Teachers can’t afford to be stupid and irresponsible. Our carelessness and negligence can cost far too much to be tolerated lightly. Even if we are to believe that this teacher had no idea that the book he bought for his student was for mature readers only, the lack of awareness and due diligence to simply read the front cover (let alone doing basic research on the book’s content) is reason enough to hand him a much more severe penalty than a week off:
If you aren’t already reading to your kids, I highly recommend that you do:
MELBOURNE researchers have proven what parents have intuitively known all along – the more often you read to your children from an early age, the greater the positive effect on their reading and thinking skills.
The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research has not only proven a causal effect between the frequency of reading to a child and his or her development, but have also for the first time measured the benefits.
Children four to five years old who are read to three to five times a week have the same reading ability as children six months older (who are read to only twice or less a week).
Reading to children six to seven days a week puts them almost a year ahead of those who are not being read to. It was also found that reading to small children has a positive effect on the development of numeracy skills.
”It does appear to be the case that children who are read to more often keep doing better as they age than other children,” said Professor Guyonne Kalb, director of the institute’s Labour Economics and Social Policy Program, and co-author of the study.
Click on the link to read Why Spelling is Important at Starbucks
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Too bad a paper cup doesn’t have a spell check option:
Ursula’s coffee order was made out to ‘Arsela’ by a hurried barista
Molly must have ordered an awfully strong espresso to have her drink made out to ‘Manly’
They almost got Audrey’s name right, they just didn’t use the English language version
At least they have two of the letters right from Chad’s name
Bess must not have looked her best that day
Even if the barista didn’t hear Virginia’s name they could have come up with something better
Ann-Louise deserves a much nicer nickname than the one Starbucks picked
Click on the link to read The Ability to Spell is a Prerequisite for Getting a Tattoo (Photos)
Click on the link to read This is What Happens When You Rely on Spell Check
Click on the link to read Hilarious Menu Items Lost in Translation
Click on the link to read The 15 Most Commonly Misspelled Words in the English Language
Click on the link to read Who Said Grammar Isn’t Important?
Click on the link to read Why Spelling is Important
I love it when a child stands up for what he/she feels is fair and just. Above is a homework sheet where a 5-year-old was expected to complete a sentence that describes a man hitting a dog. The child thinks otherwise.
Click on the link to read Why I Changed My Mind About Homework
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Click on the link to read Experts Call For Homework to Be Abolished
Click on the link to read The Case in Favour of Homework
As nominated by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC):
All the Water in the World. By George Ella Lyon, Illus. by Katherine Tillotson, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
From deserts to the kitchen sink, the water cycle is lyrically yet economically described in Lyon’s poem emphasizing the importance of water conservation. Katherine Tillotson’s digital paintings splash, surge and drip off the page.
A Ball for Daisy. By Chris Raschka, Illus. by the author, Schwartz & Wade Books,
A wordless tale of an irrepressible little dog whose most prized possession is accidently destroyed. A buoyant tale of loss, recovery, and friendship. (2012 Caldecott Medal Book)
Blackout. By John Rocco, Illus. by the author. Disney/Hyperion Books.
A summer power outage draws an urban family up to their building’s roof and then down to the street for an impromptu block party. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book)
Bring on the Birds. By Susan Stockdale, Illus. by the author. Peachtree.
Rhyming couplets and clear, identifiable illustrations remind readers that birds vary in many ways, but all have feathers and are hatched from eggs. Colorful acrylics help provide just the right of information for preschool ornithologists.
The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred. By Samantha R. Vamos, Illus. by Rafael López. Charlesbridge.
Nothing is better than a delicious bowl of arroz con leche unless, of course, a host of farm animals have a hand in the preparation! (A 2012 Belpré Illustrator Honor Book)
Chirchir Is Singing. By Kelly Cunnane, Illus. by Jude Daly. Schwartz & Wade Books.
In this cumulative story set in Kenya, Chirchir sings as she tries to help with family chores. Acrylic folk art highlights the activities of daily life in this rural setting.
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?, By Susan A. Shea, Illus. by Tom Slaughter. Blue Apple Books.
This book playfully challenges children’s concepts of the growth capacity of living vs. non-living things in a fun and engaging way.
Dot. By Patricia Intriago, Illus. by the author. Farrar Straus Giroux.
To a child’s delight, bright dots and brief rhyming verses cleverly demonstrate antonyms and synonyms in this clever picture book.
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. By Sherri Duskey Rinker, Illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. Chronicle Books.
Truck-loving toddlers will be willingly tucked into bed along with the vehicles in this superbly constructed goodnight poem.
Grandpa Green. By Lane Smith, Illus. by the author. Roaring Brook Press.
Elaborate topiary sculptures give visual form to memories in a wildly fanciful garden tended by a child and his beloved great-grandfather. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book)
Harry and Hopper. By Margaret Wild, Illus. by Freya Blackwood. Feiwel & Friends.
A poignant depiction of grief and acceptance at the loss of a beloved pet is relayed in this quietly moving story whose illustrations add emotional depth.
I Broke My Trunk. By Mo Willems. Illus. by the author. Hyperion Books for Children.
Piggie is very concerned about his best friend, Gerald the Elephant, who has broken his trunk, and Gerald tells him a long, rambling story about how it happened. (A 2012 Geisel Honor Book)
I Want My Hat Back. By Jon Klassen, Illus. by the author. Candlewick Press.
After losing his hat, Bear politely and patiently questions his fellow forest dwellers as to the whereabouts of his “red pointy hat.” (A 2012 Geisel Honor Book)
King Jack and the Dragon. By Peter Bently, Illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Dial Books for Young Readers.
Enhanced by whimsical illustrations, this story of the wonders and terrors created by a child’s imagination, shows the power of playtime and the magic of make-believe.
Little Treasures: Endearments from Around the World. By Jacqueline K. Ogburn. Illus. by Chris Raschka. Houghton Mifflin.
Raschka’s pictures give distinct personalities to the subjects of these endearments and the book is a reminder of how much children are loved in every language and culture. Translations and pronunciation guides are included.
Little White Rabbit. By Kevin Henkes, Illus. by the author. Greenwillow Books.
Little white rabbit explores the springtime world wondering what it would be like to be different – green, tall, solid, or able to fly – but when he comes home he knows who loves him.
Me…Jane. By Patrick McDonnell, Illus. by the author. Little, Brown.
Watching birds and squirrels in her yard, a young girl discovers the joy and wonder of nature. A glimpse of the childhood of renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. (A 2012 Caldecott Honor Book)
Mouse & Lion. By Rand Burkert, Illus. by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. di Capua/Scholastic.
Mouse is the center of this retelling of a familiar Aesop’s fable. Elegant illustrations place the story solidly in the natural world of Africa.
Naamah and the Ark at Night. By Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Illus. by Holly Meade. Candlewick Press.
As the waters rage, this lullaby reveals Noah’s wife as a nurturer of diverse creatures aboard the ark. Watercolor and collage illustrations amplify the text, a form of lyrical Arabic poetry, called ghazal.
A New Year’s Reunion: A Chinese Story. By Yu Li-Qiong, Illus. by Zhu Cheng-Liang, Candlewick Press.
Vibrant illustrations highlight a young girl’s joy when her father makes his annual visit for Chinese New Year in this tender story.
Over and Under the Snow. By Kate Messner, Illus. by Christopher Silas Neal. Chronicle Books.
While skiing cross-country with her father, a girl envisions the “secret kingdom” under the snow, where small forest animals shelter in winter. Neal’s bright, snowy landscapes contrast with his depictions of shadowed, subterranean nests.
Prudence Wants a Pet. By Cathleen Daly, Illus. by Stephen Michael King. Roaring Brook Press.
In this quietly humorous picture book illustrated in soft colors, Prudence tries out a branch, a twig, a shoe, her little brother, a tire, and sea buddies until her parents finally give her a kitten as a pet.
See Me Run. By Paul Meisel, Illus. by the author. Holiday House.
Dogs and more dogs are everywhere: running, sliding, jumping, splashing, and having fun. (A 2012 Geisel Honor Book)
Should I Share My Ice Cream? By Mo Willems, Illus. by the author. Hyperion Books for Children.
A common human problem is posed and solved with Willems’ minimal illustration and graceful humor.
Stars. By Mary Lyn Ray, Illus. by Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Books.
A duet of spare, poetic observations and ethereal illustrations explore the realities and possibilities of many kinds of stars, embracing the immediacy of a child’s experiences. A great read aloud.
Tales for Very Picky Eaters. By Josh Schneider, Illus. by the author, Clarion Books.
Five chapters recount James’ refusal to eat yet another disgusting, smelly, repulsive, lumpy, or slimy food. (2012 Geisel Medal Book)
Tell Me the Day Backwards. By Albert Lamb, Illus. by David McPhail, Candlewick Press.
Mama bear and child reflect on the day, recounting its events in reverse order. Gentle and reassuring, this book wonderfully illustrates a sometimes difficult concept: the flow of time.
Ten Little Caterpillars. By Bill Martin, Jr., Illus. by Lois Ehlert. Beach Lane Books.
Ten different caterpillars inch their ways across vibrantly-illustrated environs in this newly-illustrated, rhyming story. Supplemental facts widen the book’s appeal and usefulness. Ehlert’s watercolor collages are remarkably entomologically accurate.
These Hands. By Margaret H. Mason, Illus. by Floyd Cooper. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Both an affirmation of a nurturing relationship between grandfather and grandson and an explanation of one reason labor unions fought for workers’ rights, the brief text and warm illustrations tell an uplifting American story.
Tìa Isa Wants a Car. By Meg Medina, Illus. by Claudio Muñoz. Candlewick Press.
Using a cheerful positive tone, Medina depicts a warm relationship between Tia Isa and her niece and shows the strength of community as a life-long dream is realized.
Where’s Walrus? By Stephen Savage, Illus. by the author. Scholastic.
Walrus escapes from the zoo and cleverly disguises himself around the city; the zoopkeeper and the children reading the book search for him on each bold, bright page of this wordless book.
Who Has What?: All About Girls’ Bodies and Boys’ Bodies. By Robie H. Harris, Illus. by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Candlewick Press.
In a cheerful, easy tone, Harris explains who’s got what body parts, their similarities of differences. Girls, boys and adults of many ethnicities – even animals – are included in the loose-lined illustrations depicting the “bare” facts.
Click on the link to read Illustrator Quentin Blake Turns 80 and is Given a Knighthood
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Recently I taught a unit on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I formed my wonderful Grade 3′s in a circle and we each took turns reading from this masterpiece. Using the novel as inspiration, we completed the following activities:
Whilst Roald Dahl is to be acknowledged for providing joy to my students and many others worldwide, so too must his incredibly talented and distinctive illustrator, Quentin Blake who turns 80 years old.
Click on the link to read Hilarious Menu Items Lost in Translation
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Click on the link to read Why Spelling is Important
Believe it or not, these menus are very real!
Below are 15 hilarious menu items, mostly from East Asian countries, that got lost in translation.
The photos of the funny food items are courtesy of BusinessPundit.com.
Laugh as you scroll down and try not to lose your lunch thinking about them too hard.
Click on the link to read Who Corrects Our Spelling Mistakes?
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Click on the link to read The 15 Most Commonly Misspelled Words in the English Language
Click on the link to read Who Said Grammar Isn’t Important?
Click on the link to read Why Spelling is Important
What is the rush? So your child reads when he/she is developmentally ready instead of when they’re a baby? So what?
Reading is not the greatest gift you can give a young baby. Love, optimism, hope and friendship are much more important to a baby’s development that the ability to read:
John Wilkey was just four days old when his mother Dana set about teaching him how to read. The fact that newborns can’t focus on anything more than a few inches away — let alone understand words in any form — did not deter her.
Dana, 39, an events organiser who lives in Chelsea, West London, is so passionate in her view that it’s never too early to make your child brilliant, she used to run through a set of ten flashcards with her son twice a day. ‘I would show John words like “milk”, give him my breast, and then show him the baby sign language for milk,’ she says. ‘I did it morning and evening.’
Baby sign language, for those not familiar with modern parenting, is something ‘Tiger parents’ like Dana are well versed in. It works on the theory that children want to communicate long before they develop speech and can be taught little hand signals to communicate their needs and thoughts.
When he was nine months, Dana says John — her only child — was pointing and using basic baby sign language to show he could recognise up to 20 words and phrases, including ‘I love you’, ‘nose’, ‘ear’ and ‘arms-up’.
From there, Dana says his vocabulary grew at break-neck speed. A video of John at 20 months shows him sitting in his high-chair using a chubby finger to trace underneath the words ‘eyes’, ‘clap’ and ‘book’ from left to right.
Dana, who lived in the U.S. with John’s father before they separated, now lives with her fiance, Philip, in an £3.5 million London townhouse, once owned by a well-known footballer.
She is now one of a growing number of mothers convinced that getting children reading before they are potty-trained will help them get ahead in later life.
Click on the link to read Girl Writes Cute Note to the Queen
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It seems like poor spelling doesn’t stop with the students:
TEACHERS are filling lessons, report cards and letters home with errors, including SMS-style spelling, grammatical mistakes and misspelt spelling lists, parents have claimed.
A survey of 480 people about the literacy skills of the nation’s teachers found half thought the quality was poor.
More than 40 per cent had noticed spelling or grammatical errors on letters sent home from school and 35 per cent had seen mistakes in report cards and marked assignments.
Other parents claimed their child’s teachers lacked passion and skill, taught incorrect information and provided misspelt word lists for children to learn from. Some had even noticed teachers using SMS-style spellings, like l8r (later) and coz (because).
The “must do better” grading comes as the federal government reveals current teachers will be given specialist training to make sure future educators get better mentoring.Current and ex-teachers who took the survey were among those who complained about substandard quality, saying it was depressing.
“It’s those 20-somethings who just missed out and I’m scared that they’re going to be teaching my kids,” she said.
Click on the link to read Who Corrects Our Spelling Mistakes?
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Click on the link to read The 15 Most Commonly Misspelled Words in the English Language
Click on the link to read Who Said Grammar Isn’t Important?
Click on the link to read Why Spelling is Important
