Dear Parents:
Calling All Neurons!
Language, Literacy, Lori’s Take
The Latest Posts
Parenting Begins Way Before One Becomes A Parent
Jeri Willamina, 3 months old Picture credit: me, Lori Josephson!! “PARENTING BEGINS WAY BEFORE ONE BECOMES A PARENT”-A WISE PERSON SAID THIS TO ME WHAT IS PARENTING? I thought this first blog post perhaps should begin to address the notion of ‘parenting’ itself. What does it mean to become a parent? What are the responsibilities of a parent? What does language development and literacy have to do with parenting anyway? According to the American Psychological Association, parenting practices around the world share three major goals: ensuring the health and safety of childrengetting children ready to live a…
One Great Teacher + One Great Idea = Recipe for Change in the Right Direction
Teachers who teach families about The Science of Reading are doing kids a lot of good. Even if it’s just one school at a time. Who Is This Great Teacher? Meet Rosemary Shaver One day last fall, I received an email from a teacher named Rosemary. She asked if I had a Study Guide for my book, Calling All Neurons! How Reading and Spelling Happen. Next, she asked if I would grant her permission to use what was on my website and some illustrations. At the time, I had no idea what she had in mind. I granted Rosemary…
NAEP SCORES ARE ‘DOWN’ and ‘OUT’…WHY READ ‘Calling All Neurons!’ NOW?
The Prelude The results of NAEP 2024 (National Assessment of Educational Progress-otherwise known as the ‘Nation’s Report Card) for grades 4, 8 and 12 are now available. The 2024 scores provide nationwide information in the areas of reading, mathematics, and grade 8 science. For the purposes of this article, I focus only on the reading portion of the assessment. A Flurry of Responses Of course, a bunch of articles appeared just following the release of the latest reading scores. Author Natalie Wexler stated the scores “triggered a tsunami of dismay”. Dana Goldberg of the NY Times wrote, “the poor…
I Was Going to Write About the Nation’s Reading Report Card (NAEP)…But “My Mother Let Go of the Grass”
Most recently, the release of the new NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress–often thought of as the Nation’s Report Card) scores reveals that our nation’s 4th and 8th graders’ reading and math scores remain dismal and have not risen since the past administration in 2022. The aftermath of the pandemic is real and our nation’s children have not recovered. 69-71% of our nation’s 4th and 8th graders achieved reading scores below what would be considered ‘proficient’. Math scores are hardly better, particularly for the nation’s 8th graders. This pains me greatly. I had planned on writing about the NAEP,…
A Parent’s Plea: How Can I Help My Child With Reading At Home?
Recently, I came upon a “not infrequently” posed question from a teacher on behalf of a ‘distraught parent’: “I work with a student whose parent was distraught after seeing the results of routine mid-year screening. As one can imagine, this student did poorly on the screening and reportedly has been diagnosed with dyslexia. The parent wanted to know “what could be done at home in the form of an app or workbook” to improve this student’s reading. Can you provide suggestions?” 100% of the time I see a question like this (as I fulfill my volunteer role as a…
Kids and Adults: Time to Chill Out Because Winter Solstice is Upon Us
Each year on December 21, 22, or 23, darkness envelops Earth’s Northern Hemisphere for a bit longer than normal. While what we now know to be the winter solstice has a straightforward astronomical explanation, early myths of why the solstice takes place also share insights into early civilizations’ steps into science.Science ATL Image by Tom Fisk from Pexels Why YOU Want to Know About Winter Solstice? I’m choosing to write about Winter Solstice this month because it’s important for all of us, adults and kids alike, to S…L…O…W down and pay some attention to the environment around us this…
Sharing GRATITUDE…a Timely Topic to Discuss with Families and Students
What is GRATITUDE? Gratitude is far more than being simply ‘thankful’. According to Brian Tracy, a Canadian-American motivational speaker, these are the “4 A’s of Gratitude”: Appreciation: Expressing gratitude for people and things in your life Approval: Praising and giving approval for ideas, suggestions, and reasonable effort Admiration: Complimenting people on their accomplishments and traits Attention: Listening to others with patience, thoughtfulness, and without interrupting Professor Andrea Hussong of The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, believes in the NOTICE-THINK-FEEL-DO method of practicing gratitude: Notice what you have in your life or has come into your life, no matter how small. Think about why you…
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