don't care about these grades at all. You are working hard. You are improving. You are going to be a very good reader one of these days soon." We always want to encourage hard work and effort over high achievement. It should be what we value in ourselves as well. And isn't it nice that hard work and organized effort often leads to achievement?
Good luck to you and your child. Do not put off learning to read even one more day!
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
My Child Can't Read!
Every child can learn to read. I mean, EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN TO READ. How is that accomplished? In different ways but basically in a one-on-one setting with one teacher and one child sitting next to each other or looking at each other across a table. That means your child will not improve noticeably in a classroom.
If you are interested in helping your child yourself, jump right in! These are the guidelines:
1) The time and experience must be pleasant, even fun.
2) You must find books that your child can read either from your child's teacher, the library, or a store. Too easy is better than too hard. Your child will read these books to you.
3) Your job is to listen carefully, to tell your child a word he or she doesn't know (do NOT insist on sounding it out), and to enjoy each book. Laugh at the funny parts, question what might happen in the suspenseful parts, be appalled with your child when a character does something outrageous. Your goal is to get your child involved in the story much like children become absorbed in television shows or movies.
4) Keep a list of the words your child can not read or does not understand the meaning of in the story. Go back to these words several times in the next days, asking for meaning or simply for memorization of the word. You do not care about spelling at this point. It is all about reading.
5) Enjoy this time together. Your child will, for the most part, enjoy it in relation to how much you enjoy it. Don't expect your child to love it at first. Just work towards that goal. Make sure YOU have fun with reading together.
6) Be patient and positive. Learning to read takes time.
Jodi Heaton Hurst
If you are interested in helping your child yourself, jump right in! These are the guidelines:
1) The time and experience must be pleasant, even fun.
2) You must find books that your child can read either from your child's teacher, the library, or a store. Too easy is better than too hard. Your child will read these books to you.
3) Your job is to listen carefully, to tell your child a word he or she doesn't know (do NOT insist on sounding it out), and to enjoy each book. Laugh at the funny parts, question what might happen in the suspenseful parts, be appalled with your child when a character does something outrageous. Your goal is to get your child involved in the story much like children become absorbed in television shows or movies.
4) Keep a list of the words your child can not read or does not understand the meaning of in the story. Go back to these words several times in the next days, asking for meaning or simply for memorization of the word. You do not care about spelling at this point. It is all about reading.
5) Enjoy this time together. Your child will, for the most part, enjoy it in relation to how much you enjoy it. Don't expect your child to love it at first. Just work towards that goal. Make sure YOU have fun with reading together.
6) Be patient and positive. Learning to read takes time.
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Sunday, October 26, 2008
What About a Struggling Student?
If you have a second grader, a fourth grader, or maybe a 6th grader who is not a good reader, NOW is the time for action. Learning to read well is a MUST for every child.
A reading problem will affect many aspects of your child's life. First, a poor reader will not do well in school, and what could be worse? Your child is required to spend hours at school every day for all of childhood. A poor reader, a poor student, is a second class citizen nearly every time. The teacher doesn't want it that way. The school does not want that to happen. Certainly the parents do not want it. But it happens nevertheless. The only remedy is to help your child read well.
A child who does not read well will most often have a low self image that will carry over into the home and the neighborhood. This low self image often carries on long into adulthood. The remedy is, of course, being able to read well.
Your child can read. And your child can read well. It's not all that hard! More on this topic in the next post. Meanwhile, how is your child reading? Let me know. Click on "comments" right below this line to send your reply. I want to hear from you.
Jodi Heaton Hurst
A reading problem will affect many aspects of your child's life. First, a poor reader will not do well in school, and what could be worse? Your child is required to spend hours at school every day for all of childhood. A poor reader, a poor student, is a second class citizen nearly every time. The teacher doesn't want it that way. The school does not want that to happen. Certainly the parents do not want it. But it happens nevertheless. The only remedy is to help your child read well.
A child who does not read well will most often have a low self image that will carry over into the home and the neighborhood. This low self image often carries on long into adulthood. The remedy is, of course, being able to read well.
Your child can read. And your child can read well. It's not all that hard! More on this topic in the next post. Meanwhile, how is your child reading? Let me know. Click on "comments" right below this line to send your reply. I want to hear from you.
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Reading Games
Favorite childhood memories are the games I played. Let's see: tic tac toe, my ship sails, freeze tag, red rover, sticks and stones, jacks, dominos and marbles. What games do you remember?
I don't recall reading games, however, unless I count the ABC game while traveling. Reading games for little ones can be so, SO much fun for them. After all, their favorite people, their parents, are playing with them!
But when you think of reading games, think basic. Very, very basic. I'm not talking Monopoly; slap jack is more like it.
Here's a reading game for you called Slap That! Start with your child's name on a paper or card. "This is your name, 'Kaitlyn.' Can you slap your name before I slap it?" After several slaps with you and your child taking turns winning the slap, add your name, "Mom." Lay both names up on the table in front of you and let your child slap the name that you say. For a change, let your child say the name and you slap it. Yes, this is a very simple game. But it is a perfect game for any beginning reader. Laugh together and enjoy it!
Now move on to Slap That!, level 2. Add three more word cards. They can be the names of siblings, Dad, or Grandma. They could even be the words, "cat" or "dog." All the words together make a small deck of five word cards. Turn one over at a time. Your child can only slap his or her own name . Then play again slapping only the word, "Mom," or another word. This game can be repeated often. Give your child the cards to play with alone, and you will hear lots of slapping going on!
When a child knows a word we say he or she "owns" that word. Your child now owns words. What wealth!
Jodi Heaton Hurst
I don't recall reading games, however, unless I count the ABC game while traveling. Reading games for little ones can be so, SO much fun for them. After all, their favorite people, their parents, are playing with them!
But when you think of reading games, think basic. Very, very basic. I'm not talking Monopoly; slap jack is more like it.
Here's a reading game for you called Slap That! Start with your child's name on a paper or card. "This is your name, 'Kaitlyn.' Can you slap your name before I slap it?" After several slaps with you and your child taking turns winning the slap, add your name, "Mom." Lay both names up on the table in front of you and let your child slap the name that you say. For a change, let your child say the name and you slap it. Yes, this is a very simple game. But it is a perfect game for any beginning reader. Laugh together and enjoy it!
Now move on to Slap That!, level 2. Add three more word cards. They can be the names of siblings, Dad, or Grandma. They could even be the words, "cat" or "dog." All the words together make a small deck of five word cards. Turn one over at a time. Your child can only slap his or her own name . Then play again slapping only the word, "Mom," or another word. This game can be repeated often. Give your child the cards to play with alone, and you will hear lots of slapping going on!
When a child knows a word we say he or she "owns" that word. Your child now owns words. What wealth!
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Read to Me!
You've heard it over and over. Read to children and with children often. Two times a day would be great. Two times a week is also good. Keep your reading time fun. If everyone in the family is too tired or too grouchy, don't waste your time reading. Lay down on the floor and giggle together instead.
Always keep your ultimate goal clear in your own mind. Your aim should be to develop a happy and thinking child. You know, children are learning machines. They are happiest when their minds and bodies are engaged.
Here's a rhyming game to play while you are cooking, driving, or giving a bath.
Adult: Fat cat has a _________
Child: BAT! (or rat or hat or a made up "at" word.....klat)
Adult: Dog in the fog likes to _______
Child: SIT ON A LOG!
Adult: The main train is driven by ________
Child: JANE!
Adult: Mad Dad hates to be _________
Child: SAD!
If your child gets close but does not make a rhyme, "Ed and Fred ......... ARE MEN!" you say, "Almost. How about Ed and Fred eat bread?" Rhyming together is fun. Just as important, it is a crucial pre-reading skill.
I've posted a brief paragraph about myself. Click on ABOUT ME if you wish to view it.
Good rhyming!
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Always keep your ultimate goal clear in your own mind. Your aim should be to develop a happy and thinking child. You know, children are learning machines. They are happiest when their minds and bodies are engaged.
Here's a rhyming game to play while you are cooking, driving, or giving a bath.
Adult: Fat cat has a _________
Child: BAT! (or rat or hat or a made up "at" word.....klat)
Adult: Dog in the fog likes to _______
Child: SIT ON A LOG!
Adult: The main train is driven by ________
Child: JANE!
Adult: Mad Dad hates to be _________
Child: SAD!
If your child gets close but does not make a rhyme, "Ed and Fred ......... ARE MEN!" you say, "Almost. How about Ed and Fred eat bread?" Rhyming together is fun. Just as important, it is a crucial pre-reading skill.
I've posted a brief paragraph about myself. Click on ABOUT ME if you wish to view it.
Good rhyming!
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Early to Read! Why are some children early to read? Why should we want children to be early to read? What kind of a parent or a professional would promote such an idea? And last, shouldn't children just get to be children?
Let's take these in order. One of my four children taught herself to read at about 3 and one half. My other children became early readers because those three played reading games with me and listened to me read stories to them just like so many parents in the world do with their children. Why did my little reader have an easier time of it? We don't know. Words and sounds made sense to her. Her brain had the ability to put a little bit of knowledge together to create the whole of reading very quickly. Was she much smarter than my other children? No. She was just a natural learner when it came to reading. We don't know why some children learn to read on their own.
But I was pleased that my children learned to read early. Reading is such a pleasure. Additionally, reading ability almost promises school success. We all wish that success for our children. I wanted to guarantee reading success and thus, reading pleasure, for my children so I taught them to read making sure they loved both the process and the reading. I controlled their first steps into reading so I could make sure it was a wonderful experience for them.
Little did I know that what my instinct said was the right thing to do, I now know is not only good but very, very important. I believe every child should have the right to learn to read in a one-on-one class. That is, one adult and one child. Not 24 children or 15 children with one teacher, but one-on-one. It promises a step ahead in reading. In a classroom setting a handful of children will not learn to read and will be held back to repeat a grade, not because they are less intelligent or less mature, but because they needed the interaction of one-on-one learning.
I can hear some voices scattered around the universe moaning, "Can't we just let children be children?" Yes. That is one approach. But if you are a parent who reads to your child, who plays dolls or trucks or ball with your child, who swings and runs and gardens with your child, who pounds play dough or colors with your child, or who cooks and bakes with your child, you can also be a parent who teaches your child to read. Reading is playing after all. It is another way to spend fun time with your child. We just haven't thought of it that way before.
I am a parent. I am also a professional. I taught my own children to read. I've taught many, many other children to read. But more about me in my next blog.
If you just read this blog, please let me know who you are. Since I'm brand new, I'm anxious to see who will be my first responders. I would love to hear from you.
Jodi Heaton Hurst
Let's take these in order. One of my four children taught herself to read at about 3 and one half. My other children became early readers because those three played reading games with me and listened to me read stories to them just like so many parents in the world do with their children. Why did my little reader have an easier time of it? We don't know. Words and sounds made sense to her. Her brain had the ability to put a little bit of knowledge together to create the whole of reading very quickly. Was she much smarter than my other children? No. She was just a natural learner when it came to reading. We don't know why some children learn to read on their own.
But I was pleased that my children learned to read early. Reading is such a pleasure. Additionally, reading ability almost promises school success. We all wish that success for our children. I wanted to guarantee reading success and thus, reading pleasure, for my children so I taught them to read making sure they loved both the process and the reading. I controlled their first steps into reading so I could make sure it was a wonderful experience for them.
Little did I know that what my instinct said was the right thing to do, I now know is not only good but very, very important. I believe every child should have the right to learn to read in a one-on-one class. That is, one adult and one child. Not 24 children or 15 children with one teacher, but one-on-one. It promises a step ahead in reading. In a classroom setting a handful of children will not learn to read and will be held back to repeat a grade, not because they are less intelligent or less mature, but because they needed the interaction of one-on-one learning.
I can hear some voices scattered around the universe moaning, "Can't we just let children be children?" Yes. That is one approach. But if you are a parent who reads to your child, who plays dolls or trucks or ball with your child, who swings and runs and gardens with your child, who pounds play dough or colors with your child, or who cooks and bakes with your child, you can also be a parent who teaches your child to read. Reading is playing after all. It is another way to spend fun time with your child. We just haven't thought of it that way before.
I am a parent. I am also a professional. I taught my own children to read. I've taught many, many other children to read. But more about me in my next blog.
If you just read this blog, please let me know who you are. Since I'm brand new, I'm anxious to see who will be my first responders. I would love to hear from you.
Jodi Heaton Hurst
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