Empowering Gen Z... Leading and Learning in the 21st Century

Let's Chat About Background Knowledge.... I think we all agree that we are not "throwing out skills instruction".... I also think we all agree with the importance that background knowledge plays in reading comprehension..... and just maybe..... we need to pay more attention to that.   But how do we incorporate that into our daily instruction without "adding" more to our already busy days?   The below article shares six easy strategies to increase background knowledge.  How to build background knowledge ( click on the title to access) And of course, there is a podcast i f you are interested .  It is 40 minutes but it is good. Deconstructing the Rope: Background knowledge with Susan Neuman   ( click on the title to access) So how are you going to increase background knowledge logically and fidelity at your instructional level?   Can't wait to read your ideas! Rebecca Minerd

  Let's Reflect..... We have learned A LOT in the last few weeks.  Let's take a week to reflect and answer the following questions. Of all that I have learned,  What can be implemented tomorrow?   What do I need support in to implement moving forward?   Be honest..... We will learn and support each other through our responses:) Rebecca Minerd

  Well.... this is opening a "can of worms".... but we have been doing that for a few weeks now:) We have visited the Simple View of Reading and the 5 Pillars.. Let's spend a bit of time on the last one, comprehension.(  Don't worry, we will come back to all 5 pillars eventually....) There is some buzz in some educational communities that question the importance of teaching reading skills vs the importance of background knowledge in order to increase comprehension.  It is the "current buzz" within this reading pendulum shift. The article below gives a general explanation along with the schools that are shifting their instruction. It is an interesting article.... Link to the article Better yet...  Listen to the first 21 minutes of this podcast ( the entire postcast is really good)  with Dr. Tim Shanahan as he gives his opinion on skills and strategy instruction and where it should be incorporated within our ultimate goal.... for students to understand the tex...