.Resource Room Newsletter - August 2002
<http://www.resourceroom.net >
Surfin' Sally's Latest Links
Power of two
<http://www.powerof2.org/ >
This site from the University of Kansas is dedicated to collaboration and successful inclusion of children with special needs in the general education classroom. Feature articles include step-by-step planning to make real regular classroom sitautions work for real students. Take time to browse the site.Teens helping teens
<http://www.ldteens.org/ >
Just in case you missed this nifty site, it's put together by teens, sponsored by the New York branch of the International Dyslexia Association.
In the news
Teachers learning how to educate dyslexic kids
< http://www.houmatoday.com/news/stories/14462001003n6.html >
Houma Today, August 3, 2002
This article describes a course in Louisiana for training teachers to use language, and to understand the language challenges people with dyslexia confront.Learning's costly curve
< http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_4981028.shtml >
The Appleton (Wis.) Post-Crescent, August 4, 2002
Wisconsin looks at its rising numbers of students with "disability" labels (many of them LD) and considers how best to cope with the costs involved. One of several related articles.Rhode Island plans to correct flaws in special ed
< http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20020803_speced3.11ff3.html >
Rhode Island leads the nation in the percentage of special-needs students. The state plans to set new standards for the way children are diagnosed, improve data collection and take other actions.Marion schools 'mainstream' classroom
http://www.starbanner.com/articles/breaking_news/2952.shtml
Oclala (Fla.) Star-Banner, August 5, 2002
The low percentage of mildly disabled students who earn high school diplomas, and possible causes and solutions, is discussed in some detail.Personal stories in the news:
Paying attention to adult ADHD
< http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18570-2002Jul29.html >
Washington Post, July 30, 2002
A free-lance writer describes his experiences with ADHD, before and after his adult diagnosis. A better-than-average article that doesn't oversimplify things.Youths learn that disability isn't a barrier to success
< http://www.gazetteextra.com/youthleadership080502.asp >
Janesville (Wis.) Gazette August 5, 2002
A weeklong forum encourages disabled children to develop as leaders in their communities.Life's lessons come on and off the field
< http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=072702&ID=s1188772&cat=section.idaho >
The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.,July 27, 2002
"Bill Benson grew up with a gift for baseball, then found he had real-life obstacles to overcome."
Links, articles and lesson plans
This month's feature: Vocabulary
(I'm working on my November presentation for the International Dyslexia Association conference, so some of these are old favorites.)
Ways to teach and learn vocabulary
by Susan Jones, M.Ed. 4/99
< http://www.resourceroom.net/myarticles/vocabulary.htm > < http://www.resourceroom.net/Math/integers.asp >
Strategies I've used for building vocabulary so that it becomes part of students' language, not just parts of their assignments.Teaching vocabulary with word parts
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Comprehension/wordparts.asp > < http://www.resourceroom.net/Sharestrats/ida_math_fall98.html >
Many exercises with roots such as "pre" and "bene," with questions and examples.
Other vocabulary links:
The clarifying routine: elaborating vocabulary instruction
< http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/teaching_techniques/ellis_clarifying.html >
Edwin Ellis outlines this process for thoroughly teaching new terms for general vocabulary or content areas.
Self-study English vocabulary quizzes
< http://iteslj.org/quizzes/vocabulary.html >
This is part of a project of the Internet TESL Journal (Teaching English as a Second Language). Many teachers have contributed. There are many great exercises at various levels.
< http://www.manythings.org/vq/ > is a related site with similar activities.Education 4 kids
<http://www.edu4kids.com/ >
A teacher's collection of activities, including some good vocabulary lessons. These are good exercises for learning to figure out meaning from context.Teacher's Desk spelling and vocabulary lessons
< http://www.teachersdesk.org/spell_plans.html >
Lots of good ideas at a 5th- and 6th-grade level for teaching vocabulary.English Club
< http://www.englishclub.com/ < http://www.englishclub.com > >
Another ESL site with many activities. Based in Cambridge, England, it is geared to adults (there is a forum that currently has many requests for pen pals -- I didn't find anything objectionable there).
You're welcome to come chat with us!
Net Haven
<http://www.net-haven.net >
Net Haven is a small, friendly chat site where parents and teachers can supportively share challenges and ideas.Chat topics are not strictly enforced -- we've been known to wander!
Some of the educational resources available from the Resource Room Store
Tandem Reading
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/tandem.asp >
Help new and not-so-new readers make the connection between phonics and good literature. This guide to reading with a child is designed for parents or tutors to support phonics programs with guided practice and reinforcement -- but without losing the fun of reading! Strategies include "penciling" (a simplified version of Alice Ansara's technique) and practicing words and patterns before oral reading.Harry Potter Comprehension Compendium
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/HarryPotterComprehension.asp >
More than 170 pages of comprehension exercises, chapter by chapter, to accompany Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The workbook is sent directly to your computer as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. Introductory price: $12.95.Drill Bits and Drillable Syllables
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/drillbits.asp >
Word lists and flashcard sets based on the syllable patterns as taught in Orton-Gillingham programs. Lists are broken down into problem areas such as individual vowel sounds, blends and common "irregular" spelling patterns.Tools for the Times Tables
by Dr. Steve Chinn (accompanying workbook by Susan Jones)
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/toolstimes.asp >
Who needs a whole book and a workbook about the times tables?
Well, who needs to understand numbers?
Written especially for hands-on learners, this book and workbook are full of strategies and ideas so that students can really master the times tables and come away with a true understanding of numbers and how they work.
If you know someone of any age who finds calculations frustrating, take a look at these books.Books for New Readers
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/literacy.asp > >
These easy, excellent and inexpensive books were written for adults. Romance, adventure and non-fiction are all featured, with diverse characters.aug5 NWS 1 2