The months of November and December yield countless times to dust off your history books and delve into some more truth-grounded material. Not sound fun for you? That's okay. Most people share your attitude.
Luckily for us who have a hard time teaching historical fiction, Scholastic has put together a great list full of reasons that motivate us to get on our game and teach it anyway. The article, titled "Why and How I Teach Historical Fiction", is great!
Want more help? Scholastic has you covered on that one, too. They have a whole page of articles, games, and resources for teachers wanting to work on their historical fiction skills. Visit Historical Fiction Genre Study to see them all.
Feel like testing the waters on your own? My advice to you is to make it fun! No student can resist learning about the Mayflower Compact by drawing up a "compact" of their own, and who wouldn't want to learn about Veteran's Day by talking to local veterans? By tying activities into your reading, you're making it a great learning experience for your kids. It alway helps to pick a great book, too!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Flocabulary: A Great Tool for Tutors
I was searching for a good vocabulary list recently, when I stumbled across Flocabulary. This is such a cool concept. The method uses hip hop to teach vocabulary lessons, which surprised me when it actually worked!
This site is definitely worth checking out. If you don't feel like paying for it, you can always get a free subscription or just use their vocabulary lists for lessons. I've found that the list is very complete and perfect for those learners who want to polish up their vocab!
Either way, this site is definitely worth checking out!
This site is definitely worth checking out. If you don't feel like paying for it, you can always get a free subscription or just use their vocabulary lists for lessons. I've found that the list is very complete and perfect for those learners who want to polish up their vocab!
Either way, this site is definitely worth checking out!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Journaling: A Great Tutoring Tool
I always tell tutors to write duing their lessons. It's perfect reinforcing vocabulary, teaching new concepts, setting up for your next lesson, and so much more! But they always ask me how to go about it. My answer: Journaling! Here are a few tips to getting your journaling underway:
1. Go to Walmart just before school and stock up on a few composition notebooks. Composition notebooks are the BEST choice for journaling. Loose-leaf papers gets lost and torn, and it's too much worry to let your learner bring their own.
2. Plan it out. It's sometimes a good idea to wing it, but journaling takes structure, especially if your learner isn't used to writing. You can make your prompt about what you're learning, something they like, or something you'd like to know about them. Anything works as long as they're writing!
3. Take a good look at what they've written. You can find tons of material for lessons in this. What do you notice? Look for: fragmented sentences, misplaced puncuation, misspelled words, and poor vocabulary. You can use journals to teach these concepts, then use it to reinforce them.
4. Build. At this point, you should be able to make all kinds of lessons from the journal. You can do free-writing, more complex prompts, and much more!
At first, working with a journal seems like a big task, but once you see how much you can do with it you'll realize its worth. If you get stuck, go online for journal prompts. One book that I love is Unjournaling (check it out!).
1. Go to Walmart just before school and stock up on a few composition notebooks. Composition notebooks are the BEST choice for journaling. Loose-leaf papers gets lost and torn, and it's too much worry to let your learner bring their own.
2. Plan it out. It's sometimes a good idea to wing it, but journaling takes structure, especially if your learner isn't used to writing. You can make your prompt about what you're learning, something they like, or something you'd like to know about them. Anything works as long as they're writing!3. Take a good look at what they've written. You can find tons of material for lessons in this. What do you notice? Look for: fragmented sentences, misplaced puncuation, misspelled words, and poor vocabulary. You can use journals to teach these concepts, then use it to reinforce them.
4. Build. At this point, you should be able to make all kinds of lessons from the journal. You can do free-writing, more complex prompts, and much more!
At first, working with a journal seems like a big task, but once you see how much you can do with it you'll realize its worth. If you get stuck, go online for journal prompts. One book that I love is Unjournaling (check it out!).
Friday, June 3, 2011
Keep Track of What You Read
When I was in high school, a favorite teacher told me about a website where you could create your own "bookself" of all the books you have read. Of course, I immediatly created one, and I've been using the site ever since.
Shelfari lets you create your own shelf and then update books as you read. I think this would be a great way to incorporate technology into your tutoring sessions. I'm always telling tutors to keep track of the books read in their sessions, but this would be a way to allow your learner to update every book!
So here's my idea: introduce Shelfari to your learner as a fun way to keep track of what they're reading. Make your own page as an example. Encourage your learner to read at home and then share their page at every session. Once a certain number of books have been read, offer prizes.
There are far simpler ways to do this, like book charts and stickers. However, if you have a learner who is interested in technology, you can't go wrong asking them to create their own page online.
Shelfari lets you create your own shelf and then update books as you read. I think this would be a great way to incorporate technology into your tutoring sessions. I'm always telling tutors to keep track of the books read in their sessions, but this would be a way to allow your learner to update every book!
So here's my idea: introduce Shelfari to your learner as a fun way to keep track of what they're reading. Make your own page as an example. Encourage your learner to read at home and then share their page at every session. Once a certain number of books have been read, offer prizes.
There are far simpler ways to do this, like book charts and stickers. However, if you have a learner who is interested in technology, you can't go wrong asking them to create their own page online.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Flowers Activity: More on Nouns and Verbs
I was getting ready for my lesson today and hit a wall. I just couldn't figure out a fun activity to review nouns and verbs. Every single site I went to offered a worksheet, and I really didn't want to do a worksheet to review.
So I decided that, since flowers are starting to bloom, we would do a noun and verb activity with flowers. Here's what I did:
1) I cut out two yellow circles about the size of the bottom of a cup. On these, I wrote "noun" and "verb". These are the centers of my flowers.
2) I cut petals out of pink and orange paper. I didn't do any particular size on these, just what looks good. However, I did cut them all the same size. You will need eight pink and eight orange for each flower.
3) On each of the petals, I wrote a noun or a verb. Remember, each flower should have eight petals.
4) Using a medium-sized white board (you can use whatever you have around, walls would work fine!), I taped the flower centers to the board. On one side of the board, I mixed the petals up and taped them in no particular order.
5) I introduced the activity and gave my learner five minutes to complete it independently. When she asked, I helped her with more difficult words.
I used this as a review, but it could easily be used during the initial lesson. If you're teaching a boy who isn't interested in flowers, you could change the theme. For example, a noun and a verb cloud with nouns and verbs written on raindrops. You can also change it to fit whatever topic you're teaching.
I think this activity worked well becuase it not only showed me what we needed to continue working on, but it also worked as an assessment without any anxiety. I would definitely recommend trying it!
So I decided that, since flowers are starting to bloom, we would do a noun and verb activity with flowers. Here's what I did:
1) I cut out two yellow circles about the size of the bottom of a cup. On these, I wrote "noun" and "verb". These are the centers of my flowers.
2) I cut petals out of pink and orange paper. I didn't do any particular size on these, just what looks good. However, I did cut them all the same size. You will need eight pink and eight orange for each flower.
3) On each of the petals, I wrote a noun or a verb. Remember, each flower should have eight petals.
4) Using a medium-sized white board (you can use whatever you have around, walls would work fine!), I taped the flower centers to the board. On one side of the board, I mixed the petals up and taped them in no particular order.
5) I introduced the activity and gave my learner five minutes to complete it independently. When she asked, I helped her with more difficult words.
I used this as a review, but it could easily be used during the initial lesson. If you're teaching a boy who isn't interested in flowers, you could change the theme. For example, a noun and a verb cloud with nouns and verbs written on raindrops. You can also change it to fit whatever topic you're teaching.
I think this activity worked well becuase it not only showed me what we needed to continue working on, but it also worked as an assessment without any anxiety. I would definitely recommend trying it!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
A Fun Way to Teach Parts of Speech
Just a few weeks ago I started teaching parts of speech to my learner. At first, it was extremely difficult because I wasn't sure how to get her to connect what I was teaching to the words she reads, but then I remembered this goofy looking set of books we had in our tutoring center. They turned out to be a fantastic resource.The Words are CATegorical book set by Brian P. Cleary is a great way to teach parts of speech becuase they use rhymes and silly illustrations to rienforce their concepts. The books are fun to read and easy to pay attention to, so your learner will have no problem listening. You can purchase the books online at Really Good Stuff.
For more great ways to teach parts of speech, check out websites like Teachnology and ABC Teach. You can also use online games like this snake-themed game on 4Kids. If you want to keep it simple, games like Simon Says seem to do the trick. Remember, keeping your lessons fun will make learning more enjoyable!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Recently, I was able to hear Erin Gruwell speak about her students and her teaching methods. This was a fantastic experience and I got some great ideas for tutoring!
One of the most important things Erin talks about is meeting your students on their level. For example, if I'm tutoring someone who knows a lot about music, I can incorporate music into the lesson to help them learn.
Here is a activity idea from Erin's teacher's guide for accomplishing this:
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| Meeting Erin! |
Here is a activity idea from Erin's teacher's guide for accomplishing this:
- Have your learner make a "coat of arms". Their sheild should include four spaces. These will include Favorite Things, Goals, Someone You Admire, and What Makes You Unique. In the center, have them put a picture of themselves, and at the bottom, have them write their "motto".
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
You Are What You Read
As I was searching around the internet today, I found a site I thought would be great for literacy tutors. Scholastic often has lesson plans, activities and resources that I enjoy, but I really love their new site You Are What You Read.
You Are What You Read would be a wonderful exercise to do with your learner. Basically, you find gently used books that you would like to donate. Then, you print the nameplate and fill it out. Once you have it inside the book, donate the book to your local library or to a charity, or give it to a friend or family member.
Not only would this allow your learner to feel like a part of a community of readers, but it can also allow them to give back to their communities. By giving your learner a way to give back, it can make them feel more apt to participate in you lessons and in their own learning experience.
You Are What You Read would be a wonderful exercise to do with your learner. Basically, you find gently used books that you would like to donate. Then, you print the nameplate and fill it out. Once you have it inside the book, donate the book to your local library or to a charity, or give it to a friend or family member.
Not only would this allow your learner to feel like a part of a community of readers, but it can also allow them to give back to their communities. By giving your learner a way to give back, it can make them feel more apt to participate in you lessons and in their own learning experience.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
President's Day Activities
A fun way to make tutoring more meaningful is to connect it your lessons to events and holidays. Since President's Day is coming up soon, incorporating activities that review history can make your activities more fun.
There are so many writing activities that can be done for President's Day. I found a great template for writing a letter to President Obama and a presidents acrostic poem template on ABC Teach. There are other ways you can use President's day to write. For example, discuss an event in history that involves a president. Have your learner write a story about that event or tell the story from their point of view. You could also have them write what they would do if they were president for a day.
I was also able to find some adorable crafts. For instance, this Abraham Lincoln finger puppet was so easy to make! You can also make one that looks like George Washington. Read a story about these presidents while your learner makes their puppets!
You can also use this theme for reading comprehension activities. For example, ABC Teach has some fantastic president biographies that include review questions. You can read these to your learner or have your learner read them silently and answer the questions. Another reading comprehension activity could be to read the Gettysburg Address or "Oh Captain, My Captain!" by Walt Whitman and making questions of your own for your learners to answer or having them write about what they have read.
There are wonderful resources online for tutors who want to add some fun into their lessons. Just take some time to poke around and you can use every day as a learning experience.
There are so many writing activities that can be done for President's Day. I found a great template for writing a letter to President Obama and a presidents acrostic poem template on ABC Teach. There are other ways you can use President's day to write. For example, discuss an event in history that involves a president. Have your learner write a story about that event or tell the story from their point of view. You could also have them write what they would do if they were president for a day.
I was also able to find some adorable crafts. For instance, this Abraham Lincoln finger puppet was so easy to make! You can also make one that looks like George Washington. Read a story about these presidents while your learner makes their puppets!
You can also use this theme for reading comprehension activities. For example, ABC Teach has some fantastic president biographies that include review questions. You can read these to your learner or have your learner read them silently and answer the questions. Another reading comprehension activity could be to read the Gettysburg Address or "Oh Captain, My Captain!" by Walt Whitman and making questions of your own for your learners to answer or having them write about what they have read.
There are wonderful resources online for tutors who want to add some fun into their lessons. Just take some time to poke around and you can use every day as a learning experience.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
How to Help When Learning New Words
In my time as a literacy tutor, I have had some issues with finding effective tools for helping learners when they encounter an unknown word in their reading. However, I have recently found some great resources for just this type of problem. I hope you can use them to help your learner catch on to new words more easily!
First, discuss with your learner the idea of context clues. What clues are in the sentence around the word? Is there any explanation in the passage? This can help your learner understand that sometimes help can be found by simply looking more closely at the text.
For further help, use some creative tools. I like to have my learners draw a representation of the new word. For a younger learner, this would mean writing the word, drawing a picture of the word, and using the word in a sentence. I have them use a piece of construction paper for this so they can give it to their parents at the end of the lesson. For older learners, have them draw a map of the word. In the center of the page, write the word and draw a circle around it. Then, draw arrows from the circle leading to a drawing of the word, a synonym, an antonym, a sentence, a rhyming word, the definition, an example, and the word split into syllables. Though it may seem like a lot, they'll be very proud that they were able to find so much information about one word.
Another activity to try is a word bank. Have either a box or an envelope that your learner can freely put their new words into. Any time they encounter a new word, they will write the word and its meaning on a slip of paper and put it in their "bank". Once you have finished the book or passage, you will compile the list to give your learner and use the words as a review. You can do this in a game or a quiz. Be creative!
Any time you feel that your learner may be struggling with the meaning of a certain word, do not hesitate to use some of these tools or a tool of your own to intervene. Comprehending unfamiliar vocabulary is necessary to reading comprehension. Helping your learner develop reading skills is one of the best things you can do!
First, discuss with your learner the idea of context clues. What clues are in the sentence around the word? Is there any explanation in the passage? This can help your learner understand that sometimes help can be found by simply looking more closely at the text.
For further help, use some creative tools. I like to have my learners draw a representation of the new word. For a younger learner, this would mean writing the word, drawing a picture of the word, and using the word in a sentence. I have them use a piece of construction paper for this so they can give it to their parents at the end of the lesson. For older learners, have them draw a map of the word. In the center of the page, write the word and draw a circle around it. Then, draw arrows from the circle leading to a drawing of the word, a synonym, an antonym, a sentence, a rhyming word, the definition, an example, and the word split into syllables. Though it may seem like a lot, they'll be very proud that they were able to find so much information about one word.
Another activity to try is a word bank. Have either a box or an envelope that your learner can freely put their new words into. Any time they encounter a new word, they will write the word and its meaning on a slip of paper and put it in their "bank". Once you have finished the book or passage, you will compile the list to give your learner and use the words as a review. You can do this in a game or a quiz. Be creative!
Any time you feel that your learner may be struggling with the meaning of a certain word, do not hesitate to use some of these tools or a tool of your own to intervene. Comprehending unfamiliar vocabulary is necessary to reading comprehension. Helping your learner develop reading skills is one of the best things you can do!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Great Websites for Printables
I love to use printable worksheets in my lesson. From writing prompts to graphic organizers, they always seem to add a little extra organization to my lesson. I have a few websites that I always visit when I'm looking for printable resources. I'll share them with you here!
On of my favorite websites is Super Teacher Worksheets. If you're looking for writing prompts, reading reviews, book logs, or graphic organizers, visit this site first. Also, they have a great selection of Dolch tools. I especially like their sight word wheel. I printed off several to use here at the tutoring center!
Other sites for a variety of worksheets are TLS Books, The Teacher's Corner, and Ed Helper. Try adding some worksheets to reinforce what you learn, but make sure not to make that your whole lesson!
On of my favorite websites is Super Teacher Worksheets. If you're looking for writing prompts, reading reviews, book logs, or graphic organizers, visit this site first. Also, they have a great selection of Dolch tools. I especially like their sight word wheel. I printed off several to use here at the tutoring center!
Other sites for a variety of worksheets are TLS Books, The Teacher's Corner, and Ed Helper. Try adding some worksheets to reinforce what you learn, but make sure not to make that your whole lesson!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Black History Month: Recognizing History With Reading
One of my favorite things to do as a literacy tutor is to incorporate holidays, history, and current events into my lesson plans. Since this month is Black History Month, I'll give you a few options for using this to create lessons that teach reading and so much more.
As a member of the National Council for Teachers of English, I strongly recommend using their "Read In" strategy. Though this can be an elaborate activity, you can explain to your learner that it is as simple as reading books together written by African American authors. Discuss with your learner why it may be important to ensure that reading is a part of Black History Month. Ask questions like: Why should we read books about what happened in the past? Why is this important now? Use this strategy to help your learner understand the role of literacy and why it is important.
For writing, have your learner read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Letter from Birmingham's Jail. Have your learners write their own letters. You can have them write another letter as Dr. King, or you can allow them to imagine themselves in the time period. For another activity, write poetry. There are so many amazing African American poets to use as models that this activity can be a way to reinforce what you've learned while learning more about literature. Remember, it's important to create something in every lesson.
There are some great books you can read for this theme. I love Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman for younger learners and The Watsons Go to Birmingham for learners grades 5 and up. For older learners, you can use poetry by popular writers like Maya Angelou and Gwendolyn Brooks. Just make sure it's age-appropriate! You can look for books about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and many other influential African Americans. Also, go for topics like the Civil Rights Movement, The Underground Railroad and other topics like this. Anything you can tie to history or current events will go a long way in making your lesson useful and relevant.
If you're feeling adventurous, there are some fantastic online resources. The National Geographic Channel offers an online game that allows students to experience some of the Underground Railroad online. Students travel through the interactive website to learn more about history while "playing a game". I really like that site! If you're looking for lesson plans, the Library of Congress online has great resources. My favorite is this lesson about the roles of children in the Civil Rights Movement. For more options, just look around. A quick Google search gives so many options, you'll be learning about Black History all month long!
As a member of the National Council for Teachers of English, I strongly recommend using their "Read In" strategy. Though this can be an elaborate activity, you can explain to your learner that it is as simple as reading books together written by African American authors. Discuss with your learner why it may be important to ensure that reading is a part of Black History Month. Ask questions like: Why should we read books about what happened in the past? Why is this important now? Use this strategy to help your learner understand the role of literacy and why it is important.
For writing, have your learner read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Letter from Birmingham's Jail. Have your learners write their own letters. You can have them write another letter as Dr. King, or you can allow them to imagine themselves in the time period. For another activity, write poetry. There are so many amazing African American poets to use as models that this activity can be a way to reinforce what you've learned while learning more about literature. Remember, it's important to create something in every lesson.
If you're feeling adventurous, there are some fantastic online resources. The National Geographic Channel offers an online game that allows students to experience some of the Underground Railroad online. Students travel through the interactive website to learn more about history while "playing a game". I really like that site! If you're looking for lesson plans, the Library of Congress online has great resources. My favorite is this lesson about the roles of children in the Civil Rights Movement. For more options, just look around. A quick Google search gives so many options, you'll be learning about Black History all month long!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Using Themed Lessons
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| Image: http://www.thesummaries.com |
The first activity I found for this book is one that I think is fantastic! In this activity, have your learner design their own chocolate bar. They will decide how it will taste, what the wrapper will look like, and how to design it (you can even have them draw their own wrapper and put it on a candy bar!). Once your learner has the candy bar designed, write a letter to Willy Wonka requesting that he sell the candy bar.
Another fun activity is WONKA, a version of BINGO. You can do this several ways. I prefer to keep track of words your learner found difficult to read. Once you have enough to make a bingo card, use those words for the game. You can simply call out the word or use the definition to make it more difficult. I think this would be even more fun if you used some sort of Valentine's candy to mark the spaces!
A few more to keep your lessons going: Have your learner design a new room for the chocolate factory. Let them draw it and write their own description of the room as well. Ask your learner to draw a picture of Charlie's house based on the description in the book. Do this on a piece of plain paper folded in half. On the inside of the paper, draw Charlie's family based on the description in the book. Have your learner write a list of attributes for every family member or character in the novel.
Any novel can be used for themed lessons, but I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because it offers so many fun activities. The possibilities are truly endless with this classic children's novel.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Using Multi-sensory Techniques to Teach Sounds
A fantastic way to help your learner retain information is by using more than one sense to teach it. For example, if you're teaching letter sounds have your learner trace the letter with their finger while they say the sound. For some really fun ways to do this, keep reading!
There are quite a few very easy ways to incorporate these methods into your lesson plans. You can have your learner trace the letter you're teaching in sand, shaving cream, or carpet. You can also use plastic baggies filled with hair gel. This sounds silly, but it really works.
Another way to use this idea is by having your learner move while learning. For example, while teaching the letter h, I had my learner hula-hoop. Not only did she remember the letter, but it took significantly less time for her to retain what she learned. Giving learners a reason to move can give them something to connect with the letter and the sound.
If you're looking for more information about multi-sensory techniques, sites like Suite 101 give ideas that you can apply to every letter in the Alphabet! Using tools like these will not only help your learner retain information, but it can also help to make your tutoring sessions more fun and memorable.
There are quite a few very easy ways to incorporate these methods into your lesson plans. You can have your learner trace the letter you're teaching in sand, shaving cream, or carpet. You can also use plastic baggies filled with hair gel. This sounds silly, but it really works.
Another way to use this idea is by having your learner move while learning. For example, while teaching the letter h, I had my learner hula-hoop. Not only did she remember the letter, but it took significantly less time for her to retain what she learned. Giving learners a reason to move can give them something to connect with the letter and the sound.
If you're looking for more information about multi-sensory techniques, sites like Suite 101 give ideas that you can apply to every letter in the Alphabet! Using tools like these will not only help your learner retain information, but it can also help to make your tutoring sessions more fun and memorable.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Teaching Dolch Sight Words
There are many words that our mind registers automatically when we read them. For learners, reading may be more difficult because they are not familiar with theses sight words. In order to make reading easier, we can do activities with these words, called Dolch sight words, to help them read more fluently.
First, print out a list of sight words. You can use these to make flash cards, bingo and other games, and to select books for your lesson. Next, slowly review the words with your learner to see where they need help. You can do this like a flash-card-drill, or be creative and review in other ways. This will help you to learn exactly which words to focus on in your lessons.
Now comes the fun part. Use games, activities, review, and reading to help your learner identify their sight words. I found a great website with sight word lesson plans, another with games, and another where you can create your own Dolch worksheet! Just remember, for these kinds of activities, you need to be sure to include variety so your learner doesn't get tired of sight words. It's easy to get bored with flashcards!
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| Image: http://www.uniqueteachingresources. | com |
Now comes the fun part. Use games, activities, review, and reading to help your learner identify their sight words. I found a great website with sight word lesson plans, another with games, and another where you can create your own Dolch worksheet! Just remember, for these kinds of activities, you need to be sure to include variety so your learner doesn't get tired of sight words. It's easy to get bored with flashcards!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Interactive Tools for Choosing Books
I always had a hard time choosing books for my learners. It's not that I didn't try to find out what they liked, but that I did not include them in the process of choosing. This mistake is made often by new tutors, but with help from a few simple tools choosing a book can be easy and fun. (You can also use one from the pictures I selected! These books are a few of my favorites!)
If you've used one of the reading surveys I listed in my first post, then you probably already have an idea of what kind of books your learner likes. If not, using the survey may help! Once you've done a survey together, take your learner to the library or to a bookshelf. Let them choose what they might like to read.
For finding books online, try The Bookhive. The site, made for a library, features books daily and has activities for choosing novels. Let your learner try the website on their own and write down a few books of interest. They can even make their own book list online!
Another site I like for finding books (which I've mentioned before) is Read Kiddo Read. Visit this site with your learner for connections to author's sites, lists of books by interests, games and other resources. With so much useful information, this site is definitely worth visiting.
If you still feel like you're going nowhere, find out what your learner likes to watch on television. This not only gives you information about what kind of books they might like, but it will also help you get to know your learner better. Let your learner know that there are many novels similar to the shows they enjoy. Show your learner a few examples. They'll be glad you spent so much time helping them to choose a book they will enjoy.
If you've used one of the reading surveys I listed in my first post, then you probably already have an idea of what kind of books your learner likes. If not, using the survey may help! Once you've done a survey together, take your learner to the library or to a bookshelf. Let them choose what they might like to read.For finding books online, try The Bookhive. The site, made for a library, features books daily and has activities for choosing novels. Let your learner try the website on their own and write down a few books of interest. They can even make their own book list online!
Another site I like for finding books (which I've mentioned before) is Read Kiddo Read. Visit this site with your learner for connections to author's sites, lists of books by interests, games and other resources. With so much useful information, this site is definitely worth visiting.If you still feel like you're going nowhere, find out what your learner likes to watch on television. This not only gives you information about what kind of books they might like, but it will also help you get to know your learner better. Let your learner know that there are many novels similar to the shows they enjoy. Show your learner a few examples. They'll be glad you spent so much time helping them to choose a book they will enjoy.Sunday, January 23, 2011
Alternatives to "Sounding it Out"
Many first-time and even experienced tutors make the mistake of telling their learners to "sound it out" when they reach a word with which they are not familiar. However, there are many more effective ways to help learners when they reach a word they do not know.
I especially liked the methods presented by Literacy Connections. Their article suggests that tutors let learners know that they can find "chunks" in each word that they know and then work from there. Another method they offered was to use context clues to figure out what word might be there. Using these tips can help take some of the pressure off your learner and can make your tutoring much more effective.
With my learners, I use several strategies. For younger learners, it helps to separate the word into individual letters. This works well for younger learners, because the words are generally three letters. When I have an older learner, I use tiles to write out each syllable. For this, use several small tiles and instruct your learner to write each vowel on its own tile. Then, help to fill in the consonants and sound out each syllable like it is a three-letter-word.
Try some of these strategies the next time you're tempted to ask your learner to "sound it out" and you may find that your learner is more comfortable reading. As any tutor knows, that's all that matters.
I especially liked the methods presented by Literacy Connections. Their article suggests that tutors let learners know that they can find "chunks" in each word that they know and then work from there. Another method they offered was to use context clues to figure out what word might be there. Using these tips can help take some of the pressure off your learner and can make your tutoring much more effective.
With my learners, I use several strategies. For younger learners, it helps to separate the word into individual letters. This works well for younger learners, because the words are generally three letters. When I have an older learner, I use tiles to write out each syllable. For this, use several small tiles and instruct your learner to write each vowel on its own tile. Then, help to fill in the consonants and sound out each syllable like it is a three-letter-word.
Try some of these strategies the next time you're tempted to ask your learner to "sound it out" and you may find that your learner is more comfortable reading. As any tutor knows, that's all that matters.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Valentine's Day Activites
I thought that at the end of the week, a little inspiration was in order. When I found this, I knew it would do the job:
"Every person who knows how to read has in it their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make life full, significant, and interesting." Aldous Huxley
Since Valentine's day is right around the corner, I thought tutors might like to modify their lessons with a few Valentine's themed activities! Here are some of my recommendations:
Some of the best tools for making a holiday-themed lesson can be found online. One of my favorites is DLTK. On this site, you can customize your own writing paper for your learner. I used the paper I made to write letters to family. This is a great and practical way to incorporate writing into your lesson!
A website where I found adorable Valentine's crafts is Kaboose. Their list of favorite Valentine crafts has some of the most adorable crafts I have ever seen. Like this "Love Bug" (you can find instructions for how to make it on the site!). For more crafts, visit Activity Village or Family Fun. Activity Village has an enormous list of craft like bookmarks, magnets, and mobiles. Family Fun has a list of crafts too, but I prefer their printable card templates! Look on these sites and you're sure to find something fun to do!
If you're looking for a game to play, try making your own Valentine's Day Bingo (Call it Heart!). You can mark the card with candy hearts and have a prize once your learner finds five-in-a-row. I've done this before and it can be really fun! Here are a few games with links to their instructions: Heart Hunt, Word Finder, and Valentine's Day Pictionary.
No matter what games, crafts or activities you decide to incorporate into your lesson plan, you can be sure that your learner will love every minute!
"Every person who knows how to read has in it their power to magnify themselves, to multiply the ways in which they exist, to make life full, significant, and interesting." Aldous Huxley
Since Valentine's day is right around the corner, I thought tutors might like to modify their lessons with a few Valentine's themed activities! Here are some of my recommendations:
Some of the best tools for making a holiday-themed lesson can be found online. One of my favorites is DLTK. On this site, you can customize your own writing paper for your learner. I used the paper I made to write letters to family. This is a great and practical way to incorporate writing into your lesson!
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| Image: kaboose.com |
If you're looking for a game to play, try making your own Valentine's Day Bingo (Call it Heart!). You can mark the card with candy hearts and have a prize once your learner finds five-in-a-row. I've done this before and it can be really fun! Here are a few games with links to their instructions: Heart Hunt, Word Finder, and Valentine's Day Pictionary.
No matter what games, crafts or activities you decide to incorporate into your lesson plan, you can be sure that your learner will love every minute!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Finding Books Online
I've found some very interesting websites that list books along with lesson ideas, activities, online games, and information from the authors. I think that using this with a learner would be wonderful! Not only would you be broadening your horizons, but you would be displaying technology skills for your learner as well.
I am a huge fan of James Patterson. So when I heard that he had a website all about children's literature, I was very excited to check it out. Needless to say, this is a resource that you can easily use to help plan lessons or with your learner to decide what to read. Read Kiddo Read lists books by topic, author, and grade level. This makes it perfect for using with your learner. Not only odes it list the books, but it also gives lesson ideas to go along with them. Exploring this site would be a great idea for any tutor.
Another tip for finding books online: look up a favorite author's homepage. Not only do these have information about the author that your learner may find interesting, but you can also find specialized lesson ideas, games based on the books you may be covering, and suggestions for other novels you may enjoy. A few author sites I found particularly interesting are the sites by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume, but almost every author has a webpage. Look online to find the author's whose books you enjoyed as a child. This will help you bond with your learner and give you some great resources for tutoring.
No matter where you go online, you're bound to find some great resources if you're looking for them. For finding books, I recommend using sites like the ones I have listed or going onto the home page for a well known company, like Scholastic. Either way, you'll find something you can use to make your tutoring more fun and more effective.
I am a huge fan of James Patterson. So when I heard that he had a website all about children's literature, I was very excited to check it out. Needless to say, this is a resource that you can easily use to help plan lessons or with your learner to decide what to read. Read Kiddo Read lists books by topic, author, and grade level. This makes it perfect for using with your learner. Not only odes it list the books, but it also gives lesson ideas to go along with them. Exploring this site would be a great idea for any tutor.
Another tip for finding books online: look up a favorite author's homepage. Not only do these have information about the author that your learner may find interesting, but you can also find specialized lesson ideas, games based on the books you may be covering, and suggestions for other novels you may enjoy. A few author sites I found particularly interesting are the sites by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume, but almost every author has a webpage. Look online to find the author's whose books you enjoyed as a child. This will help you bond with your learner and give you some great resources for tutoring.
No matter where you go online, you're bound to find some great resources if you're looking for them. For finding books, I recommend using sites like the ones I have listed or going onto the home page for a well known company, like Scholastic. Either way, you'll find something you can use to make your tutoring more fun and more effective.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Great New Way to Connect
I was in the tutoring center today when I stumbled across Scholastic's website. Scholastic is conducting a global literacy campaign and their materials look like a fantastic tool to use in a tutoring session. I really enjoyed their Bill of Rights, which focuses on the belief that all children have the right to read and understand. This would be a great list to look through with your learner. You could discuss and write about how they feel about it and what they can do to help make reading accessible to everyone.
Also on the website was a link to You Are What You Read. On this site, you can make a profile (your Bookprint) and share five books that have had an effect on your life. You could use this yourself as well as with your learner. Share your books with your learner and then help them post their books.
Overall, I really enjoyed searching through the Scholastic website. It has games, lesson ideas, writing tips, and much more. Poke around on the site and find what works best for you and your learner!
Also on the website was a link to You Are What You Read. On this site, you can make a profile (your Bookprint) and share five books that have had an effect on your life. You could use this yourself as well as with your learner. Share your books with your learner and then help them post their books.
Overall, I really enjoyed searching through the Scholastic website. It has games, lesson ideas, writing tips, and much more. Poke around on the site and find what works best for you and your learner!
Making Fun and Effective Lesson Plans
When you're starting as a new tutor, nothing seems more intimidating than figuring out exactly what you will do during your sessions. At my first session, I was freaking out because I thought I wouldn't be able to fill the hour with activities. Needless to say, I survived. And over time, I have found that there are several methods to creating a lesson plan that everyone should use.
First, always try to incorporate a greeting. This can be a few simple questions about school, work, or family, and it seems to make everything run a little more smoothly. During my sessions, I try to ask questions about what my learner studied in school that day, what activities they participated in or planned to participate in, and what book they were reading. This seems trivial, but it can really help the learner feel more comfortable and it will help you know more about your learner.
Second, no matter what your topic, always attempt to incorporate some sort of fun activity. When I was tutoring an adult, this meant reading magazines and talking about current events. With my high school learner, we would play scrabble (he was very competitive!). When I was tutoring a 13-year-old who was very interested in art, we would draw or do a craft at every session. And when I tutored a kindergarten student, we colored with sidewalk chalk, carved pumpkins, made comic strips and puppets, and played board games. There is so much you can do to help your learner understand that reading can be fun!
If you feel like looking online for activities to go with every lesson you teach, I recommend sites like Sesame Street, PBS Kids, and First-School for younger learners, and, for older learners, sites like Education Online and Internet for Classrooms. Be creative with your activities and your learner will be sure to have fun!
Third, always write with your learner. Although writing doesn't seem like a confusing activity to do, tutors often ask what they should write about. In my opinion, any writing works. If your learner enjoys poetry, read a popular poem (Where the Sidewalk Ends is a very good book to use!) and have them try to write their own following a similar style, tone, or subject. If you prefer to use writing prompts, there are websites like Super Teacher and The Teacher's Corner. These sites have printable writing prompts as well as daily writing topics for learners of any age!
When it comes to writing with your learner, remember to always set a few "Writing Guidelines". For example, I would print up a few simple rules about grammar (use a period at the end of your sentence, capitalize names, etc.), and place that sheet in the front of their writing notebook. Also, remember to keep your writing area as free from distractions as possible. Don't forget to be relaxed about it. You wont be tutoring a young Charles Dickens, so don't expect their writing to be perfect!
Finally, always read for pleasure. Allow your learner to choose a book or choose a book that you think they would truly enjoy reading. Read aloud to them and let them know that the book you are reading is just for fun. If you do this, it will help to end every lesson with a reminder that reading is fun and it models good reading skills for the learner.
By including these elements in your tutoring session, you can make each session enjoyable for you and for your learner, and you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you have plenty of activities to keep your learner interested!
First, always try to incorporate a greeting. This can be a few simple questions about school, work, or family, and it seems to make everything run a little more smoothly. During my sessions, I try to ask questions about what my learner studied in school that day, what activities they participated in or planned to participate in, and what book they were reading. This seems trivial, but it can really help the learner feel more comfortable and it will help you know more about your learner.
Second, no matter what your topic, always attempt to incorporate some sort of fun activity. When I was tutoring an adult, this meant reading magazines and talking about current events. With my high school learner, we would play scrabble (he was very competitive!). When I was tutoring a 13-year-old who was very interested in art, we would draw or do a craft at every session. And when I tutored a kindergarten student, we colored with sidewalk chalk, carved pumpkins, made comic strips and puppets, and played board games. There is so much you can do to help your learner understand that reading can be fun!
If you feel like looking online for activities to go with every lesson you teach, I recommend sites like Sesame Street, PBS Kids, and First-School for younger learners, and, for older learners, sites like Education Online and Internet for Classrooms. Be creative with your activities and your learner will be sure to have fun!
Third, always write with your learner. Although writing doesn't seem like a confusing activity to do, tutors often ask what they should write about. In my opinion, any writing works. If your learner enjoys poetry, read a popular poem (Where the Sidewalk Ends is a very good book to use!) and have them try to write their own following a similar style, tone, or subject. If you prefer to use writing prompts, there are websites like Super Teacher and The Teacher's Corner. These sites have printable writing prompts as well as daily writing topics for learners of any age!
When it comes to writing with your learner, remember to always set a few "Writing Guidelines". For example, I would print up a few simple rules about grammar (use a period at the end of your sentence, capitalize names, etc.), and place that sheet in the front of their writing notebook. Also, remember to keep your writing area as free from distractions as possible. Don't forget to be relaxed about it. You wont be tutoring a young Charles Dickens, so don't expect their writing to be perfect!
Finally, always read for pleasure. Allow your learner to choose a book or choose a book that you think they would truly enjoy reading. Read aloud to them and let them know that the book you are reading is just for fun. If you do this, it will help to end every lesson with a reminder that reading is fun and it models good reading skills for the learner.
By including these elements in your tutoring session, you can make each session enjoyable for you and for your learner, and you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you have plenty of activities to keep your learner interested!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Getting Started: Great Games and Activities for Your First Session
It's your first tutoring session. What do you do? It's important that your learner feels comfortable with you and that you know enough about them (you need to be able to pick great material for your sessions!). Here are some tips for making your first session a good experience:
First, you can do a quick reading and writing survey. There are several that I use, but I've seen tutors make their own. Do whatever you prefer! If you're looking for a survey to use, Professor Garfield has a great cartoon survey for younger students. You can also try the same website for a great Garfield reading survey as well! For middle and high-school-age students, use a survey like the smiley-face survey offered here. These may seem silly, but they really work!
After introductions have been made, I like to have tutors do a craft with their learner to get to know them better.This tends to work best with younger learners. A great craft for younger children is a drawing of their home and family. Be sure to draw your family too. Once you've both finished, explain who each member of your family is and tell a little about them. Another craft I like for the first session is to make your own bookmarks. This can be very fun and can allow you to discuss what kind of books you like to read with your learner. Remember, have fun!
If you have an older learner, it's sometimes best to skip the arts and crafts. If you feel like they would be comfortable writing, have them write a poem about themselves. You could also have them write in a journal. Another great replacement for crafts is a game. I like to play games like Scrabble with my older learners because they get to have fun while allowing the tutor to see how well they are able to spell. You can also try an icebreaker game (they can be an amazing way to connect with your learner). Any game is a good idea, but try to keep it simple and have fun!
You can try a little bit of everything to get to know you learner! You can try some of my suggestions, or make up your own (If you have any to add, I'd love to hear them! Please comment!). Just remember, have fun with whatever you do and don't forget to smile!
First, you can do a quick reading and writing survey. There are several that I use, but I've seen tutors make their own. Do whatever you prefer! If you're looking for a survey to use, Professor Garfield has a great cartoon survey for younger students. You can also try the same website for a great Garfield reading survey as well! For middle and high-school-age students, use a survey like the smiley-face survey offered here. These may seem silly, but they really work!
After introductions have been made, I like to have tutors do a craft with their learner to get to know them better.This tends to work best with younger learners. A great craft for younger children is a drawing of their home and family. Be sure to draw your family too. Once you've both finished, explain who each member of your family is and tell a little about them. Another craft I like for the first session is to make your own bookmarks. This can be very fun and can allow you to discuss what kind of books you like to read with your learner. Remember, have fun!
If you have an older learner, it's sometimes best to skip the arts and crafts. If you feel like they would be comfortable writing, have them write a poem about themselves. You could also have them write in a journal. Another great replacement for crafts is a game. I like to play games like Scrabble with my older learners because they get to have fun while allowing the tutor to see how well they are able to spell. You can also try an icebreaker game (they can be an amazing way to connect with your learner). Any game is a good idea, but try to keep it simple and have fun!
You can try a little bit of everything to get to know you learner! You can try some of my suggestions, or make up your own (If you have any to add, I'd love to hear them! Please comment!). Just remember, have fun with whatever you do and don't forget to smile!
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