In 1859, the most extreme global solar storm ever recorded up to that point and even until today, known as the Carrington Event, occurred. The effects were felt globally. Telegraph systems in both Europe and North America lost power, and some even caught fire. Auroras, colored lights in the sky from the intense radiation that … Continue reading “AceReader Short Reading: Solar Storms and Earth’s Magnetic Field”

The goal should be for students to be critical thinkers — able to analyze, question, and debate the text they read. Proponents of balanced literacy said the technique would create a generation of “natural readers.” According to behavioral analyst and educator Dr. Jennifer Weber, though, it created a generation that’s unable to engage with text … Continue reading “How Balanced Literacy Failed to Reason Through the Reading Problem”

In the context of reading, skimming is a common strategy. It involves looking for key words, punctuation, bulleted lists, and the like, instead of reading every single word in the text. The purpose of skimming is to grasp the main idea of a text, and if that’s your goal, and if you know you won’t … Continue reading “Skimming Versus Close Reading: The Best Way to Read”

In the order Araneae, and with the scientific name Aphonopelma sp., tarantulas are the heaviest spiders by weight and come with a body length of about 40 mm (1 1/2 inches), making them easily recognizable. Usually, their head-thorax region and legs are a dark brown, with a brownish-black abdomen. The color can vary between individual … Continue reading “AceReader Short Reading: Tarantulas”

It’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere right now, which means you’re probably seeing some of the white stuff falling down from the sky and making the streets and walks treacherous to navigate. It also means that if it snows a lot where you are, then you’ve probably heard more than one name for this type … Continue reading “AceReader Short Reading: Graupel”

Most people rely heavily on visual imagery in processing language, especially when they’re reading narrative descriptions. An author’s vivid language often triggers mental images in the reader that enhance their reading experience, allowing them to “see” the settings, characters, and events as if they were watching a movie in their head. Mental imagery doesn’t just … Continue reading “Visualization vs. Aphantasia: How Readers Engage with a Narrative”

Image via Freepik Are you eager to introduce your child to a world of creativity and innovation beyond the classroom? Afterschool activities offer a unique opportunity to nurture your child’s imagination and curiosity. By engaging in diverse pursuits, children can explore new interests and develop valuable skills to serve them. From digital storytelling to eco-friendly … Continue reading “AceReader Guest Blog: Sparking Creativity: Unique Afterschool Activities to Inspire Kids”

It’s pretty easy in English to mix up common sayings, as the language is filled with sound-alike phrases and confusing idioms. Some mean to say “for all intents and purposes” but instead come out with “for all intensive purposes.” Or they comment on a “doggy dog world” when they should say a “dog-eat-dog world.” So … Continue reading “AceReader Short Reading: Jury-Rigged and Jerry-Rigged”

In many Western countries, Halloween is a day of celebration, dressing up, and extorting candy from every house on the block. But it wasn’t always so. In fact, Halloween is a rather modern holiday. Samhain (pronounced SOW-win), is the Pagan festival that preceded it and is still celebrated today by much of the Pagan community. … Continue reading “Short Reading: Samhain”