Dr. S.'s Literacy Read Aloud & Literacy Podcast

Charlotte's Web - Chapter Twelve - The Meeting

Charlotte calls a meeting of all the barn animals because she wants suggestions for a new word about Wilbur in her web. The only word that comes up is TERRIFIC and Charlotte will use that. However she also charges Templeton to bring back some articles from magazines from the dump so they can look for new words.

Howard Gardner & Multiple Intelligences - Predisposing the Child To Learning

In the last episode, I spelled out the idea of the Zone of Proximal Development and how each child has his or her own Zone and this will vary from subject to subject, skill to skill. That there is this variance is attributed today to the idea of Multiple Intelligences, that every child has his or her own unique combination of abilities based on broad intelligence areas that determine the actual zone of proximal development. A child who is gifted verbalizing has fewer challenges when asked to prepare a speech for instance or report to the class on research conducted, compared to someone without that highly developed intelligence.

From See Spot Run to the Zone of Proximal Development

When we were first taught to read in the '50s, nobody worried about whether it was easy or hard for the individual; learner. It was assumed that either they got it or they didn't and if they didn't, it was assumed they were problem learners of one kind of another. They were branded as PROBLEMS. Today, it is assumed that each of us has our own zone of proximal development, or an area where new learning is neither challenging or boring. This podcast explains what this means and how it should play out in the classroom.

Literacy Development is Conceptual Development

I have tried to set before ou the idea that by reading and talking and discussing and thinking about we are developing concepts of what we have read and putting the ideas together with concepts that we already have. So we are developing and deepening concepts that already are partially formed in our heads.

Ramona the Pest - Chapter 8 - The Kindergarten Dropout

In which Ramona stays away from school because she thinks her teacher doesn't like her anymore and everything is resolved by a letter.

Ramona the Pest - Chapter 7 - The Day Everything Went Wrong

In which Ramona begins her day thinking she is so grown up but ends it after a day at school in which she is literally out in the cold because she has a lot of lessons about life to learn still.

Ramona the Pest - Chapter 6 - The Baddest Witch in the World

In which Ramona gets her costume for Halloween and is so excited to be marching with all the rest of the school but doesn't like it when no one knows it is her behind the mask. But she learns something about herself.

Ramona the Pest - Chapter 5 - The Engagement Ring

In which Ramona deals with rain on the way to school, the need for new boots, getting stuck in the mud and using a worm to make an engagement ring.

Ramona the Pest - Chapter 4 - The Substitute

In which Ramona arrives at school to learn that her teacher is away and so she hides and won't go into the classroom because she doesn't want any other teacher. She is eventually found though and is taken to the Principal's office.

Ramona the Pest - Chapter 3 - Seat Work

In which Ramona tries to tell everyone how to do their work while the teacher tries to teach her how to sit and follow instructions properly.