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Art and Heart (With Reader’s Theater)
We know that not all students have ideal home situations. On occasion the hell they live with shows itself though their behavior. I will never forget one little girl I had in my second grade class who hissed instead of responding when someone talked to her. She wouldn’t sit with the rest of the class,…
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Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and manipulate individual phonemes (sounds). Student have this awareness of sounds in order to move on to phonics, which is sounds and letters combined to form words. It is a foundational skill needed to be able to read. It involves hearing and speaking only. A phoneme is the smallest meaningful…
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What Stress Does
Lately there have been many stressors that give me migraine headaches, make me want to stay in bed all day, and steal my inspiration to do anything productive or necessary. Oh stress, I hate you so much. Why is it that some people sail through tough times with a smile on their face, while others…
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A Right of Passage
My five year old grandson has an older sister who has known how to ride a bike for awhile now. He would watch in eager anticipation wishing for the time when he could do the same. So my son got him out on the blacktop at the local elementary school to teach him to ride…
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To Improve a Community
Grocery prices prohibit many households from putting nutritious food on the table. One way to provide healthy options is to start a community garden. It would require land that is designated for growing a variety of plants, possibly an unused, donated plot. Volunteers would bring tools to prepare the soil and build fencing. Tending the…
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A Gift of Hope
I was gifted a print of my friend, Suze’s mandala. She titled it “Finding Peace.” It contains the colors of the flaq of Ukraine. Each one of Suze’s mandalas are works of inspiration and creativity. She gifted 6 prints, and I was blessed to be the first recipient. I went to her house to pick…
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What Makes Me Happy?
I have been working on being more positive in my thoughts and actions. It’s odd that I use the word “working.” Sometimes my thoughts go to the dark side so it does require effort on my part to shift to a better way of looking at things. Susan David said, “Don’t believe everything you think.”…
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Phonics
NOTE: A child may be able to recite the alphabet, but not know the sounds. Phonics combines both skills. For many students the two skills are too much to tackle at once. Most reading difficulties are a result of a lack of phonemic awareness (sounds). See my page on Resources for Phonemic Awareness first: Resources…
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I’m Back and Ready to Rant
Sometimes I just need to take a little break from things. Okay, so maybe I took a long break from writing. If I am honest with myself, writing is my friend, my confidant, my healing. I knew I needed to get back to it. So here I am. I have been contemplating how to navigate…
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Our Trip to Oahu
For my husband’s birthday, I used airline miles to get us to Oahu. A friend from our surf club told us about a condo we could rent and connected us with the property manager. So I had the flight and accommodations sorted. All we needed was a rental car. A trip to AAA took care…
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Needing Aloha
For my husband’s birthday I used airline miles to book a flight to Hawaii. The last time we were there we both enjoyed the kindness of the people as well as warm ocean water. Everywhere we went we experienced serenity. It seemed the perfect gift to give my husband (and selfishly, myself). So we will…
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Collaboration
In the course I am currently teaching online, I shared my own experiences, both good and horrible, with my students. My hope is that they will learn from my mistakes, as well as my successes. My students are interns all working on the goal of earning their credential. It has been difficult for them to…
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Saying Goodbye to Future Teachers
I have been an online instructor for a university for ten years. Each term, I change my course based on what I feel would enhance the learning of my students. I learn so much from them. I love sharing my experiences and insights. This last term, I decided to try a new course. I sent…
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Hang In There
Some holidays are difficult. Especially now that my kids are grown and are off living their lives. The house is quiet, too quiet, and there doesn’t seem to be any point in cooking a big feast or even a little one. It’s those times when thoughts of the past seem to hold me in a…
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Fluency
A fluent reader reads smoothly and is enjoyable to listen to. The components of fluency are: Accuracy, Rate, Expression Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. The most powerful way for you to help your students is to read aloud to them, often and with great expression. You can put…
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Emotional Check-in
There are so many factors that contribute to anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and often an inability to cope. Sometimes, it’s hard to verbalize emotions. Children are not immune to stressors. Teachers must be mindful that students may be coming from homes that are chaotic and unstable, contributing to a myriad of behavioral issues. A “check-in” can…
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Move On
I’m not sure if it’s the pandemic or the recent tragic devastation from tornadoes across six states that reminds me of how fragile our time on earth is, or maybe it’s old age, but I have been dwelling on mistakes I’ve made that can’t be undone. It hurts to know that one moment in time…
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About Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a condition that causes trouble with written expression. The term comes from the Greek words dys (“impaired”) and graphia (“making letter forms by hand”). Dysgraphia is a brain-based issue. It’s not the result of a child being lazy. Writing requires a complex set of fine motor and language processing skills. For kids with dysgraphia, the writing process…
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“I Wish You Happiness”
Try this. I just might change things…..
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Comprehension Strategies
Retell and Summarize Determine the Main Idea Visualize events Question the author Make Connections Compare to other texts Whenever possible, use an ANCHOR CHART Click ‘anchor chart’ ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS Explicitly teaching words supports language development, but using the word in context allows for a deeper level of understanding. English language learners benefit from the…
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Let’s Build a Caring Classroom
Photo generated using AI USE CLASS MEETINGS: •To provide a safe, caring environment •To address issues of concern •To allow students to practice social skills •To facilitate problem solving •To increase self-esteem •To build assets Teach “inside” and “outside” compliments. •We talk about what someone IS or DOES, not what they look like. We recognize…
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Reconnecting
I turned on the news and heard of a category 4 hurricane heading for Florida. I have a cousin who lives in the nothern part of Florida, and I had an overwhelming urge to contact her and make sure she was safe. One journalist described the hurricane as “unsurvivable” in certain areas. Images on the…
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Journey to Mindfulness
I have heard and read about mindfulness, but never really practiced it. There always seems to be a thousand things to think about, do, or plan. I ignore the most basic of elements, the right here, right now. I attended an online group to learn more about quieting the incessant brain noise, to be in…
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Let’s Talk About Spelling
Rote memorization is not an effective way to learn and remember. How many kids forget their spelling words as soon as they finish the test? BORING!!! NOT FAIR!!! We need to give kids an active role. Why Is Spelling So Hard? Spelling is learned in stages. It is developmental Make the learning FUN and…
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Little Library
As retired teachers and avid readers, my husband and I decided that we would put up a little library so our neighbors can find a book, leave a book, and know that it is an option in our part of town. I sit in front of my living room window and watch people walk their…
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Ableism
I joined a Book Circle with colleagues from Cal Poly. We read Demysifying Disability by Emily Ladau. She is a fierce advocate for disability rights. Each member of the book circle took a chapter to explore and present to the group. I had Chapter 4, Ableism and Accessibility. I decided to extract the quotes I…
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In the Beginning
MY FIRST TEACHER I have a passion for literacy. It all began in a screened in porch in South Central Los Angeles when I was almost 5 years old. My mother’s first language was Spanish. She told me how hard it was for her to learn English. She grew up in a large Mexican family…
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Time-Out
As I sit in my chair looking out at the ocean, I dream of faraway places I have only seen in magazines, or saw once in a movie. I watch the choppy waves and wonder how a cruise ship manages to get the passengers safely to their destination amidst such an angry sea. I need…
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I Miss You, Mom
I had a conversation with my mother before she died. I asked her if she would let me know that she is alright when she passes. I joked and said, “Don’t smack me in the head, just three taps on my shoulder.” She assured me she would, but I still made her promise. I spent…
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Inspiring Young Writers
From my years as a teacher I encountered many students who would shut down when it came to writing. Some would say that they could not think of anything to write. Others had trouble knowing how to begin. I came up with a few ways to inspire my young writers and hope you find them…
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Teaching Character Traits
•The Common Core State Standards in 3rd grade fictional literature calls for students to identify and describe characters’ actions, thoughts, and motivations, which is no small task for an 8-year-old who is just beginning to read longer text. Character traits can be positive or negative. Begin with positive traits. Give examples. A great way to do this is…
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This and That
The day I became a grandmother I began evaluating my life, or I should say reevaluating it. I realized that this beautiful child is not mine and I am a part of a much bigger picture, yet only a part. What part do I play? As a retired elementary teacher I know the joy of…
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Phonics
NOTE: A child may be able to recite the alphabet, but not know the sounds. Phonics is a method of teaching children to read by linking sounds (phonemes) and the symbols that represent them (graphemes, or letter groups). For many students the two skills are too much to tackle at once. Most reading difficulties are a result of a lack…
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Special Education is Special
I started my teaching career as a Multiple Subject Elementary Teacher. When I moved to the Central Coast, the only teaching job available was in Special Education, which meant I would need to acquire a second credential. I could have waited for a position in general education, but I was asked if I would consider…
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Re-routed
The farthest I have ever traveled was to Zurich, Switzerland. Unfortunately, it was not planned. Nor was I able to actually see Switzerland. I was traveling to England to see my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters. There was a blizzard and my plane was re-routed to Zurich. When I arrived in the airport, it was packed…
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Art and Writing
I like to incorporate art into most subjects, especially writing. Reluctant writers respond well to drawing or painting their ideas first, then transforming their thoughts into words. So often students appreciate the opportunity to have a choice in how they express themselves. I generally encourage students to write about their art, which has inspiired creativity…
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Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. It runs in families. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. Students with dyslexia usually experience difficulties with other language skills, such as spelling, writing, and pronouncing words. Dyslexia occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. People with dyslexia can also have problems…
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Learning and Fun
As an elementary school teacher I learned the importance of adding engagement to my lessons. Young students with short attention spans need to move and be actively engaged.. Adding a game can help them stay connected and learn while they are having fun. I am reminded of this quote by Alfred Mercier: “What we learn…
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Sickness Be Gone!
When Covid hit our home, it packed a wallop. I was in the hospital for 9 days hoping I could take a breath without an oxygen tank. I also got pneumonia. I think I will never take for granted the ability to walk to the bathroom and back to bed. It took months for me…
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Tips For New Teachers
I put together some tidbits of wisdom that I gathered as a teacher, as well as insights from mistakes I have made and learned from. I hope they are of value to you.
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Grow Thinkers
Being a retired teacher, I think back on the times I read aloud to my class of second graders as they gathered on the carpet. I wore a large pair of glasses and I would tell students that I use my glasses to see into the future. I then would pick out a student and…
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Old Ramblings
A hummingbird landed in an old oak tree It hovered awhile and was a sight to see The tree knew the hummingbird could not stay But enjoyed his presence and started to pray God, let this hummingbird find peace in its flight May it come to this old tree And bring it life. © DW…
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Show Them The World
Below are just a few books I have found that get children interested in hearing a book read aloud. There are so many. Tap into their interests by selecting books that are age-appropriate. Inspiring children when they are very young to listen to stories and talk about them. It sets the stage for their success…
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Beach Life
So many tourists visit our little town, and not just during the summer. The roughed coast of California offers sights that visitors from other areas seldom, if ever, see. I live in a place that is an escape for many. Being a desirable vacation destination means it gets unusually crowded with tourists on holidays. The…
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Name Calling
Children will own the names you call them. Choose your words carefully. This is good advice for teachers, but especially important that parents know this too. They are a child’s first teacher. Call them scholars, call them friends, call them writers, call them mathematicians, call them scientists, call them teachers, call them helpers, call them…
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We All Shine Differently
Standardized testing requirements are designed to hold teachers, students, and schools accountable for academic achievement and to incentivize improvement. They provide a benchmark for assessing problems and measuring progress, highlighting areas for improvement. Despite these key benefits, standardized academic achievement tests in US public schools have been controversial since their inception. Major points of contention…
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A Change of Plans
When I was a little girl I wanted to be an airline stewardess (that’s what they were called back then). I had dreams of seeing the world, living in fancy hotels, and wearing a cute uniform. Sometimes things are not as glamourous as the seem. As an adult I learned that getting an education would…
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