MSI Press Blog

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.                                            #143                                      Compare and Contrast   Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. ~Rodin   It is becoming increasingly popular to select a much-loved children’s book and transform it into a movie. Given a choice ( seeing the movie or reading the book), most children would choose to see the movie. As a parent, you have an opportunity to encourage your child to get the most out of the movie while also increasing writing skills in an authentic way. Take a trip to the library or bookstore with your child and find th...

Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.                                                              #119 Until We Meet Again   "Two roads diverged in a wood and I— I took the road less traveled by  and that has made all the difference."  ~Robert Frost               The two roads Robert Frost was talking about came together and offered him a choice. In the biographical books you read to your child or that she reads herself, rarely (if ever) do the paths of favorite people from different books come together. Wouldn’t it be neat if they did? Could your child make that happen? Sure! Here’s how: 1.      Discuss with your...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.                                                             #118 DRTA: Directed Reading-Thinking Activity   Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words! ~A Tree Grows in Brooklyn               Directed Reading Thinking Activity is a comprehension strategy that focuses on helping children ask questions about the text and make predictions before reading. This technique encourages students to be active readers and gives them a purpose for reading. It also helps them monitor their understanding of the text as they are reading. In this strategy, the parent is involved. When your child has an...