Letting Go of "Letter of the Week"

Teachers can use students prior knowledge of letters to help them decode words they can't read.

1) Are the beginning letters in the word similar to anything they are already familiar with? What about chunks of letters within the word? Or, letters at the end of the word?

By looking for familiar letter associations like the letters in their classmates names or products they use at home, students become much more active participants in the reading process and they feel more confident.

Teachers can use daily journals and any form of writing to help encourage children to be writers themselves.

2) Teach students that any form of writing is acceptable and then begin to build through encouragement and editing for proper writing practice.

When children aren't made to feel that their journal entries are inadequate because they are incorrect then their excitement and enthusiasm for writing can begin to blossom. The editing process won't become painfully hard work. Self expression is natural for children. All that a teacher needs to do is guide them gently along.

Teacher Tipster cracks me up and has some great tips as well. You can check him out on my Education Pinterest board and also on youtube.com.