Grapheme: Everything You Need to Know

A grapheme is a phoneme’s symbol (for instance, /b/ for the alphabet ‘b’ or /f/ for ‘ph’ in ‘physics’). The name grapheme is given to a letter or a group of letters representing a phoneme. For instance, the word “ghost” has four graphemes (“gh,” “o,” “s,” and “t”) and five letters. There’s a lot more variability in written languages’ structure than spoken languages. Typically, instructors teach beginners grapheme-phoneme correspondences when they start school. Those associations are easier to learn if kids already know the letters’ names because most letter names have relevant sounds. Graphemes can cause a contrast in meaning. …

Independent Reading Levels: Everything You Need to Know

This is a standard a reader attains, in which he/she can boast of reading and understanding without requiring help from an external source. Children’s independent reading level is generally determined from books they can read with no more than just one error in word recognition in every hundred words and demonstrate a comprehension score of at least ninety percent. At this level, the kids read orally in a natural tone.  Their silent reading will be faster than their oral reading. The teacher’s goal should be giving students at least thirty minutes of independent reading time in the first grade and …

Phonemes: Everything You Need to Know

These are distinct units of sound in a language that differentiate words. A phoneme conveys a distinct meaning like the r of ring and the s of sing. Phonemes are language-specific. It means phonemes that are functionally different in English might not be so in a different language. The phoneme is the central concept in phonology, which’s a distinctive category of sounds that all native speakers of a dialect or language perceive as somewhat the same. Since phonemes are categories instead of actual sounds, they aren’t tangible things. Instead, they’re abstract, theoretical groups or types that are only psychologically real. …

Instructional Reading Level: Everything You Need to Know

pass or fail

This is a position in reading in which students are constantly put to the test to ensure they can read amazingly in the classroom and the ordinary teaching environment. This is the maximum level at which students cannot read independently but have sufficient background knowledge of a topic and access text quickly with zero or few errors. The instructional reading level is generally determined from books the kids can read with a maximum of one word-recognition error in around twenty words.  The comprehension should be at least seventy-five percent. Students’ silent reading is faster than their oral reading. They can …

Teaching Young Kids Japanese

Teaching young kids Japanese can be challenging. First, children who are younger than elementary level have a short attention span, so it’s important to keep the lessons entertaining and interactive. Another reason it can be difficult is because some children might not have much experience holding pencils to write. Sometimes, they need to be taught how to hold a pencil correctly first before they can start practicing writing. Despite the challenges, teaching Japanese to young kids is worth the effort. Children at this age like to move around so having some time to dance and craft might be a key …

Proficient Readers: Everything You Need to Know

pass or fail

This is a reader that employs methods and has the reading ability that is right for their grade or age. Proficient readers can decode sound-letter arrangements, put sounds into words, and comprehend word meanings and how words merge to generate meaning. Even in countries with acclaimed and successful education systems, a significant percent of the population don’t know how to read proficiently. Learning to read proficiently relies on the brain completely integrating what an individual knows about spoken language with what the person learns about written language. In 2000, a literature review conducted by the National Reading Panel identified the …

Language Comprehension: Everything You Need to Know

pass or fail

These are the series of steps involved in taking in, demystifying, and understanding a message—written or oral. Skilled reading isn’t possible without language comprehension. Readers might have extensive background knowledge on a topic or strong oral language skills, but if they cannot read the words on a page, it might affect their ability to learn from or understand a book on the topic. On the other hand, students who easily decode a word but have never heard it before or don’t know what it means will also struggle to comprehend. According to Scarborough’s Rope model, language comprehension and word recognition …

Fluent Readers: Everything You Need to Know

This is a reader who carries out the act of reading easily with accuracy and a level of understanding above the average. Fluent readers recognize words automatically when reading silently. They group words quickly to gain meaning from what they read. They read aloud effortlessly and with expression. Fluent readers can focus on the text’s meaning because they don’t need to concentrate on decoding the words. They can recognize words and understand them at the same time. Here’re some strategies teachers can use to help students become fluent readers. Reading to students: When teachers read aloud, they model both comprehension …

Spain facts

Spain is a beautiful country located in the southwestern part of Europe, and it is known for its vibrant culture, colorful festivals, delicious cuisine, and picturesque landscapes. It is the fourth largest country in Europe, and it is home to over 46 million people. Here are some interesting facts about Spain that you may not know. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world after Mandarin. It is spoken by over 570 million people worldwide. Spain is known for its siesta culture, where businesses and schools shut down for a few hours during the afternoon to allow people …

Appreciative Inquiry Interview Questions and Examples

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a practice that helps people improve their work environment and relationships by focusing on the positive aspects of past successes and current experiences. AI is an approach that emphasizes the observation, interpretation, and generation of sincere gratitude to promote well-being. There are many benefits of practicing Appreciative Inquiry. First, it can help people become more responsive and effective leaders. Second, it can improve communication and teamwork. Third, it can lead to a more satisfied workforce. Fourth, it can help people develop greater self-awareness and satisfaction with life. Finally, it can create a more positive culture and …