Red Apple Reading Express in On the Move!

Climb aboard the Red Apple Reading Express to our new home on WordPress! We've had a complete redesign, and you'll find all of our old content as well as new posts twice a week. Click on any of the links below to be redirected to our new pages. Thanks for visiting!


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Article links here:
Homeschooling on the Rise

How to Support Reading Skills at Home

Is There Such a Thing as a Kid-Friendly Web?

4 Key Ways to Help Your Child Enjoy Reading

Common Core ELA Standards: What Are They and Will They Help?

Summer is Here—Now What? 3 Must-Try Summer Learning Strategies

Yay Summer! or Not… Traditional vs. Year-Round School Calendars & Their Impact on Learning

Literacy Takes More Than Luck

Parents and Reading Readiness – Beyond the ABCs

Social Media May Be Too Much of a Good Thing

Ready to Register Your Child for Kindergarten?

Happy Anniversary #NCLB! That’s Quite a Legacy You’ve Left Behind….

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy and Standing Up For Your Children

A Prologue to Red Apple Reading (aka: Why I Left the Classroom)

Is There Such a Thing as a Kid-Friendly Web?

Do you find yourself constantly checking up on your digital savvy youngster? Does your heart skip a beat every time your child goes online to play a game or chat with a friend? You’re not alone. Although the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) takes steps to protect your child’s personal information from websites, there are many other online threats you’ll need to guard your child against, including mature content, online predators, and cyberbullying to name a few. So many parents these days struggle with the question of how to allow their children to benefit from all of the educational and entertaining aspects of the Web without exposing them to the dangers that we all know lurk behind the monitor. If you’re among those who still aren’t sure how to perform this balancing act, then consider these tips for ensuring that your child’s next online experience is both a safe and pleasant one:

• Consider a Child-Friendly Browser

Depending on the age of your child, you may want to consider providing a child-friendly browser for your youngster to use whenever she goes online. These browsers come with pre-installed filters that minimize the chance that your child will view inappropriate material online. Some of the child-friendly browsers currently available include Google’s SafeSearch for Kids, KidZui.com, and Rover app for iPad.

• Try Parental Control Software

A child-friendly browser is perfect for younger children who simply want to play games or watch videos online, but as your child gets older, he may find these browsers to be too restrictive. For instance, if your middle-schooler needs to work on a research project in science class, the browser may be too limited to find relevant information. In this case, you may find parental control software like Norton Online Family, NetNanny, or Qustodio to be a better solution. These programs allow you to block certain sites, monitor the time your child spends online, and receive weekly reports about their activity. That way, you can allow older children to experience more freedom online without exposing them to potential harm.

• Talk About Online Dangers

Perhaps the best online protection you can give your child is a good education about just what dangers she may come in contact with on the Internet. As soon as your child is old enough, you should begin the conversation about safe Internet use. Advise your child to never give out personal information online without consulting you first, and to use good judgment when deciding which sites to visit and which to avoid. Establish boundaries for your child regarding social media, chatting, and other online opportunities your child will have access to as she gets older.

As our society becomes more and more high-tech, it will likely become increasingly difficult to monitor everything your child does online, even with the help of special browsers and apps. That’s why creating an open dialogue with your child early on is so important. Encourage your little one to begin asking you questions now, and let him know that he can always come to you with any problems that arise—whether on or offline.

Red Apple Reading Express blog sponsored by Red Apple Reading, online educational children's software that helps young children learn how to read. Save an extra 15% on any subscription with promo code: BLOG15

4 Key Ways to Help Your Child Enjoy Reading

Literacy is arguably the most important skill a child can have, and any educator will tell you that reading is the best way for youngsters to acquire new vocabulary and even writing skills. But what if your child turns her nose up every time you initiate story-time or recommend a book? As you know, forcing the issue can often backfire, but there are some ways that you can gently nudge your child in the right direction and help her develop a love for reading over time:

Read together.

Reading is something you can do with your child no matter how old he or she is. According to BabyCenter, babies respond to sounds in the womb as early as 28 weeks, so it’s definitely never too early to start. As your child grows older, make reading a special time for the two of you to cuddle, giggle, and just be together. Your child will quickly learn to associate reading with fun, pleasant experiences as a result of this shared activity. Even when your child learns to read on his own, keep up your reading routine and invite him to read to you from time to time. Simply sitting quietly with an older child while reading separate books can be a bonding experience too, and one that could potentially foster a lifelong love of reading.

Display books.

Setting up a bookshelf in your living room or in your child’s room is a good way to let your child know that books are things to be cherished and taken good care of. It will also provide a visual reminder for your child and give her access to books that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Choose engaging titles.

Wish your child would read Huckleberry Finn instead of Captain Underpants? You’re not alone. Parents often strive to select the most educational titles for their youngsters to read. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with this, it’s important to consider your child’s interests when selecting titles, and even let your child take the reins sometimes when it comes to book selection. After all, even avid readers will become bored with a book if it’s poorly written or about a topic they have no interest in. Allow your child to choose his own books (within reason), even if it’s not something you would have chosen yourself.

Set a good example.

Some people believe that in order to have a reader, you must be a reader, and there is some degree of truth to this statement. It’s no surprise that kids often follow in their parents’ footsteps, for better or for worse, so it certainly doesn’t hurt to set a good example when it comes to practicing good reading habits.

Need more suggestions for how to make reading fun? Check out these 10 tips for transforming your reluctant reader into a bookworm in short order!

Red Apple Reading Express blog sponsored by Red Apple Reading, online educational children's software that helps young children learn how to read. Save an extra 15% on any subscription with promo code: BLOG15

Common Core ELA Standards: What Are They and Will They Help?

As you may be well aware of, the state of public education in America paints a grim picture of our children’s futures in a global marketplace. Despite continual efforts by the federal government, school organizations, and of course, the blood, sweat, and tears of the many talented and dedicated teachers who instruct our youngsters day after day, our country is falling dangerously behind when it comes to academics. Need proof? The facts speak for themselves.

Shocking Statistics About America’s Broken Education System

According to Edu-Nova, 

• The U.S. ranks 14^th in reading amongst industrialized countries.
• Approximately 30% of high school students drop out without receiving a diploma.
• We spend twice as much per student on education as we did in 1971, yet reading and math skills are no better now than they were then.
• Two-thirds of high school Honor students struggle in college.

Are Common Core State Standards the Solution?

We all know that the problem exists, and many efforts have been made to solve it, the most recent of which is the Common Core State Standards. If you haven’t already heard, these new state standards are part of a state-led initiative to better prepare our students for college and the work force and to ensure that all students receive the same high-quality education, no matter where in the U.S. they live. The new standards build upon the existing state standards as well as international standards adopted by top-performing countries. The National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), coordinators of the initiative, hope that by adopting the standards, states can do a better job of preparing students for a future in a highly competitive world. 

Not All States are On Board

The Common Core Standards are not mandatory, and though the vast majority of states have adopted them, there are a few that have yet to do so. 

States That Have Yet to Adopt the Common Core Standards:
Alaska
Minnesota*
Nebraska
Texas
Virginia

*Minnesota elected to adopt only the ELA standards, not the Math.

For now, these states will continue teaching toward their own individual set of state standards, for better or for worse. 

Common Core ELA Standards

Unlike traditional state standards, the Common Core State Standards address only English Language Arts and Math, not all core subjects. The coordinators chose these two content areas because of their direct impact on learning across the curriculum. The ELA standards place special emphasis on the areas of reading, writing, speaking, listening, language, media, and technology.

Some of the key points the ELA standards address include:

Key Points in Reading

• The use of increasingly complex reading material from grade to grade
• Practice reading a variety of different types of text, not just fiction and traditional literature
• Mandatory exposure to certain “critical” texts including classic mythology, Shakespeare, and American literature and documents (i.e. The Declaration of Independence)

Key Points in Writing

• Instruction and practice in writing logical, support-based arguments, beginning in early grades
• Use of research-based writing, increasing in depth from grade to grade
• Exposure to sample texts demonstrating proficient writing in a variety of different genres

While the uniform nature of the Common Core Standards will no doubt level the field for students within the U.S., it’s yet to be seen whether or not this latest educational initiative will help our students compete on a global scale. 

For more information about the new standards, visit the Common Core State Standards Initiative’s website.

Red Apple Reading Express blog sponsored by Red Apple Reading, online educational children's software that helps young children learn how to read. Save an extra 15% on any subscription with promo code: BLOG15

Summer is Here—Now What? 3 Must-Try Summer Learning Strategies

Summer is in full swing for most of the country by now. If your child is anything like mine, he’s slept in late, has a nice tan going, and has already had a ton of outdoor fun. What you may not realize though, is that while your little one is engaged in all of these summer festivities, he may actually be moving backwards academically. 

The Summer Slide and How It Affects Your Child

I know what you’re thinking—your child’s brilliant; he’ll catch up next year, right? Not so fast! The summer slide affects even the best of students. What’s the summer slide?, you might ask. Well it’s not an amusement park attraction, unfortunately. “Summer slide” is a term that many educators use to refer to the loss of learning that students experience during the summer. A 2011 report released by the RAND Corporation revealed that on average, students lose about a month’s worth of instruction during those long, lazy days of summer.

What to Do About the Summer Slide

Can you prevent the summer slide? Absolutely! Will your kids hate you for it? Not necessarily. There are some ways that you can sneak in learning without your kid feeling like she’s being forced to “study” and robbed of her much-deserved summer fun. Here’s how:

• Encourage Reading

Reading can and should be fun, and therefore, makes an ideal summer learning activity. No matter how old your child is, there’s likely a summer program just right for her at your local public library. Lure your youngster in by signing up for some fun activities like puppet shows, movie nights, and scavenger hunts, for instance.

As you’re wrapping things up, make sure to encourage your child to check out a few books on the way out. Then, you’ll have a reason to return with her in a couple of weeks when the books are due! As your child makes her book selections, be sure that the titles are equally engaging and challenging. While there is plenty of “brain candy” out there, your youngster will only benefit if the text is on or above her reading level. 

Choosing appropriate reading material will help your child increase her vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills while simultaneously providing some much-needed summer entertainment.

If you’re short on time and just can’t make it to the library, there are lots of other reading resources out there that, thanks to technology, you can access instantly without even having to leave the house. Try some storybook sites like Storyline Online and Children's Storybooks Online. 

In addition, if you’re lucky enough to have an e-reader like a Kindle, Nook, or iPad, you have access to hundreds of interactive storybooks and educational games that can help your child practice reading skills in a way that he’ll find fun and engaging!

Looking for more incentives to keep your child’s nose in a book this summer? Check out Scholastic’s Summer Challenge and Book Adventure, online summer reading programs that allows kids to log their reading minutes and win prizes.

• Assign Summer Research Projects

Not the traditional variety, of course. There’s just one rule for summer research—it must be fun! Short on ideas? Consider having your child research potential vacation activities and create an agenda based on his findings. If your child uses a safe social media site like Edmodo, for instance, have him poll his classmates and create charts and graphs that represent favorite class books, summer activities, or movies. 

• Explore Your World

The temperate summer days provide the perfect opportunity to get outdoors with your child and explore the world around you. Outdoor activities not only provide some beneficial physical activity, but with a little planning, they can also be highly educational. By interacting with the world around you, you’ll inevitably be sneaking in some science education as well. Need some ideas? Check out these fun summer science projects that you and your child can do together.

What are your favorite summer learning activities? Share your ideas in the comments section!

Red Apple Reading Express blog sponsored by Red Apple Reading, online educational children's software that helps young children learn how to read. Save an extra 15% on any subscription with promo code: BLOG15

Yay Summer! or Not... Traditional vs. Year-Round School Calendars & Their Impact on Learning

It's July and summer is in full swing for many families: vacation, pool time, BBQs, beach trips, summer movies, keeping pests out of the garden (or is it just me?). But I was surprised when a Facebook teacher friend posted about going back to work this week, with students starting school on July 5th. Seriously? Summer has just begun! My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to do a little research.

First I confirmed that both calendar systems have 180 days of academic instruction. Year-round schedules can look very different depending on whether a school has multiple tracks or not. Both sides seem to have research and statistics to support their views, and support is strong for both.

An estimated 10% of American children now attend school year-round. I noticed a recent trend toward calling year-round a "balanced schedule," and some school districts are now pushing for more than 180 days in the school year.

In summary, there appears to be very little difference in achievement between the two calendars overall, and most parents seem to be resigned to whatever system is in place locally. What do you think? Any preference? Please leave your comments below. Here are some pros and cons of each for you to chew on:

Year-Round - Pros:   (aka multi-track)

• 3-4 weeks off instead of 2-3 months = better skills retention
• breaks often land near traditional holidays when parents get time off from work
• short-term childcare often easier to find
• eliminates need for summer enrichment programs many families can't afford
• more vacation options available for families
• multi-track system helps relieve overcrowding in schools
• remediation given at different times in academic year (intersession), giving more timely help to struggling students
• teacher and student stress lessened with regular breaks throughout the year
• may benefit achievement of disadvantaged students

Year-Round - Cons:

• teachers and students may have to switch classrooms during the year
• limited space availability makes remediation difficult in multi-track schools
• additional storage space needed for teachers who are off-track
• longer year and more demanding for custodians, cafeteria, maintenance, and administration
• parents may have difficulty scheduling childcare for multiple children
• limits time for teachers to update skills and earn advanced degrees

Traditional - Pros:  

• it's what most of us grew up with (read as: "people are afraid of change")
• allows time for children to have authentic experiences outside of the classroom
• more summer camps and summer activities available to students
• more family time away from demands of school
• teachers get a real break from teaching and lesson planning

Traditional - Cons:

• nayre.org reports 2.6 months of learning lost during summer months (though there are plenty of reports that refute this claim)
• finding appropriate childcare can be difficult with many people going on vacation
• more time spent on review of previous year's material at beginning of school year
• teachers get less time to reflect on teaching and students' best learning styles
• remediation offered in summer is often too little, too late

Beaumont has a modified traditional schedule, which  appears to be a compromise with less summer time off (7-8 weeks) and longer holiday breaks within the school year. My daughter gets plenty of time for camp, a family vacation, and some time to relax, read, and play her favorite computer games. And come the middle of August, I am ready for her to head back to school. Enough said.

Information compiled from sources including: schoolyear.info and nayre.org

Red Apple Reading Express blog sponsored by Red Apple Reading, online educational children's software that helps young children learn how to read. Save an extra 15% on any subscription with promo code: BLOG15