First See abc's Reading Program Graduate Receives Award

Kaden was the very first person to complete the See abc's reading program. He did it just before he began Kindergarten and he has now just finished the 4th grade. A couple of weeks ago his mother called me excited to tell me that she had just come from his school's end of the year awards program. There is an "Eagle's Nest" award (They are the Summit Eagles). To acheive this award, children have to reach 1,000 AR (Accelerated Reader) points. These points only apply to certain books. The kids have to read them and then take and pass a test on them in order to get the points. An average Harry Potter book would only be about 50 points. So, that tells you it is a LOT of pages to reach this goal! The children have from 3rd to 5th grade to do this. In the history of Summit Elementary, it has never been acheived by a 4th grader, until this year when Kaden and one other did it. Usually a few 5th graders get it; but to get it in only two years time is incredible! His mother said she attributes it all to See abc's. And, he not only read AR approved books, but a lot of others as well. His name has been added to a nice plaque.

So, here's a big shout out to Kaden.... CONGRATULATIONS!!! We're soooooo proud of you!

Doreese

Phonics Lesson - Mountain says /m/

I've had this little piece of paper sitting in my cupboard for over a year now. My daughter told me something that her daughters had said and I thought it was so cute that I made a little note of it to share with others later. Well, I've decided to finally share it now so that I don't have to keep that little piece of paper in my cupboard any more.

My daughter's 4-year old had been learning her alphabet picture clues and sounds and she was trying to teach her little 2-year old sister as they were driving somewhere.

4-year old: "Mountain says _________?"

2-year old: "/m/"

My daughter was surprised to hear her say the right sound.

4-year old: "Mommy says _________?"

2-year old: "/m/"

My daughter was really shocked to hear that she knew the right sound again and was beginning to believe that she had a little genius on her hands!

4-year old: "Fish says ___________?"

2-year old: "/m/"

Well, so much for the genius theory, ha, ha! But, at this young age, she was understanding that letters themselves speak, and when she was an older 2-year old, she actually did know quite a few different letters and their correct sounds. As a 3 1/2-year old, she knows ALL of her upper and lower case letter picture clues and sounds. She's ready to start reading now, and actually has begun the blending book! She completely grasps the concept of how to put sounds together into words in "ABC's See How to Chop and Blend - a Recipe for Reading."

Doreese

Reading With Expression Game Works!

In my last post I taught you how to play a brand new "Follow the Leader Expression" reading game that I had just made up on the spot. The purpose of this game was to turn reading to your child into a "play-based" activity. I knew I would have to quickly actually try out the game I had just told you to do. If it didn't work as I had envisioned and predicted it would, then I would have some major editing to do in my last post. But, whew!!! It worked exactly as I had imagined.

As usual, my grandchildren are my little guinea pigs these days. The 5 and the 3-year old did awesome! The 3-year old did most of the tracking with her finger. She was learning a lot from this simple activity. The 2-year old chimed in occasionally with repeating a phrase with expression. He definitely can mimic expression at his young age. But, his attention span was quite erratic. The other two made it all the way through.

The book we read was so great for this activity that I will share it with you. It is So Many Bunnies - a bedtime abc and counting book written by Rick Walton. The words are in rhythm and rhyme, making it ideal to put expression to. Check it out from your library!

Doreese

"Follow the Leader Expression" reading game

In an article I recently read by Paul Mackie, he said, "The main key to any storybook is that it should be a sensory, play-based activity and above all be fun." All of the See abc's learn to read books are this way. But, how can you make any book play-based? One idea I just had was to play "Follow the Leader Expression" - a game I just now made up! If you use our program, you will see that reading with expression is a very big part of it. I believe it's really important to train young ones early to hear that there's a difference between reading with expression and reading in a monotone voice. They will quickly see, I mean hear that they prefer reading with expression.

Back to my new "Follow the Leader Expression" game. You simply read a sentence with expression, then have your child repeat it after you with the same expression. This simple game is going to accomplish several great things: 1. Teach your child how to play with their voice and make different tones; 2. See that they can make something sound exciting! 3. Help develop a feel of reading fluency by saying the sentence smoothly; 4. As you point to the words both while you read them, and then while your child repeats them, your child will learn a lot about direction of reading and when it is their turn, they will feel like they are truly reading; 5. They will have fun with reading because it is "play-based." (By telling them you are playing the "Follow the Leader Expression" reading game, you've already made it fun!)

For longer sentences, divide them up.

So, have FUN with ANY storybook! Doreese

CNN iReport - Changing Lives with Education

Hi everyone,

A college student had to interview someone for his entrepreuneur class and he chose me! Then he had to post it on CNN iReport. So, go and check it out.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-429864

And, by the way, that cute student is my son, Michael.

Doreese

April Fools from Mother Nature!

I thought it was spring!

Sherry lives in Southern Utah and she is experiencing spring down there with leaves and flowers coming out. I live in Northern Utah and we had a few days that teased us making us think spring was here. Then today we woke up to several inches of snow on the ground! One of our big quaking aspen trees in the backyard is also on the ground! :0(

Though it is really beautiful, I'm ready for spring. I think I'll take some of my own advice and cozy up with a good book myself today, and try not to be too jealous of Sherry being able to go out and take nice springtime walks outside.

Doreese

It's SPRING! I love spring, it is a great time of year to get outside and work in the yard or go for a walk. There really isn't anything better than a brisk walk on a fresh spring day. The sun magically lifts our spirits and puts a smile on our face.

I have a good friend whose husband suffers with depression. She told me that his therapist makes him walk outside for at least a half -hour before he will see him. He is literally a different person after excersizing outside! The endorphins produced by the sun and excersize make a profound difference in his attitude. We can all benefit from taking a walk outside so grab your husband or a friend, maybe a child or a grandchild, or maybe your dog and get outside and enjoy this beautiful season! The sun is waiting to embrace you, the birds want to sing you their song and the blossoms will tickle your nose with the fragrance of God's love. You are SPECIAL! Make the most of each day because you deserve the the best of all that this amazing earth has to offer!

oxoxo!
Sherry