Choice Matters at All Ages

It would be great if all Middle Schools adopted this philosophy.  High Schools too! 
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/books/30reading.html?pagewanted=1&ref=education

Stories and Rhymes for Kids to READ online

 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/

Sites for Computer Lab

What sites so you link your students to in the computer lab?  Here is one that my niece played with at my house. 
http://kids.aol.com/KOL/1/KOLJrStories
Most teachers know about http://www.starfall.com/  My niece likes starfall. 
Some schools buy programs such as Bailey’s Book House, Sammy Science,
Millie’s Math and Kid Pix or Inspiration.  What do you use in the computer lab?

What do you believe in when it comes to the teaching of reading?

http://leading-learning.blogspot.com/2009/05/quotes-from-frank-smith-and-john-taylor.html 
Where do stand?  What do you believe?  Dare you stand up for what you believe?  Is anyone listening or hearing?  Where are the conversations taking place?

Cynthia Rylant links and ideas

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
Retelling The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LARetellingTheRelativesCame13.htm
Read Write Think:  Making Connections to Improve Comprehension (scroll down for Rylant lesson)  http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=1070
When I Was Young in the Mountain by Cynthia Rylant 
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LADescriptiveWritingALaCynthiaRylant38.htm
http://teams.lacoe.edu/documentation/overview/pdf/history/hunt/hunt01_1.pdf
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/external/Readwritethink200606212033
Mentor Text Example:  http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/mentor-text-training/
All in A Day by Cynthia Rylant http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/all-in-a-day-by-cynthia-rylant/

Reading / Writing Connection

Every child a reader and writer.  This site has several videos showing the reading/writing connection.  I think you will enjoy the clips. 
http://www.insidewritingworkshop.org/

Summer Reading Matters

Summer Reading Matters
Summer reading matters because reading scores decrease when children don’t read.  Students need to experience ‘high success reading’, visit places with books, and have a ‘bring along a book’ plan.
Reading scores do not fall when children really read a lot of easy selections.  While my daughter was searching for the perfect book at [...]

16 FREE BOOKS! REALLY, it is TRUE! FREE

I am going to tell you a secret.  I read Harlequin romances.  I probably wouldn’t announce this here, except guess what?  Harlequin is giving away 16 free books this month for FREE!  They are REAL books.  No money, no tricks.  I downloaded them.  Here is the link.  $60.00 in my pocket. 
http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/index.php

Four Square or Triangle Knee Conversations After Self-Selected Reading

My experience in classrooms has led me to believe that triads or ‘triangle knees’ are the ideal size groups.  A group of three students form a cooperative group that I refer to as triangle knees.  Each member in the group sits criss-cross applesauce so that each persons knees touch the person on both the left and [...]

We should listen to Michael Pressley, Comprehension Matters!

Mike Pressley knows what he is talking about!
Michael Pressley International Reading Association link 1
http://www.reading.org/downloads/publications/videos/rrc_pressley_part2.html
http://www.reading.org/downloads/publications/videos/rrc_pressley_part3.html
http://www.reading.org/downloads/publications/videos/rrc_pressley_part4.html
I miss his wisdom. The world lost this wise man too early!