I just came across this fascinating, inspiring and informative article about A Reading Teacher Who Lost The Ability To Read! which illustrates the difference between decoding and comprehending. The teacher, who the article calls “M.”, suffered a series of small strokes which affected her brain. The article explains: “The disorder is called alexia. The strokes damaged the connection between the […]

No Limit, Just Sky by Tate Johnston We Are Parents and Carers and Toddler Teachers Handers of Crayons to Just-Out-Of-Reachers Lovers of Reading, Leaders of Learning Do-What-It-Takers To Keep Their Worlds Turning Just Need A Breakers, Instructors of Manners Birthday Cake Makers and Hangers of Banners Stand Up And Cheerers, Dirty Hands Getters Kissers of Boo-Boos, We Make-It-All-Betters Washers of […]

You may have heard the quandary: How do you eat an elephant? And it’s answer: One bite at a time. But how do you read: “an elephant?” Same answer: One bite at a time. Learning to read is something that happens over time. Little by little. Bit by bit. As the saying goes: “You can’t cram farming.” (As in, it […]

“Some children might not be ready for as big a jump from letter sounds to reading words and sentences and would benefit from making it a few little hops instead of a bigger jump.” –  Jordan K., Elementary School Librarian The Creek Is Wide Have you ever taken a walk through the woods with your small children and come to […]

Trying to Climb Up the Down Escalator In their excellent book, Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard (highly recommend!), Chip & Dan Heath describe the power of identity in hindering or facilitating change.  They state that “[a]ny change effort that violates someone’s identity is likely doomed to failure.” When deciding what to do or not to do, we […]