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Writing Prompt [You were picked for a reality show...]

The most effective way to become better at something is by simply doing it every day. If you want to become a better reader, read more (at your level, using the tools you've been taught). If you want to become a better writer, write more (again, using the tools you've been taught). If you do not have those tools, that's why teachers like me exist! Our job is to give the tools to help you become better readers and writers. One of those tools is to provide opportunities to get ideas flowing. Pictures, stories, poetry, questions, sentence starters, &etc. are all ways to accomplish this.

Bible
Journal
Swimsuit
Towel
Hat
Books
Hatchet

Goodness, when I initially began listing I had more than five items, so I really had to think through my necessities: food/water, shelter, clothing. Since food is provided I should probably focus on the rest. Firstly, I would lose my sanity without the Bible so that's still number one, but I obviously need clothing: swimsuit and hat. That's already three items and I'm surprised at how difficult this thinking process has become for me already! I will want to make a shelter of some kind so a hatchet will help me accomplish this. A towel could accomplish many things: blanket, shelter, etc. And that's five items! Bummer on the journal though... I'll have to be creative with reading and writing! Like writing in the sand. Either way, this process of thinking through this made the idea an appealing one for me. Haha, I might be a boring person to watch on a reality show though.

What five items would you take?

5 Easy Tips for Parents to Prevent Summer Reading Loss (Early Elementary)

It is a fact that there is an academic summer loss. Unless parents are diligent about maintaining certain skills, your child will most likely forget some of what was taught. What you can do is pretty easy, it simply takes some prep time and the time to follow through with them, but for the sake of your child's learning, it is well worth it. Here are some tips in regards to reading over the summer:

1. Read more. There really is only one "secret" strategy in existence to increase reading abilities and this is it. Every book I've read, every reading class I've taken, this one piece always rears it's ugly head: How do we make more time to read? What you do need to make sure when implementing this strategy is that whatever they're reading is not so far above their reading level that their struggle overwhelms them. I stick to the hand rule: if there are five or more words on one page that they do not know, it's most likely too difficult.

2. Make reading memorable. Here's an idea: plan a reading picnic where you gather their favorite drink and snacks, some books, a blanket, find a beautiful spot and your plan is to simply read together for an hour. 

3. If you allow some screen time, make it worthwhile by downloading the "Teach Your Monster to Read" educational app. They begin by creating their own little monster who goes on all these adventures to find missing letters, read phrases to solve a problem for random kingdoms and earn these rewards to dress their monster up in everything from fairy wings to hats. My reader loves it (but she did want you to know she doesn't like the trickies, these weird little pocket monsters, haha she finds them irritating).

3. Get involved. For example, Barnes and Noble has a reading program for grades 1-6 where they earn a FREE book after reading eight and for keeping a reading journal. I've even read that Chuck-E. Cheese offers free tokens for reading books. If you are like me who lives forty-five minutes from the nearest BN or Chuck's, then head to your local library. For a small community, we have a group of librarians who do an excellent job providing services for our young readers. If your local library is a flop, then I know that Sylvan, Reading Warehouse, and Scholastic offer prizes online for minutes read and recorded.

4. Build their "bedroom library" with new books. Studies have proven that providing a child with their own books in their own bedroom increases reading as much or more than summer school. Build your child's library with two or three new books for them to read over the summer (and make sure you pick something that would interest them and within their level).

5. Reward them with more reading material when they've reached their goal (or whatever marker you've set in place). Example: Earn a magazine subscription (i.e. National Geographic offers wonderful magazine's for kids), because getting things in the mail is so fun. Or go out with your child one-on-one (cause you know they need it), go out to eat or grab an ice cream and head to a book store and let them pick a book of choice.

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Or join me on my Facebook page for a FREE reading program designed to hit those early elementary years. Here's what I'll offer: 

• 4 FREE themed FACEBOOK LIVE reading "events" on my Facebook page specifically designed to give comprehension tools. Offered on:
• July 1, 8, 15, & 22 (Follow the event on my Facebook page for more details.)
• Supplementary materials, readily available for download that coincide with that lesson.
• Entered into a giveaway for your child by signing up (a goodie box full of reading material based on the information you gave me on the registration form). 
• BONUS: Multiple entries for every friend you tag on my Instagram or Facebook page.

The registration form is available by clicking on this link. 

Writing Prompt [Picture Prompt]

I have an entire Pinterest Board full of enough pictures to last an entire year. There are so many hilarious, sad, thought-provoking pictures floating around that it was easy to build a "picture prompt" folder for everyday use. In order to reach all learner types, I vary it up, sometimes offering multiple prompts on one day that reach the different learners. I've also learned that pictures are perfect tools to use for my 1st grader who is learning to compose sentences. When I pull these out we ask the questions, Who or what is this about? What are they doing? to help her begin writing her subject clause and her predicate clause. We then use the same picture all week and continue adding to it until we've created an entire story bit by bit.

 Today, I'll share what I've collected on Pinterest (Pics to Prompt), along with one of the favorites.

Police struggling to restrain fans as the Beatles walk into Buckingham Palace [October 26, 1965] Source: Ted West/Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

I honestly cannot decide which perspective would be the easiest to write about: the policemen (their faces, haha!) or from the erratic fans. Which would you write about?

Writing Prompt [Sooooo... your friend has bad breath...]

What would you do if you're talking to your bestie and am overwhelmed by their terrible breath?

I always keep a pack of gum in my purse and those disposable toothbrushes, because my poor students have told me they couldn't stand my coffee breath. Whoops! Sorry. It's my teacher fuel, or my mom fuel, okay, let's be real it's my life fuel. Therefore, I completely understand being on the recipient's side of, "Dudette, you have bad breath!" And I would prefer to know because knowing is better than making others uncomfortable. Back to the pack of gum, most people like to chew on a piece so I'd simply offer them one, and if they refuse, well, I'll tell them gently why they need it. I would never slap on a slew of insults! Sometimes the truth is hard to hear and it can also be embarrassing. Something like, "it will help your breath" or "I also have a disposable toothbrush you are more than welcome to use" or any way that I can help them with their situation, the better.

10 Key Pedagogical Principles

When it comes to instructional methods, every teacher needs a set of belief statements in regards to learning. These principles are the keys to successful teaching, which is the key to successful learning for any classroom, anywhere. It's these principles that make a teacher confident, and these are ten key pedagogical principles I believe to be true:

1. We learn by asking questions and seeking answers.
2. We learn by having engaging conversations with other learners and with the teacher.
3. We learn from memorable experiences.
4. We learn by adding to what we already know; therefore, we must have a solid foundation of knowledge and truth.
5. We learn when we have the end goal in mind. 
6. We learn when our uniqueness is considered - that our personal experiences, memories, talents, skills, strengths, weaknesses, likes/dislikes, feelings, interests, and background knowledge all impact how we learn, or how quickly we learn it.
7. We learn through an active process that includes (but is not limited to): connecting, writing, studying, questioning, problem-solving, visualizing, practicing, analyzing, discussing, debating, listening, creating, and presenting.
8. We learn when we put to use the study tools available to us.
9. We learn when we are confident in our ability to learn.
10. We learn when our teacher is also confident in our ability to learn and comes alongside us in our discoveries as a creative guide who assists, observes, suggests, and inspires us to learn on our own; where we apply the principles taught - well into adulthood.

HUGE Product Price Reduction

I overthink pricing my materials. For example, I began a business on Etsy (Rebecca's Recycled Readers) where I am attempting to sell the book art I've been making for the last three years, and that has been an undertaking I never anticipated to be so difficult - all because of pricing! The thing about the materials I make is that it takes a lot of time and I must consider the fact that my time is valuable. When it comes to these units, worksheets, and lessons for teachers I must also consider the fact that teachers use a significant portion of their paycheck for the betterment of their classrooms. Therefore I want to charge a price that teachers can actually afford to spend because it really isn't about me, it is about students. Still, I am trying to contribute to our income so that I can stay home with my girls for a little bit longer, thoroughly enjoy the little time I have with them as their mommy, and tutor as many students as I can one-on-one without charging an arm and a leg (which I'm finding that I really, really enjoy).

With that said, I've been seriously considering my prices and felt the overwhelming need to lower them for my fellow teacher's sake. Not because I've devalued my work but instead have put more value into what teachers and students need. And every teacher needs Bullying Resources, quick resources for struggling readers (like this Making Inferences Worksheet), and even a unit for those students who are ready to analyze and critically write about literature.

These are all products I've been successfully using in my classroom, in my homeschool classroom with my first grader, as a tutor - okay, basically as a teacher working in the field of education for the last twelve years - and I changed the pricing so that other educators in the same boat as me would be able to purchase and use them over and over again.

Enjoy, use and share - because that's what education is all about anyway.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Rafikeys-To-Success