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.                                                   #140 Be the Character   Be absolutely determined to enjoy what you do. ~Gerry Sikorski   Think about what makes the books you read most interesting. Generally when people enjoy a story they express how fascinating the characters were or how much they could relate to them. Strong characters entice the reader to keep reading. If your child truly comprehends a story she is reading, she will understand the characters and their actions. Try this discussion and writing activity that allows your child to become the character and write a diary entry from the character’s point of view. Have your child choose a main event from a story she is reading. Start a discussion about th...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.                                                        #133 Fun with Words   I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. ~Dr. Seuss   Poetry is playing around with words in unique and wonderful ways. You can also do the same without creating a poem. Just make up some silly stuff! Try these:   Alliterations (sentences in which most of the words begin with the same sound): ●        Have your child choose a beginning letter or sound. Let’s use “m” as an example. ●        Now have him brainstorm a wide variety of words that begin with that letter. ●        He c...

  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 informationa...