Robin Talkowski’s Blog

Instructional time is so precious.  As a teacher of 7th grade struggling readers, there is always a dilemma about how to help students in all areas of need in the designated 50 minute time period.  Unfortunately, holding students accountable for spelling is usually low on the priority list.  On the one hand, technology has helped greatly in this area.  The miracle of “spell check” catches many errors.  And yet, the act of writing words can often help reinforce how to decode words.

For me SpellingCity.com has come to the rescue.  SpellingCity allows you to develop your own word list.  The teach function pronounces the word, spells it, and then provides a sentence to help students understand the meaning of the word.  While the sentences do not provide many context clues to help with the meaning, this is an area easily supplemented in class.  The site provides a number of reinforcing games including word searches, crossword puzzles, fill in the missing letters, matching activities, and Hang Mouse.  Hang Mouse happens to be my 7th graders favorite.  As your guesses diminish, the cat slowly awakens, moves, and then extends its claws.  It is fun to watch my “cool” 7th graders become engaged with reinforcing games.  Many of these games can also be printed for use in Activity Centers.

You can also link your lists to your web site so students can easily access it at home for homework practice.  It is worth checking out!

My students were so pleased when they saw the PicLits that they posted recently had received a comment.  The comment was submitted by Tbird.  However, my students could not believe that someone unknown would leave a supportive comment for them.  Their incredulity was reinforced by the name Tbird.  The students thought I had left the comments anonymously for them.  The fact that my last name begins with a “T” and my first name is Robin was just too much of a coincidence for them to believe my protestations that no, indeed, I had not commented.  Even after showing them the number of comments Tbird submits, many remained unconvinced.

Tbird’s willingness to comment and support so many writers provided one of those learning moments for my students and me.  How many times does one read something on a blog or web source that is helpful but never bother to let the writer know.  My students and I proceeded to look at other PicLits and found one we all enjoyed.  We left a comment.  (I am a believer that if you can’t say something positive … just leave it alone.)  I then went to one of my favorite DEN blogs, Barbara DeSantis’, and let her know how much I appreciate her sharing her work and the work of her fellow teachers and students.

One of my New Year resolutions was to add to my blog once a week.  Now I have added, “Be it resolved:  comment on another’s blog or public contributions at least once a month.”

The idea of studying and writing poetry is not a popular topic with my 7th grade struggling readers.  Using PicLits has made the concept of “playing with language”more fun.  PicLits not only provides some great pictures to inspire the students, but it also provides some ideas for words to use.  Choosing a noun and a verb from the words provided helps students overcome the “blank page/blank mind” phenomenon.  It is then much easier to ask students to add descriptive adjectives, develop an alliterative phrase, or create a metaphor.  The wide range of visual images allows teachers to choose one that connects to their subject area and have students write a sentence or brief paragraph to illustrate what they have learned.  It would be a great way to begin or end class!