Quokkas were first described by the Dutch sea captain Willem de Vlamingh, who reported finding “a kind of rat as big as a cat” on the island. The crew named the quokkas’ island Ratte nest (“rat’s nest”), then promptly sailed away, presumably toward something more inviting. The quokka (Setonix brachyurus) is the only member of … Continue reading “Short Reading: Quokkas”
Short Reading: Naming the Planets
In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods and had an honored place in Rome’s pre-Christian religion. Mythology also held that Rome’s legendary founders, Romulus and Remus, were born of the warlike god Mars, himself Jupiter’s son. Similarly, “Mother Earth” and “Mother Nature” have roots in Greek mythology. Gaia was the Greek goddess … Continue reading “Short Reading: Naming the Planets”
Short Readings for AceReader
As the AceReader program allows you to import your own text in the Read Mode, we thought that it might be fun to create some short readings for our blog readers to use as timed exercises. Starting with our next post, we’ll be providing readings from about 400-1000 words, which you can then import into … Continue reading “Short Readings for AceReader”
Language Comprehension in the Brain
Spoken language produces a lot of brain activity in the region just above your ear, where the cells recognize speech instantly and without any obvious effort. Neurosurgeon Dr. Eddie Chang and his team at the University of California, San Francisco, study what makes such recognition possible. The team recruited eight patients having a form of … Continue reading “Language Comprehension in the Brain”
Guest Blog: Engaging Young Minds: Tips for New Educators
Pursuing a career in education is not only about imparting knowledge, but also about inspiring a new generation. It demands dedication, creativity, and a profound commitment to nurturing young minds. This guide from AceReader, Inc. equips you with critical steps to cultivate a fulfilling teaching career, ensuring you start on solid ground and continue to … Continue reading “Guest Blog: Engaging Young Minds: Tips for New Educators”
The Effects of Reading Aloud on Comprehension and Memory Recall
[Editor’s note: This is part three of a three-part series examining the development of a font touted to help struggling readers.] Studies conducted over the years have shown that reading text out loud improves memory recall compared to reading silently. The question is, does the positive effect on recall also extend to understanding the material … Continue reading “The Effects of Reading Aloud on Comprehension and Memory Recall”
Sans Forgetica: Debunking Claim of Font Effectiveness in Reading for Comprehension and Recall
[Editor’s note: This is part two of a three-part series examining the development of a font touted to help struggling readers.] Last week we looked at data from Australian researchers that suggested their Sans Forgetica font, with its disrupted letterforms, could aid readers with initial comprehension and later recall of information. The original team’s study … Continue reading “Sans Forgetica: Debunking Claim of Font Effectiveness in Reading for Comprehension and Recall”
Sans Forgetica: Does New Font Boost Reading Comprehension?
[Editor’s note: This is part one of a three-part series examining the development of a font touted to help struggling readers.] Australian researchers, if the data are to be believed, have come up with a way to help people who struggle to understand what they read when they read it and to recall it later. … Continue reading “Sans Forgetica: Does New Font Boost Reading Comprehension?”
Techniques to Teach Writing Effectively: Using Mentor Texts
Last week we discussed the second part of an article posted on Education Week’s website about how to teach writing effectively, especially for English language learners (ELLs). This week we refine our discussion of how ELLs can use their growing knowledge of English together with mentor texts to become effective writers. Herself an ELL, Anastasia … Continue reading “Techniques to Teach Writing Effectively: Using Mentor Texts”
Techniques to Teach Writing Effectively: Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs)
Last time we discussed the first part of an article posted on Education Week’s website about how to teach writing effectively, especially about how to demonstrate the writing process. This week we turn our attention to how ELLs can use their growing knowledge of English with their own cultural history, to become effective writers. Irina McGrath, … Continue reading “Techniques to Teach Writing Effectively: Teaching English Language Learners (ELLs)”