Alphabites Blog

Different Learning Styles : Myth or Practical Theory

Mary Forhan — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:28:37 +0000

The theory that each child has a particular mode by which he or she learns best, a special unique learning style, has largely been debunked. Research has shown that this popular theory, in which children learn best using a specific mode such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or othe

Getting the Most out of Recess: Improving Academics through Healthy Play

Mary Forhan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:44:58 +0000

The school playground is full of all kinds of kids: shy kids, awkward kids, kids who tend toward bullying or are looking for a fight, kids who are trending toward being bullied, athletic kids, popular kids, kids who feel left-out, and kids who have trouble communicating. Recess is a breeding ground for children to become more intensely all of those things, and it

We Want Your Success Stories

Mary Forhan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:39:09 +0000

Tell Us Your Stories

Four Steps to Raising a Strong Reader

Mary Forhan — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:57:28 +0000

Four Steps to Raising a Strong Reader

Easy Book Making for Little Hands

Mary Forhan — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:46:05 +0000

Make these easy books to hold photos that your preschoolers, kindergarteners, and little ones can handle without damaging the photos. Once made, the photos can be changed out periodically without starting over with a new book.

Steps:

Literacy Boost at Kindergarten Round-Ups

Mary Forhan — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:22:02 +0000

Kindergarten Round-ups are an increasingly popular orientation program for pre-kindergarteners and their parents. Many schools invite parents and pre-kindergartners to meet teachers and see their schools 4-6 months before school opens, in late March to early May. These Kindergarten Round-Up events serve several purposes, most notably, they help reduce first-day jitters for the children and their parents, and they pro

A Book on Every Bed for Valentine's Day

Mary Forhan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:21 +0000

What better way to say, “I love you” this Valentine’s Day than giving your child a book he or she can cherish. The Book on Every Bed campaign was started to encourage parents to make reading special by giving a book as a gift and leaving it wrapped on a child’s bed Christmas Eve. The child wakes up to the first gift of the day – a special book that the parent and child can read together and share a magical moment of cozy togetherness.

iPads in the Classroom

Mary Forhan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:43:54 +0000

Can you imagine the excitement of an entire school awaiting the arrival of boxes of iPad2s? Ten-year-old Kaitlyn, a student at Legacy Academy in Elizabeth, Colorado enthusiastically remembers, “The first day we could bring them home, I was up all night. I learned so many things, it really shocked me.” Providing an iPad2 for every student was part of the decision nearly a year ago to go all Apple and b

Build a Kids' ABC Obstacle Course

Mary Forhan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:40:15 +0000

Build a Kids ABC Obstacle Course

Increasing Brain Power

Mary Forhan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:01:51 +0000

Have you heard the old saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”?

A Book on Every Bed

Mary Forhan — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:32:58 +0000

January 1, the golden promise of a new year. What will it bring? What about starting a new first day of the year tradition for your family? Amy Dickinson at the Chicago Tribune asked her readers in December 2010 to celebrate the holiday season by giving a book to a child. She called her campaign “A Book on Every Bed.”

This is how it works:

Give a Kid the Gift of Fitness

Mary Forhan — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:47:30 +0000

What do you want from a fitness program for yourself? Well, if you are like me, you want it to include stretching, cardio, strength conditioning, and maybe some exercises to improve balance. But most of all I want my fitness program to be fun! I like working out with others and challenging myself to improve, but most of all, I won’t do it unless it us fun! The same thing holds true for kids.&n

Blending Made Fun with the Blending Train

Mary Forhan — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:49:42 +0000

The concept of blending letters together into words is a difficult one for young children to grasp, but using the analogy of a train moving faster and faster seems to help get the idea across. Blending becomes more of a game. Use letter cards to get the game going. Use any train you have- a picture on a bulletin board, train cars in a pocket chart, a toy train, or one o

The Joys of Bucket Filling

Mary Forhan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:50:05 +0000

Thanksgiving ushers in the season of giving – not just the giving found with the rush to purchase gifts on Black Friday, but the giving from the heart, the giving that touches lives in truly memorable ways.

Integrating PE and Literacy

Mary Forhan — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:43:43 +0000

Why integrate PE and literacy? This is a world of high-stakes testing where every teacher in a school has a role in the outcome of tests that reflect student achievement. If the PE teacher can use a subject that most students already enjoy, physical education with the modality of movement, to enrich teaching from another discipline, everyone wins. By integrating movement and literacy, children use more of their senses to

Can Exercise Make You Smarter?

Mary Forhan — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:47:12 +0000

One research study conducted in the neuroscience and kinesiology lab at the University of Illinois found that "the kids with the fittest bodies were the ones with the fittest brains," even when other factors such as socioeconomic status were taken into account. Another study found that researchers were able to coax the human brain into growing new nerve cells by engaging subjects in a 3-month aerobic workout regimen. Evidence is beginning t

Wizard Brain vs Lizard Brain: Critical Thinking Skills

Denver DataMan — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:33:27 +0000

My daughter is a school psychologist in California. One of the programs she is most excited about grew out of her work in Denver, a program called Brain Wise. She described it as a way for children from kindergarten through high school, at risk-youth and special ed students to learn critical thinking skills.

Free Downloadable 2011-2012 Student Calendar

Mary Forhan — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 18:51:40 +0000

Here is a great way to start the school day with a calendar students can use all year long. Print enough copies for your students to each have their own calendar. Students learn about the passage of days, months, seasons, events and holidays as they work their way through the pages. Children practice writing numbers in sequence as they initially trace the numbers. As the year progresses mo

Word Wall Phonemic Awareness Fun

Mary Forhan — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:54:46 +0000

Kids love to touch and hold real objects and toys when you do phonemic awareness. One kindergarten teacher I know has added a phonemic awareness element to her Word Wall. She attached the alphabet letters in sequence at eye level, leaving room above and below the letters to add things. Above the letters, she added plastic bags containing objects that began with each letter as it was studied. Below the letters she a

Early Warning Signs of Dyslexia

Mary Forhan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:02:35 +0000

The most important way you can help a child with dyslexia is by identifying the problem early, providing help in areas of weakness, and developing accommodations to utilize strengths. Focusing on strengths as well as weaknesses will help the child see himself as capable.

The first clues include:

Jazz up Your Reading Program with Comic Books

Mary Forhan — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:20:31 +0000

With the explosion of comic book superheroes on the big screen, children are becoming more familiar with Spiderman, Superman, and Batman. They are eager to find out more about the adventures of their favorite superheroes. Capitalize on this excitement by drawing them into reading through the world of comics. Comic books, or graphic novels, are a powerful support of visual literacy. Children who struggle

Is Your Child Ready for Preschool?

Mary Forhan — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 04:09:03 +0000

What should your child know to be ready for preschool? The answer depends in part on how much time your child has spent in social settings away from you. So one of the first things your child will need is to be comfortable in group settings. If you have been reading to your child from birth or before, you are in good shape. If not, it is not too late to start. Read to your child before naps,

What Your Child Should Know Before Kindergarten

Mary Forhan — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:06:29 +0000

Kindergarten has changed over the years. It is no longer a place to do dress-ups and play in the pretend kitchen. Children no longer spend hours building with blocks and driving toy cars. The focus has changed from developing social skills to developing a well-rounded child including social, emotional, fine-motor and academic skills. Literacy has been recognized as a primary goal of the kindergar

Pint-sized Kindness Superheroes

Mary Forhan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:20:17 +0000

Flying through the streets of Missoula, Montana, capes flaring behind them, three-and four-year-old Superheroes of Kindness are on their way to their next mission – spreading joy to a nearby assisted living home. They hand out hand-made flowers to the residents accompanied by the message, “We are here to make you smile.” Who could resist that?

Lessons from Fathers

Mary Forhan — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:06:19 +0000

June is the month we honor fathers – our own fathers and the fathers of our children. We pay tribute to our fathers in the way we live our lives. My own father w

A-B-C For Fitness: Add more movement into your classroom

Mary Forhan — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:51:49 +0000

Sure, we all know that movement and recess is important for kids’ well-being. However, there are just so many hours in the school day.

Mothers Day - Love You Forever

Mary Forhan — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:18:21 +0000

Many of us teachers are also mothers – both are nurturing professions. Once a mother, always a mother.

Move Your Body - Literacy Connection

Mary Forhan — Wed, 04 May 2011 16:52:02 +0000

Join the “Move Your Body” movement sweeping the country with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to fight childhood obesity. She has joined up with Beyonce to initiate a choreographed dance routine

Autism and Literacy

Mary Forhan — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:12:54 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of having lunch with a remarkable woman. Gina St.

Colorado Storytime DVD - Free Resource for At-Risk Children

Mary Forhan — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 21:19:29 +0000

I received a complimentary copy of a great resource for those of you working with young children, especially ESL and at-risk-children in childcare centers, preschools, libraries, or kindergarten classrooms. A Colorado Storytime is a wonderful read-aloud DVD produced by Friends of Food for Thought, a Colorado organization that focuses on early childhood literacy. Its mission is to help childr

Integrating Early Literacy into Physical Education Classes

Mary Forhan — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:42:30 +0000

Several months ago I received a request from Charles Silberman, a PE teacher from Maryland, who believes in a holistic approach to education. He is passionate about movement and physical education and was exploring the possibilities of integrating early literacy into his 4-5 year-old PE classes. I sent him the CD The Alphabet Workout: Songs and Actions for Learning Letter Sounds packaged with fu

Teaching the Walkers - ai and ay

Mary Forhan — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:11:58 +0000

I enjoy teaching the “Walkers”. Kids seem to pick up the concept fairly easily. The Walkers get their name from the old rhyme, “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.” I start by writing ai and ay on the board. I draw arms, legs and a face on the letter a.

Keeping Kids Safe - The Swimsuit Lesson

Mary Forhan — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:11:06 +0000

As much as we would like to think the problem doesn’t exist or that we can close our eyes and it would go away, the problem of assaults on children remains. One in three little girls and one in six little boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18 according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. It is socially irresponsible not to talk about inappropriate touch with children. There is

Big Bad Bullies

Mary Forhan — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:19:33 +0000

After Columbine, and after a rash of teen suicides linked to bullying, the furor over the deaths has brought increased national attention to the issue. Several weeks ago President Barack Obama and the first lady convened a White House conference on bullying prevention.

b/d Confusion? Mr. Beady Eyes to the Rescue

Mary Forhan — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:54:46 +0000

Math Teacher vs Gunman: Keep Kids Safe

Mary Forhan — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:59:49 +0000

What would you do if a gunman fired at students in your school? Would you be able to stay calm and think through options? Would you act to save your students? I had the honor this weekend of attending the presentation of The Bob P Connelly Heroism Award to Dr. David Benke. Dr.

Why Bother Teaching Handwriting?

Mary Forhan — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 01:32:11 +0000

Is teaching handwriting a waste of time? Is it a lost art that has lost usefulness due to electronic communication? Why bother? Well, as it turns out, there is good reason to bother.

Teaching Art with Books Kids Love

Mary Forhan — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:20:52 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about getting more books and stories into the school day. One of the ideas that recurs is to incorporate books into every subject. I wrote about using picture books to teach math concepts, but art is another area to incorporate children’s literature.

"Cool" Math with Picture Books

Mary Forhan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:07:17 +0000

Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, was a typical girl growing up in Southern California, playing sports and spending as much time outdoors as possible. When she was indoors she spent time following her passions – math and science. Her parents weren’t sci

Time to Learn About China - Books for Chinese New Year 2/3/11

Mary Forhan — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:40:59 +0000

China is in the news a great deal these days. It is an enormous country with a huge population, and an amazing ancient history. Any time is a good time for children to expand awareness of the world around them, but Chinese New Year presents an especially opportune time to spend time reading about this fascinating country on the other side of the world.

Language and a Child's Brain

Mary Forhan — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:54:17 +0000

I just finished reading research on how a child begins to learn the sounds of his/her language. There is an explosion of information on how the brain works, due to new techniques of brain imaging. What scientists are finding is that childrens’ brains code more information that they hear and see, much earlier than had been expected or predicted. Learning doesn’t begin the first day of school, but in the first months of l

Kindergarten Morning Work - Read Around the Room

Mary Forhan — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:54:22 +0000

Get your students warmed up and moving with these ideas for reading around the room. At each student’s place, have a plastic cup of magnet or other matching pieces waiting for him. Pieces include matching activities for numbers, pictures with first sound, pictures with words featuring key concept, sight word pictures, lunch sign-up, lower case and upper case matching, etc.

The Paradox of Dyslexia:Profound difficulties experienced by bright people learning to read

Mary Forhan — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:40:07 +0000

Dyslexia affects one out of every five children in America, yet many parents, classroom teachers, and others who work with children don’t really understand what it is and how it impacts the children they know. Sally Shaywitz has written a comprehensive guide in her book, Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level.

Talking to Babies Makes All the Difference

Mary Forhan — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:10:23 +0000

Age four is too late to close the achievement gap between the children of rich and poor parents. Why? Steven Inskeep, on National Public Radio, recently posted a piece on the importance of talking to babies. He reported on research from Hart and Risley that followed 40 families from all economic levels, recording every word spoken to their children during the first three years of their lives. The results w

What Makes Education in Top-Performing Countries So Successful?

Mary Forhan — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:54:56 +0000

U.S. students are falling behind in educational achievement according to the latest global assessments of 15-year-olds. What are other countries doing? Take a look at schools in Finland, Singapore, and Canada.

Winter Patterns Reproducible Book - Handwriting, Math and Reading Practice

Mary Forhan — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:06:26 +0000

Here is a downloadable reproducible book with multiple uses that is great for busy teachers and fun for parents and children.

Wake Up U.S. - We are Falling Behind

Mary Forhan — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:35:19 +0000

In an article titled “U.S.

Winter Colors Free Book Encourages Reading

Mary Forhan — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:14:08 +0000

Practice writing and reading colors with this free resource, Winter Colors. The reproducible pages can be downloaded and copied double-sided to make a book your children can use for practicing reading and writing and then take home to share. A class book can be made if each child contributes one page. The materials are available on our free resources page.

Stop Waiting for Superman - He's Not Coming!

Mary Forhan — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:12:26 +0000

I just finished reading Waiting for ”Superman” - How We Can Save America’s Failing Public Schools, a companion book to the acclaimed documentary by the same name. The book is edited by Karl Weber and features chapters by many of America’s leading experts on education. I am eager to see the film, from Davis Guggenheim who directed

Thanksgiving Counting Book - Fun Counting, Reading and Writing practice

Mary Forhan — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:34:47 +0000

Here is a great free book for your students that provides opportunities to practice a number of skills. It also gives a starting point for talking about the first Thanksgiving, the role of the Pilgrims, and the three ships they sailed on in search of religious freedom.

Three Autumn Projects

Mary Forhan — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:55:54 +0000

Here are three enrichment activities for fall. The scarecrow glyph project requires students to do some critical thinking. They make decisions for components of their scarecrows based on their own individual attributes. For example, if the student is a girl she will make a green shirt, and if the student is a boy, he will make a yellow shirt. If the student has pets, the hat will be

Thanksgiving Thankful Wreath Project for K/1

Mary Forhan — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:05:28 +0000

Darcie Frohardt created a fun project for the Thanksgiving holiday. A simple white paper plate forms the basis for this Thankful Wreath. Use the masters on the Free Resource page to duplicate leaves in red, yellow, and orange. Cut the leaves out 3 or 4 pages at a time and give each child a variety of colors and shapes. Bra

Even Good TV is Bad for Kids

Mary Forhan — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:02:37 +0000

Guest Blog by Deborah Hage - "How NOT to Raise a Gifted Child " - The relationship elements required to create a bond are simple and straightforward. They flow naturally between parent and child in a ceaseless rhythm.

Halloween Make-It Book Encourages Reading

Mary Forhan — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:13:37 +0000

Children love to read books they have made themselves. The process is even more fun when they read books about holidays - and Halloween is no exception! What kid is not excited about Halloween and all the costume possibilities. Teachers can capitalize on this enthusiasm by having children put together this simple Halloween pattern book, www.alp

Time Out for Recess

Mary Forhan — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:23:11 +0000

More and more research is coming out about the problems associated with a lack of recess, PE, and movement in schools.

Great Kindergarten Teacher Value: $320,000 per year

Mary Forhan — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:19:35 +0000

Your kindergarten teacher may hold one of the keys to your success in life. Research indicates that an excellent teacher adds $320,000 more working-life income to a full class of students, than does an average teacher. Researchers did a long-term study of 11,571 students in K-3 in Tennessee in the late 1980s. They followed the children into adulthood with the goal of correlatin

Video Games and Learning - The Tech-Free Challenge

Mary Forhan — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:17:03 +0000

A recent study cited in the medical journal Pediatrics, finds that children “who spend more than two hours a day in front of a television – either watching their favorite shows or playing video games—are 67% more likely to find it difficult to concentrate in school,” and, video games are played in 90% of homes with kids ages 8-16. Time spent on electronic media – TV, Internet, movies, etc.

Read a Book - Give a Free Book to a Needy Child

Mary Forhan — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:15:17 +0000

After spending time at an orphanage in Haiti, an article in the Colorado Kids section of the Denver Post caught my eye. Written by Allyson Malecha, 8^th grade Colorado Kids Reporter, the article was titled “When you read books, less fortunate kids get to have books.” What a great concept! The children in Jeremie, Haiti were so excited to see the books I brought with me that they clustered around the oldest child to listen to him

Clearing up Myths about Learning

Mary Forhan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:49:41 +0000

We have been holding on to wisdom passed down from teachers and counselors that may be flat wrong. We have been telling parents and children that it is best to study in a quiet place – that parents need to set up a single place where children can do homework and focus on studying and learning. Wrong! We pass on the advice that children need to focus on one thing at a time – to immerse themselves in one type of material.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten Handwriting

Mary Forhan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:55:57 +0000

What do children need to be successful in beginning handwriting experiences? Four and five-year-olds in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms will benefit most from handwriting lessons if they have developed the necessary strength and flexibility in their hands and fingers to hold and manipulate a pencil. Children who begin handwriting before they have sufficient strength and dexterity in their hands may dev

Stop the Downward Slide of Reading Skills Over the Summer

Mary Forhan — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:30:56 +0000

The Denver Post recently had several articles on the problem of the loss of academic skills, particularly reading, over summer vacation. Teachers at two featured schools had decided to do something about it. Since this is an issue that comes up year after year, summer after summer, it might make sense to examine possible solutions for next summer vacation, with an eye to making plans ahead.

Confessions of a Readaholic

Mary Forhan — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:51:15 +0000

I want to tell you about an amazing book I just finished reading called The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. But first I have a confession to make. My name is Mary and I am a readaholic. I first discovered this “problem” when I was in elementary school and found myself hopelessly trying to finish Nancy Drew books by flashlight under the covers at night, or reading Charlot

Using Stuffed Animals as Reading/Writing Buddies

Mary Forhan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:13:27 +0000

Book Bags - Turn Students into Star Readers

Mary Forhan — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:46:20 +0000

Summer is the time to tackle those projects that you don't have time for during the school year. One such project is organizing a classroom library to provide take-home options. I have found that sending books home at the appropriate reading level help students develop good reading habits. I can choose books that are decodable at the student’s own reading level. Students feel successful

Hung up on Reading - Can McDonalds Happy Meals Help?

Mary Forhan — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:06:54 +0000

Thomas Jane, star of HBO’s Hung, is hung up on reading, especially when it comes to developing a love of reading in Harlow, his 7-year-old daughter with Patricia Arquette. “Somebody is going to read that kid a story every night,” he insists.

Inspiring Voracious Readers

Mary Forhan — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:42:19 +0000

Shortly after I graduated from graduate school with a master’s degree in reading education, I stumbled across an eye-opening and inspirational book called Marva Collin’s Way. The author indicated that we underestimate our students; that we fail to challenge them in ways that instill a drive to learn. It set the bar high for what a dedicated teacher could accomplish.

Learning to Love Reading: Startling Statistics

Mary Forhan — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:43:29 +0000

According to a 2007 study funded by The Jenkins Group:

“1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
42% of college graduates never read another book after college.
80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.

Should Videos Be Used in Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms?

Mary Forhan — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:50:12 +0000

Using videos in preschool has been controversial, but can it be effective? One study conducted by the Educational Development Center found that, used appropriately, video viewing can enhance p

Kindergarten Assessment News

Mary Forhan — Sun, 23 May 2010 17:27:18 +0000

We are elated at the exciting assessment results from a Denver metro area school using The Alphabet Workout in all five of its kindergarten classrooms. This school has a population of 69.9% free/reduced lunch and 78.9% second language students. Yet it produced the following end-of- year results in its five kindergarten classrooms:

Soaring with Summer Reading and Writing

Mary Forhan — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:30:33 +0000

I just returned from Africa where I had the breath-taking experience of flying in a microlight. I climbed onto the back of a motorcycle-like contraption with hang-glider wings and strapped in behind the pilot. The little engine roared to life, the propeller behind me began to spin, and we were off down the runway.

Letter of the Week/Letter of the Day - How Fast is Too Fast?

Mary Forhan — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:31:41 +0000

Astonishing! Unintentionally, I discovered something quite astonishing!

Stand and Deliver - From Good Teaching to Great Teaching - Part 3

Mary Forhan — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:12:58 +0000

News item in the 3/31/2010 Denver Post: “Jaime Escalante, the charismatic former East Los Angeles high school teacher who taught the nation that inner-city students could master subjects as demanding as calculus, died Tuesday… Escalante’s dramatic success raised public consciousness of what it took to be not just a good teacher but a great one…Jaime didn’t just teach math. Like all great teachers, he changed lives.

A Great Reading Teacher-Made Not Born - Part 2

Mary Forhan — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:41:24 +0000

Last night I saw the musical Mary Poppins, and it reminded me of one core idea at the heart of being a great teacher. Mary Poppins was a firm, no-nonsense nanny, but she brought joy to her interactions with the children. Remember, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and SNAP-the job’s a game!”

What Makes a Great Reading Teacher? Part 1

Mary Forhan — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:23:05 +0000

The Sunday Denver Post, dated March 14, 2010, poses some critical questions. “Research shows teachers are the single-most-important factor in a child’s successful education. But what makes a great teacher great? And once someone figures that out, how do school districts impart those skills to every teacher who needs them?”

Writing Chapter Books with Beginning Writers - Part 2

Mary Forhan — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:47:11 +0000

In Part 1 I talked about the “Why” of writing chapter books with beginning writers. In Part 2, I want to address the “How.” How do you get started with getting children engaged in writing a whole chapter book when sometimes it is hard to get them to write a single sentence?

Writing Chapter Books with Beginning Writers - Part 1

Mary Forhan — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:32:28 +0000

I was just reflecting on a comment that I received from a Colorado Conference of the International Reading Association attendee. She writes, “I really enjoyed your class at CCIRA. Today, I started a chapter book based on The Magic Tree House series. Hopefully, it will turn out okay. Today, everyone wrote first, instead of getting to choose whether to illustrate or write first. I liked it.

How to Catch a Leprechaun

Mary Forhan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:18:30 +0000

Top o’ the mornin’ to you from all the little wee folk! Years after a child had been in my class, parents would stop me to tell me how much their child loved Saint Patrick’s Day.

Using Music to Teach Phonemic Awareness and Listening Skills

Mary Forhan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:28:55 +0000

Music is a perfect way to introduce children to the critical listening skills involved in phonemic awareness. Children learn to hear differences between sounds as they sing the songs, participate in the activities, and answer the riddles. Try the following songs in your class to enrich your phonemic awareness instruction.

Down by the Station

Down by the station

Early in the morning

See the /s/ train all set to go

Using Music to Enrich Phonemic Awareness and Listening Skills

Mary Forhan — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:30:09 +0000

Phonemic Awareness begins with the ability to listen. What is phonemic awareness?

a. It is the ability to hear, identify and play with individual sounds (phonemes) in words.

b. It is being able to notice that the word “cow” has two sounds /k//ow/, and the word “frog” has four sounds /f//r//o//g/.

Beginning Handwriting Made Fun

Mary Forhan — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:34:26 +0000

Prepare children for handwriting before they ever pick up a pencil. Children as young as two have fun with large paint brushes painting with a bucket of water on a wall. The side of the garage on a hot day offers a great canvas for developing those gross motor skills and refining fine motor skills. Children become more adept with various writing instruments as they become exposed to them. Starting with fingers and hands, young children love to draw and “write” in finger paint, shaving cream, pudding, and whip cream – either on a cookie tray or on paper. Encourage th

Learning Letter Sounds Through Music

Mary Forhan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:25:01 +0000

I lived in Japan when I was 12 yet I can still sing the Japanese words to “The Coal Miner’s Dance,” and “Sakura,” even though I don’t speak Japanese. I can remember the words to “The Little Blue Man” which was popular when I was about 6 or 7, and to a Nepalese song from a trek taken years ago in Nepal. Think back to your earliest musical memories. Did they help you learn to count or say the ABCs? Some of our earliest memories are of songs sung to us as lullabies, and songs can call up specific memories of events and places. A friend recently told me that she learned

Let's Do Nothing - Boys and Literacy

Mary Forhan — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:58:40 +0000

At the recent CCIRA (Colorado Council of the International Reading Association) conference, a friend introduced me to a new book: Let’s Do Nothing by Tony Fucile. Tony Fucile is best known for designing and animating characters for cartoon feature films such as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. Let’s Do Nothing is his first picture book. I love it because it captures the rambunctious, itching-to-move, can’t-sit-still nature of boys. When Frankie and Sal become bored after playing every sport, painting every picture

Handwriting - Capitals vs Lower Case?

Mary Forhan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:33:21 +0000

Capitals vs Lower Case? That is the question. Many children pick up writing and reading capital letters from signs, television programming, parents and daycare. For some reason it is thought that capital letters are somehow easier and/or better for beginning readers and writers. But ask yourself this: Is it better to do something because it is easy, or because it is right? Look at the print in front of you. What portion of it is written in capital letters? Not much. Lower case letters have far greater utility for a child learning to read and writ

Building Fluency and Comprehension through Closed-Captioning

Mary Forhan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:41:22 +0000

I was sitting in a chair under the hair dryer as my hair dresser fussed with adjusting the temperature. “I’m writing a blog about reading,” I told her. She settled into the chair next to me, casually waved her hand in a circle, and then pointed at me. “I’m going to give you the best tip ever. Every parent should know this, and I’m telling it to you for free. The best way to help a kid be a better, faster reader is to use closed-captioning.”

Teaching the Active Child to Read - The Importance of Movement

Mary Forhan — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:15:42 +0000

Why wouldn’t you want to incorporate movement into teaching your active child to read? It has so many benefits.“Research now conclusively demonstrates that human brains continuously form as many as 30,000 new cells every day, and the brain rewires itself by continuously forming new connections between neurons,” reports Dr.

Homeschooling Those Wiggly Kids

Mary Forhan — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:55:45 +0000

Homeschooling presents its own special joys and challenges. One of the challenges is teaching those wiggly kids who have trouble sitting still for a lesson. Your child may be struggling with ADHD, dyslexia, vision and sensory integration issues or a host of other possibilities, but you are faced with struggling with him. Your challenge becomes maintaining the joy while helping the child learn in a way that meets and incorporates his/her learning style.

Calling All Dads! It's Read-Aloud Time

Mary Forhan — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:56:15 +0000

Calling all Dads! Reading aloud isn’t just for the holidays or special occasions. Busy fathers who don’t read to their children are missing the creation of magical moments, as well as the chance to contribute to their children’s developing literacy skills. Yet, a poll commissioned by the National Center for Fathering revealed that a staggering 39% of fathers never read to their children.

Decodable Readers for Second Language Students - More ESL

Mary Forhan — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:23:07 +0000

More ESL I am working with a number of middle school students from multiple countries who have a basic understanding of letter sounds and decoding, but don’t know how to break words into syllables or use advanced phonics patterns like au/aw. They read at about a first or second grade level and they struggle with spelling since they often don’t hear consonant blends or sound differences between the vowels. For those students I introduce new concepts each lesson like magic e, walkers, suffixes, etc.

The Gift of Reading

Mary Forhan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:46:17 +0000

This holiday season give the gift that will give a lifetime of memories – the gift of reading. For years my sister, Deb, gave each of my three children a beautiful Christmas picture book for Christmas. What a wonderful tradition! Every night for the month of December, the whole family would cuddle together on the sofa and select one or more of the books to read and share. Books ranged from the humorous, Santa Cows, to the religious, The Littlest Angel, to the secular The Polar Express. Those evenings after dinner are cherished memories of the ho

Teaching Middle School Immigrants

Denver DataMan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:13:44 +0000

ESL is closest to my mind right now as I am working with middle school immigrants who have been in the USA for as little time as 2 months. I see them once or twice weekly in a pull-out program. I have students in one group from Somalia, Iraq, Mexico, Russia, Thailand, Burma, and Central African Republic. Some of the students learned to read in their own language and understand basic reading principles. Others have very little background knowledge and come by way of refugee camps.