I have known about the connection between working on crossing the midline and improving reading skills, but I had not thought about it in a while. And then I attended a session at the ASCD conference the other weekend and was reminded of this important skill that we should be practicing with all of our students.
By drawing or tracing or making the shape in the air, students are working on improving visual attention and eye motility which is necessary for crossing the midline and reading smoothly across a page. If you have students practice this simple skill, you will help them build pathways in their brain, and you will ultimately help them become better readers without even opening a book. Whether you are working with kindergartners or 4th graders, think about working in some lazy eight practice at different times of the day. Students could trace the shape with fingers or with pencils. They could draw lazy eights with their fingers in the air. Have them try it with both hands, don't just encourage doing it with the dominate hand. Students can make lazy eights on a whiteboard and trace over their drawing several times. You can have students practice this before they start reader's workshop or have them do it before they begin independent reading. You may remember a few years ago when we talked about Brain Gym? This is an example of a Brain Gym activity that we should have all students continue to practice.
Who is ready to do some brain integration work and help improve reading for students at all levels? To Infinity and beyond with reading instruction!
Currently reading:
Thanks to the Scholastic book fair and attending the ASCD Conference, I have some more books that I have added to my collection! One fun read aloud book I got is called The Library Book. It's a celebration of books, reading, and libraries!
Another book that I just had to get from the book fair is called Dear Girl. It's written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal along with her daughter Paris Rosenthal. Since Amy passed away last year, I continue to buy any books that she wrote. This is a book that I will enjoy reading to my daughter again and again.
I loved finding another book in the Elephant and Piggie collection. The book We are Growing! is all about blades of grass growing and the conversation they have with each other as they grow. Check it out!
Monday - Light it Up Blue for Autism Day! Wear your blue, Optional meeting with Superintendent about Principal search
Tuesday - School Council Meeting @ 8:00
Wednesday - Staff meeting @ 3:30
Thursday - Liz attending Leading the Nation event @ The State House
Friday - Liz and Melissa at SLT from 8:30-11:00, District half day, 12:15 dismissal, Unit A contract day
Great things I noticed last week:
- Love seeing the different BINGO boards in classrooms and hearing about all the books everyone is reading for the Read-a-Thon!
- I enjoyed listening to K students reading to me their 'how to' books...and is that Mrs. Spiczka using the interactive projector?!
- More kindergartners learning about text features in non fiction books.
- Ms. Allen, one of our student teachers, was reading a great picture book to students to get them thinking about writing how to books.
- These kindergartners from Mrs. Olson's class had fun using teamwork to create Lego houses.
- I had fun shopping in the book fair all week, and we had a great time with families during our Family Literacy Night!
There's a new Twitter chat focused on literacy happening this Tuesday, April 3 at 9:00. Here are the questions...might be a good chat to check out! You can follow it at #curiositycrew
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