Sara B. Gauldin's Blog, page 11
December 7, 2013
Teach Your Child to Read: c + at makes cat!
When your child has a firm knowledge of the sounds that individual letters represent, it is time to build upon that knowledge with the introduction of word families. Word families are exactly what the name suggests; words that are related by sharing a common root or ending sound. The most classic example of a word family is the “at” family, which includes cat, sat, fat, mat, rat, hat and later words like flat and slat. Word families are a great way to help your child transition from the discovery of letter sounds using chunks of sounds to create actual words that have meanings which they recognize.
Try This!
Most children who understand letter sounds will readily accept two-letter combinations. I recommend that you begin with teaching the “at” family. Label a note card “at.” Label several other cards with the consonants’ b, c, f, h, m, p, r, s, and v. Guide your child to sound out the letters in “at” until they are confident that the letter pair says “at.” Using one consonant card at a time, have your child review the sound the letter makes. When they correctly identify the sound, place the card in front of the “at” card so that the word is in proper order. Place your child’s finger on the consonant, then repeat its sound. After you have practiced the consonant sound, place your child’s finger on the “at” card, then repeat the sound. Repeat the introduction to the paired sounds on the cards with greater speed. Most children will make the connection and read the word created by adding the consonant to the word family fairly quickly. If trouble persists, continue to model the blending for your child. Say to them “Fff… at, Fff..at, Fff.at makes fat.” When your child has successfully mastered the “at” family you may move on to other ‘short a’ families such as “ap,” “an” and “ad.” Introduce them separately and practice each set for several days before moving to the next feature. I like to progress somewhat alphabetically. Stick to the two-letter families to begin with. Later, you can work up to the three-letter families like –ack.
Another great strategy that I rely on heavily is word sorting. At the word family stage, it is best to introduce a few word families as described above, and then compare the families using a sort. Word family sorts will feature two to three families. Word sorts come as one page with scrambled blocks that must be cut apart. It is advisable to have the child place his or her finger under each word, then have him or her repeat the word after you say it (echo read) before the words are ever separated. Once the words are cut apart, the child will need to find the header that indicates what each column should contain. Often, there is a guide word that is either attached to the heading, or distinguished by bold or underlined letters. The guide word goes under the header. Work with your child for the first few words. As you take each word from the stack, decide together which column of words the word should belong in. Once all words are sorted, have your child re-read each column aloud to you. The child should place a finger on each word as it is read.
There are many other activities that can be used with the sort. One option is timing a speed sort where speed and accuracy count. Another option is giving the child only the headers and having them complete a “blind sort”; you call out the word, and they point to the header that it belongs with. After extensive practice, I have my students write the words in the columns to help them to cement the distinction in their minds. I have many pre-made sorts available;
an, at, and ap sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-Word-
et and en sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-features-the-word-family-et-and-en-539237
eck, ell, en sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-eck-ell-en-539228
it, ip, ig sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-Word-Families-it-ip-and-ig-539319
it, in, ick sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-Word-Families-it-in-ick-539349
ot, ob, op sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-Word-Family-ot-ob-op-539462
ob, op, ock, ot sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-Word-Family-ob-op-ock-ot-539454
all, ill, ell sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-all-ill-and-ell-371208
ock, ack ick sort . http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Sort-for-ock-ack-ick-444347
Another technique that I find helpful is a writing sort. After the child has been introduced to two or more word families, a writing sort can be used to compare the sounds and words made by the families. Writing sorts have pre-divided sections. Call out a word from any labeled section and let the child decide which section the word belongs in. When they have decided on a word’s best placement, have them write the word to the best of their ability in that section. Emphasize that they should spell the word based on the sounds that they hear. Once written, reveal the real answer and have the child make any corrections if needed. It is important to encourage the child to compare the correct spelling of the word to their own work and to erase and fix mistakes when applicable. I have several pre-made writing sorts available;
an, ad writing sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-Word-Family-an-ad-539197
at, ap writing sort,. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-Word-Family-at-ap-539204
an, ad, at, ap writing sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-Word-Family-an-ad-at-ap-539213
it, in writing sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-it-and-in-539356
it, ick, ig, in writing sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-it-ick-ig-and-in-539371
op, ot writing sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-op-and-ot-539423
ot, og ock writing sort, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-Word-Family-ot-og-and-ock-539397
ack, ick uck writing sort http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Sort-for-ack-ick-uck-444353
Media can be helpful when learning word families. There are many commercially made videos, games and devices that focus on word families. Leapfrog offers several videos on this topic. The second listing on www.starfall.com has an entire column of word families that make a nice review. Many devices for young children focus on this skill extensively. The trick is finding the source that your child can focus on and encouraging him or her to use that source.
As with any reading skill, authentically reading materials with the featured word family is the best way to help your child begin to connect the dots and actually but the skill into practice. Visit your local library and explain to your librarian that your child is learning about word families. He or she will most likely have some book recommendations of publications that are available and offer examples of these features that are appropriate for beginning readers. When choosing a book, try to stick to one with a few words or a single sentence on each page. Help your child to look at the pictures on each page, in order and talk about what each page shows before reading the book. After you have completed your “picture walk” of the story you are ready to read. Put your finger under each word as your read them aloud. Have your child put their finger under each word as they echo the words behind you. Try to read the text in meaningful chunks and break for punctuation. It is okay to split a sentence into multiple parts. I usually use the words I can say comfortably in one breath as a stopping place when punctuation does not stop me first. After some practice with the page have your child help you to search for words form a given word family that appear on the page. Ask: “Do you see any words that are on the áp’ family?” Help your child to find and re read the themed words. You may even want to ask the child to practice writing the words they find as an added means of concreting the word and its pattern in their minds.
Related articles
Toys and Activities that Promote Creativity and Intelligence (kidzedge.com)
How to Harness the Visual Powers of the Right-Brained Learner (child-1st.typepad.com)
Teaching Your Child Good Listening Skills (akronscienceschool.com)
Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day! (eccentricchai.com)
December 4, 2013
My Review of ‘What If ? Our Plan for Independence’ by J. Meister
This brief manual offers straight-forward advice for self and family preparedness for emergency situations. The author has put quite a bit of thought into compiling practical strategies for situations that seem all too common in today’s unpredictable world full of crime, political and economic uncertainty and weather anomalies. I particularly enjoyed the portion of the book dedicated to gardening and the use of raised beds for food production!
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Protect Your Family With an Emergency Preparedness Kit (patriotrising.com)
Emergency Preparedness in Large Organizations (protectionstrategiesinc.wordpress.com)
Emergency Planning: Common Preparedness Mistakes (INFOGRAPHIC) (patriotrising.com)
Emergency Planning: Common Preparedness Mistakes (offgridsurvival.com)
An Interview with Terra Roland: The Main Character of The Corporeal Pull
The Corporeal Pull by Sara B. Gauldin
Interviewer: Today I am joined by Terra Roland, the central character from the hit new Young Adult novel, The Corporeal Pull. I must say Miss Roland; you look amazingly young considering your claim to have been in existence for over 1,000 years.
Terra: (laughs) I have been in existence, but that is not the length of my human lifetime! Your chronological age rarely matches your term of existence. We guides are not limited my mortality… well until I made my choice and wound up born into a mortal body!
Interviewer: I wanted to ask you about that. What made you decide to follow Liam when he transitioned to Earth?
Terra: You are only half right about my intentions. I wanted to follow Liam, but into destruction. I never meant to end up here on Earth. I thought I would be destroyed completely; yet here I am! I don’t know why, but I think this is my chance to set things right. If I can stop the Scourge form reaching Liam, then maybe I have a purpose here. I was not given a set purpose like the entities that were created for a mortal life.
Interviewer: I have been told that you have made claims that something called the Scourge is causing some of the problems here in the United States? What is that? And why are you the only one mentioning this problem if it is as wide spread as you say?
Terra: (is visibly shaken) The Scourge is a very real threat. This “trend” of evil is difficult for people to understand because it is not something most individuals can see directly. I think there are some people who are aware of a new reckless evil that is taking hold in our communities. I am not talking about the baser elements of human nature. I am referring to evil that is done for its own sake. I think everybody would agree that the rate of acts of violence and depravity that cannot be explained have increased tremendously. Mortal eyes may not see the cause; human minds may not remember the immortal world, but no one can deny the results of this force.
Interviewer: Whoa! I did not mean to upset you. Let’s move on to a lighter topic. You and Liam… Any big plans for the future?
Terra: To be honest, my only plans involve trying to turn the tide of the Scourge so that we can HAVE a future. Until then, our paths will never really be our own, but that does not mean that I won’t keep fighting for the chance to have those future plans you mentioned.
Interviewer: Well I for one will be excited to see what happens next! Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions!
Terra: I’m glad to do it. I think people need to become aware of what they are really being exposed to.
An Interview with Terra Roland Main Character of The Corporeal Pull
The Corporeal Pull by Sara B. Gauldin
Interviewer: Today I am joined by Terra Roland, the central character from the hit new Young Adult novel, The Corporeal Pull. I must say Miss Roland; you look amazingly young considering your claim to have been in existence for over 1,000 years.
Terra: (laughs) I have been in existence, but that is not the length of my human lifetime! Your chronological age rarely matches your term of existence. We guides are not limited my mortality… well until I made my choice and wound up born into a mortal body!
Interviewer: I wanted to ask you about that. What made you decide to follow Liam when he transitioned to Earth?
Terra: You are only half right about my intentions. I wanted to follow Liam, but into destruction. I never meant to end up here on Earth. I thought I would be destroyed completely; yet here I am! I don’t know why, but I think this is my chance to set things right. If I can stop the Scourge form reaching Liam, then maybe I have a purpose here. I was not given a set purpose like the entities that were created for a mortal life.
Interviewer: I have been told that you have made claims that something called the Scourge is causing some of the problems here in the United States? What is that? And why are you the only one mentioning this problem if it is as wide spread as you say?
Terra: (is visibly shaken) The Scourge is a very real threat. This “trend” of evil is difficult for people to understand because it is not something most individuals can see directly. I think there are some people who are aware of a new reckless evil that is taking hold in our communities. I am not talking about the baser elements of human nature. I am referring to evil that is done for its own sake. I think everybody would agree that the rate of acts of violence and depravity that cannot be explained have increased tremendously. Mortal eyes may not see the cause; human minds may not remember the immortal world, but no one can deny the results of this force.
Interviewer: Whoa! I did not mean to upset you. Let’s move on to a lighter topic. You and Liam… Any big plans for the future?
Terra: To be honest, my only plans involve trying to turn the tide of the Scourge so that we can HAVE a future. Until then, our paths will never really be our own, but that does not mean that I won’t keep fighting for the chance to have those future plans you mentioned.
Interviewer: Well I for one will be excited to see what happens next! Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions!
Terra: I’m glad to do it. I think people need to become aware of what they are really being exposed to.
December 1, 2013
My Review of Daughter of the Winds by Jo Bunt
Daughter of the Winds chronicles the emotional journey of Leni as she seeks her family roots in an effort to come to terms with a great personal loss. Leni persuades her employer to allow her to travel to Aphrodite’s Island to investigate the local cuisine on assignment as a food writer. Her motivation is actually of a much more personal nature.
The story unfolds from a dual vantage point. Leni tells of her experiences as she attempts to understand the Greek culture she was orphaned from and the tumultuous relationship of the Greeks and Turks in the vicinity. A secondary point of view intersperses the difficult story of Pru, Leni’s adoptive mother and her experiences while living in the same location in 1974. The story artfully intertwines the two elements into one riveting tale.
Each detail is skillfully revealed in a natural progression of the plot. The story is laden with powerful sensory descriptions that allow the reader to experience the journey, and the conflicts that drove it in an intense manner.
The relevance of the journey both women take is carefully interspersed with historical accuracy describing the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Greek town of Famagusta, part of which is the modern day ghost town of Varosha.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read!
Related articles
Cyprus negotiator: We insist on the Famagusta proposal (famagusta-gazette.com)
Group aims for the revival of Famagusta (famagusta-gazette.com)
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Famagusta initiative sees more benefits in reopening city (cyprus-mail.com)
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November 30, 2013
Exciting Day.
Reblogged from An Author's View:
I'm delighted to say that The Corporeal Pull by Sara B Gauldin is now available to buy on Kindle.
You'll understand why I'm so excited when you see the name of the editor.
The Corporeal Pull is a very good read, and I highly recommend it.
To find out more about my editing service, please click on the 'Editing' tab above.
A few thoughts from my fabulous editor Alison Jack on the release of my new book, The Corporeal Pull!
Chapter 1, The Corporeal Pull by Sara Gauldin
Now Available on Amazon; The Corporeal Pull
Chapter 1
Several months earlier…
Terra gazed into the complacent mob of trainees and braced herself to give a training speech. The strange tension of anxiety gripped her, but she was determined to continue; she would not allow herself to be perceived as weak. The room seemed larger from her vantage point. The faces that should seem young and naïve now appeared expectant and demanding.
Here is a chapter from my exciting new book, The Corporeal Pull. This book is the product of a vivid dream that began a thrilling journey in my imagination. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
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A sneak preview from The Corporeal Pull (sebgwrites.wordpress.com)
November 29, 2013
A sneak preview from The Corporeal Pull
The Corporeal Pull, Now Available at Amazon
Prologue
Dear Halle,
If you are reading this letter, then I am gone. I will not send Liam to his destruction alone. If he is meant to be destroyed in his mortal journey, then I will not continue in this realm without him. I am sorry that I wasn’t strong enough to stay. I regret the charges I will have to abandon the most, but I know that there are other guides with a newer and more adaptable temperament who will be better able to guide them once I have gone.
I am thrilled to announce the publication of my new book, The Corporeal Pull! The book is now available on Amazon!
November 27, 2013
Because A says ahh!
Once letter recognition and names are firmly entrenched in your child’s developing mind, they are set to learn that each of those 52 symbols represents a sound! I must stress that children need to have letter recognition mastered before proceeding to this step. Each step builds on the next and by mastering one skill set before moving on to the subsequent skill you will avoid learning gaps that cause trouble later on.
Again, when learning letter sounds repetition is the key. Children love motion, use “on the go” activities to review letters and letter sounds as you come to them.
Try this!
Have a scavenger hunt for items that have the beginning sound of a certain letter. For instance, a child may find an apple for the letter a, a brush for the letter b or a card for the letter c. Challenge your child to find a specific number of items or make a collection. On your daily commute or during waiting times you can ask your child to find letter items with their eyes. A modified game of eye spy using letter sound clues is good for active young people who have trouble with sit-down style learning.
Bring back the foam sword. This time guide the child as they form the letters then make the sound that is associated with the letter with a final jab.
Bring back the lower-case letter cards you made for letter recognition. Spread the letters out on a table so that your child can see them easily, and they are facing the right direction. Call out a word and have your child find the letter that makes the beginning sound of the word.
Work on picture sorts with your child. Ideally, a sort should feature no more than two to three letters to begin with. Put the letters at the top, and then guide your child to say the name of each picture before placing it in the proper column under the letter with the same sound. Here are some letters and pictures that are premade; (http://www.alphabetavenue.net/GGActivities/SnapSoundGG.pdf). They need to be cut and mixed up before sorting. Make sure you only use two or three letters at a time!
If you are working with children in a group, alphabet bingo makes a nice review.
One of my favorite websites is free and fabulous to use to reinforce letter names and the sounds that accompany them. PLEASE check out Starfall (http://www.starfall.com). When you go to the website, stick with the ABC section near the top for now. My children want to click wildly and explore everything. I ask them to explore a predetermined number of letters before venturing off. This site is bright and animated. It is obvious that the designers put quite a bit of thought, knowledge and quality into making the site both educational and capable of holding the attention of wiggly young minds.
As much as I do not advocate using the television as a babysitter, Leapfrog makes a nice line of videos that are useful for learning and reinforcing letter concepts. They can be purchased at most stores that sell videos. I purchased the videos at Toys R Us. As of today, they are available on Amazon as well. The videos listed below are great for letter concepts.
Letter Factory, Phonics Farm, and the Amazing Alphabet Amusement Park
If you have an iPad, iPod or iPhone that you allow your child to use, then the app, pocketphonics is worthy of downloading. Starfall also offers a series of apps for these devices.
Alphabet books are a great tool for learning letter sounds. I am fond of Dr. Seuss’s version. There are literally hundreds of other options that demonstrate specific letters and the sounds they make. The most cost-effective way to provide this resource is to borrow the books from your local library. Ask your librarian for recommendations based on what they have on hand.
Related articles
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Alphabet Car- A Wacky Driving Game for Preschoolers to Learn Their Alphabet, App Review (funeducationalapps.com)
Introducing Letters (pumkinsandme.wordpress.com)
Learn to Read with Reading Eggs! (elementaryteched.wordpress.com)
Teaching Literacy Through Technology (beholdbeautyseye.wordpress.com)
Starfall Learn to Read – Review (smartappsforkids.com)
