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TUTORING UPDATE, TEACHING TIPS, THANKSGIVING SPECIAL
The articles in this issue are an update on the *Kids Read* tutoring program, a blowout Thanksgiving special, some cool teaching tips, and thoughts on the implications of an exciting new brain discovery for autism.
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KIDS READ TUTORING PROGRAM UPDATE
THANKSGIVING SPECIAL
TWO COOL TEACHING TIPS
REMINDER
IMPLICATIONS OF BRAIN DISCOVERY FOR AUTISM
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KIDS READ TUTORING PROGRAM UPDATE
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*Kids Read* is a free tutoring program offered to struggling
or non-reading second graders at Stedwick Elementary School
in Montgomery Village, Maryland.
Executive Director Becky Faherty is the dedicated, tireless and
creative brain behind this wonderful program, who has worked
wonders with these students! She said that Phonics Pathways
and Pyramid are her most powerful tools to make literacy happen,
and statistics so far show that scores are rising and kids are
reading -- but best of all, they are loving it!
Dr. Margaret Pastor, Stedwick Elementary principal, notes
*On average the participants who began the program as
non-readers achieved two full grade levels in the 10-month
span. This has a significant impact on this student group and
enables the Kids Read students to join or even pass the
mainstream group in progress levels as they continue their
schooling!*
Inspired, the energetic Becky has now begun forming
a Chapter Book Club for 3rd graders, to help solidify what
they have learned in second grade. She chooses the level
of book, and if they are able to read the first full text
page with no mistakes they can continue coming.
The Chapter Book club meets twice a week. When they finish
the book it's theirs to keep, and the process is repeated,
with gradually more difficult books but always within the
sphere of their success level.
Becky said the kids are really excited, and her sister Cindy
is even purchasing bean bags for the classroom so the kids
can make themselves very comfortable while reading! One of
her other sisters, Nicki Brintzenhofe (owner of several Curves
franchises) is the generous financial sponsor of Kids Read.
At present, there are four sisters, a brother and her daughter
who work behind the scenes to make Kids Read happen.
We're happy as a lark with this wonderful news, and blowing
grateful kisses to Becky and her brother and all her sisters.
With the Fahertys, literacy truly is a family affair!
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THANKSGIVING SPECIAL
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Last month I announced that PYRAMID Reading Exercises were
now on sale, reduced from $21.95 to only $10. Now I'm offering
a Holiday Special: Pyramid will be priced at $5 per book -- that's
right, only FIVE dollars! There will be a ten-book minimum purchase
at that price, and the sale will last through the Christmas season,
or until we have sold them all. I'm grateful to all of you for your
loyal support, and want to show my thanks!
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TWO COOL TEACHING TIPS
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These teaching tips are from Becky Faherty:
Copy the page or pages of Pyramid that correspond to the lesson
being taught in Phonics Pathways, and tape them in the book.
(With the wonderful sale going on now of only $5 each, you could
get several and cut them all apart to tape in the pages of Phonics
Pathways or whatever reading program you happen to be using!)
It's an easy and sure-fire way of remembering to use these exercises
to solidify whatever reading skills are being learned, as the sequence
of skills presented in Pyramid is the same as that in Phonics Pathways.
Regarding comprehension: Becky does not teach comprehension
specifically -- just subtly. She doesn't explain anything to the kids
when they are reading, and often doesn't even question them on
what they read. She waits until they begin telling her spontaneously
what they are reading about, or when they start laughing about
what they are reading. Then she knows they are getting it. If that
does not happen, she will begin asking questions when they are
reading fluently.
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REMINDER
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Dorbooks products can be ordered by credit card or check ONLY,
either from my website or directly through Rayve Fulfillment. (Be sure
to make the check out to Rayve Productions, NOT to Dorbooks!!!)
Rayve Productions: rayvepro@aol.com, or 800-852-4890. (Shipping
and tax, if applicable, apply to all orders in addition.)
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IMPLICATIONS OF BRAIN DISCOVERY FOR AUTISM
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Recently there has been an exciting discovery about *mirror genes,*
which result in brain wave changes that are the same as an activity
being viewed. For example, when we eat a plate of ice cream our
brain waves react a certain way. But even if we just watch someone
eating a plate of ice cream, our brain waves still react in exactly
the same way, triggered by what they now call *mirror genes.*
However, while autistic children react the same way when they
eat a plate of ice cream, they do not react at all when watching
someone else eat a plate of ice cream. Researchers are excited
about this discovery because at this point it is unknown whether
these genes are totally lacking or just dormant, in which case
they might be developed in some way to possibly mitigate or
overcome the autism. Time will tell!
I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving -- we have so, so very
much to be thankful for! It's good for our mental and physical
health to cultivate an *attitude of gratitide,* as we can be sure
people are reacting to us with their mirror genes, just as we
are reacting to them with ours. As one of my favorite proverbs
puts it:
*We do reveal the way that we feel
by the things that we say and do . . .
By changing the things that we say and do
we can change the way that we feel!
Amen to that, and blessings and good health to all of you!
Until next time,
Dolores
Copyright 11-06 Dolores G. Hiskes
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