Functional illiteracy is defined by the non-profit Literacy Volunteers of America as “the inability of an individual to use reading, writing, and computational skills in everyday life.” Think that’s not a problem in as developed a country as America? Well, you’re wrong. It’s a big one – a really big one. The National Center for … Continue reading “Illiteracy in America – Part 1”
Category: Education
Ways to Help Struggling Readers
Most of the fundamental reading skills are taught to students between grades 1 and 3. It is essential that the students grasp the concepts and develop strong skills at that time, as beyond grade 3, students don’t learn to read but, instead, read to learn. For students who struggle with reading, teachers find that they … Continue reading “Ways to Help Struggling Readers”
Using Graphic Novels and Comics for Reading Comprehension
When you think of improving students’ reading comprehension skills, do you ever consider graphic novels and comics as handy instruction aids? If not, you should. The common cliché is that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but it’s absolutely true that students who are having difficulty comprehending a rigorous text may benefit from visual … Continue reading “Using Graphic Novels and Comics for Reading Comprehension”
Understanding Dyslexia – Part 3
[Editor’s note: This is Part 3 of a four-part series on dyslexia. Links to the other parts are included in the blog.] Last week, in Part 2 of this series, we discussed how dyslexia is diagnosed and the number of different possible interventions that exist within the school system to help dyslexic students. Today, we’re … Continue reading “Understanding Dyslexia – Part 3”
Understanding Dyslexia – Part 2
[Editor’s note: This is Part 2 of a four-part series on dyslexia. Links to the other parts are included in the blog.] In Part 1 of our discussion on dyslexia, we talked a little bit about the disorder and the difficulties dyslexics encounter when reading, spelling, and even verbalizing. Now we’re going to look at … Continue reading “Understanding Dyslexia – Part 2”
Understanding Dyslexia – Part 1
[Editor’s Note: This is the first in a four-part series on dyslexia, its origins, manifestations, and interventions.] Most people think that dyslexia is simply reversing letters or numbers; it is much more than that. Dyslexia is primarily associated with difficulty reading; leading some doctors, specialists, and educators to refer to it as a “reading disorder” … Continue reading “Understanding Dyslexia – Part 1”
Teaching to the Test
A hot topic in education today is whether or not teachers should “teach to the test” or if that practice limits students’ education too severely. There are opinions on both sides of the fence, and it’s a subject worth exploring because of its vast repercussions on the skills of the next generation, who will allow … Continue reading “Teaching to the Test”
Guest Blog: Mary Willingham, Reading and Learning Specialist, on the AceReader Program
[Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series of guest blogs from a variety of AceReader users.] After college, where I earned a BS in Psychology, I worked in corporate HR for 15 years. Shortly before I turned 40, though, I decided that I wanted to teach, and I returned to school to … Continue reading “Guest Blog: Mary Willingham, Reading and Learning Specialist, on the AceReader Program”
The Value of Re-reading Books
While many students are given credit of some sort for reading books during the school year (or completing a summer reading assignment), they are rarely, if ever, given credit for re-reading material. Yet some of the greatest insights into literature can only come about on a second, third, or fourth read. And, some of the … Continue reading “The Value of Re-reading Books”
Physical Exercise and Learning
When you want to make your body fit, you exercise. When you want to make your brain sharper, you also exercise? And we’re not talking about crossword puzzles or mind games here, but actual, physical aerobic exercise. Why should that be? Let’s take a look at what we know so far about the correlation between … Continue reading “Physical Exercise and Learning”