Hi Readers, it’s Dorca.
I’m back to share with you my thoughts, tips, and strategies on READING. I love teaching reading and talking about ways to support our youth to become life long readers. I can’t wait to hear from you and answer your questions!
Q 1 – What are some effective strategies for improving spelling?
Spelling and writing is directly tied to reading. If you want your child to become a better speller, they need to be reading a lot. Exposure to many different books will also expose them to many different words. Also, make a list of commonly misspelled words that your child can always use as a reference. And third help your child learn spelling patterns. You can do this by using a variety of games, such as word sorts. When your child understands spelling patterns and rules their spelling will improve.
Q 2- What are some ways to improve my child’s vocabulary?
A child’s vocabulary is strongly influenced by their day-to-day conversation. So, if you want your child’s vocabulary to improve you have to converse with them regularly about any and everything! Talk to your child from the minute they wake up to the minute they fall asleep. During your conversations incorporate “grown-up” words. Your child’s curiosity will often get the best of them and they will often ask for a definition. Use child-friendly definitions and continue to use these words in your daily conversations. You can also play word games with your child such as Scrabble and other word games on your smart phone. For little ones you can also label items around your home. Make their environment text rich and they will start making connections between the things they see around them and words.
Q 3 – How do teachers effectively assist students who come from a household where English is spoken as a second language and are struggling to keep up?
This is often a challenge in many schools. Most schools have teachers that specialize in work with English as a Second Language and are called ESL teachers. An ESL teacher is trained to teach students who do not speak English as their first language. They will use a variety of strategies to help your child keep up with the curriculum while also learning the English language. Ask your child’s teacher if they have ESL teachers at the school. According to the NYC DOE website, “All parents and guardians of newly enrolled students are required to complete a Home Language Identification Survey that lets the school staff know what language your child speaks at home. If the survey indicates your child uses a language other than English, he or she may be given the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners. This test measures your child’s knowledge of English and determines if he or she needs support programs and services. If the test shows that your child needs support learning English, he or she is identified as an English Language Learner.”
Check out the NYC Department of Education website for more information: http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/ELL/FamilyResources/ELL+Programs.htm
Q 4 – My 5-year-old child is having difficulty paying attention in class due to boredom because the work comes easy for her. This has led to her acting out and bossing others in class. What can I do to challenge her at home and teach her to respect others space?
If your child is acting out in class because of boredom, then you will want to address this issue at school. This requires constant and open communication between yourself and your child’s teachers. You can begin the process at home by having conversations about respect; however, the behavioral change you want to see is at school. Therefore, you have to teach her appropriate behaviors to exhibit in class and work with her teacher to challenge her in class. Ask her teacher if she can provide extra, challenging independent work for her. If this is not possible make a list of activities, your child can do when she has completed her work before everyone else in the class. This list can include: check your work, read a book, write a story, help another student with the assignment, do a class job, etc.
Q 5 – My son is painfully shy. How do you draw out a student that is quiet, but is very smart and has lots to share?!
When your son feels comfortable and safe in his class then he will open up and come out of his shell. This requires open communication with your child’s teachers. Work as a team with your child’s teacher to get him to feel comfortable and safe. You may have to share with them what he likes and dislikes so they can get to know if better and help him to feel part of the classroom community. As he makes friends in his class, he will also begin to feel a part of the community. So encourage him to befriend others in the class, and maybe even set up some play dates with other classmates.
Dorca Casseus is a Reading Intervention teacher at a high performing charter school in Brooklyn. She started her teaching career as a Teach for America corps member teaching first grade and has her Masters degree in childhood education. Dorca has since taught a variety of grades from 1st to 5th. In 2012, she returned to school to get her certification in Special Education. While she specialized in reading intervention, Dorca now focuses on reading development for her students and coaching other teachers on how to teach and develop an effective program for their classes.
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