Reading Passages

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn: Controversy at the Heart of a Classic This post is by Rebecca Newland, the Library of Congress 2013-14 Teacher in Residence. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is number fourteen on the American Library Association’s list of most frequently banned books (2000 – 2009). The book has also appeared on the AP Literature and Composition test fifteen times between 1980 and 2013. Despite the controversies, the novel has remained a staple in high school literature study because teachers seek to engage students with texts that provoke discussion and questions. $200 Reward. Though the novel is named for Huck, his companion Jim, a fugitive from slavery, provokes the strongest reactions from readers. Cash! Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Huckleberry Finn is Twain’s use of racially charged language. Additional Items and Ideas:

Using Think-Alouds to Improve Reading Comprehension In other words, students need to think while they are reading. By using modeling, coached practice, and reflection, you can teach your students strategies to help them think while they read and build their comprehension. Modeling What it is By modeling for students the types of behaviors good readers are engaged in as they read, we are providing them with the opportunity to become aware of the many strategies and monitoring behaviors that good readers use. When good readers are reading relatively simple texts (according to their own reading abilities) these strategic behaviors are fairly automatic. An activity Model thinking aloud for your students with one of the texts. Coached practice By engaging poor readers in coached practice in the think-aloud method, we are providing them with the opportunity and guidance they need to choose useful, appropriate strategies to enhance reading comprehension. Next, insert write-in boxes into a new text. Reflection Summary

Science Codex | Science news, science articles, all day, every day abcteach worksheets Download 20 Popular High School Books Available as Free eBooks & Audio Books Every year, thousands of American high school students read a common selection of great novels — classics loved by young and old readers alike. Today, we have selected 20 of the most popular books and highlighted ways that you can download versions for free, mostly as free audio books and ebooks, and sometimes as movies and radio dramas. You will find more great works — and sometimes other digital formats — in our twin collections: 600 Free eBooks for iPad, Kindle & Other Devices and 550 Free Audio Books. So please give them a good look over, and if we’re missing a novel you want, don’t forget Audible.com’s 14 day trial. It will let you download an audio book for free, pretty much any one you want. 1984 by George Orwell: Free eBook – Free Audio Book – Free Movie Although published in 1949, 1984 still captures our imagination generations later because it offers one of the best literary accounts of totalitarianism ever published. Plays by William Shakespeare No description needed.

American Scientist Online Understand Dyslexia Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading. People with dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, and writing. But these challenges aren’t a problem with intelligence. Snapshot: What dyslexia is Dyslexia is a common condition that makes it hard to work with language. People with dyslexia don’t outgrow it. People with dyslexia typically have trouble reading fluently. Dyslexia can create difficulty with other skills, too. Reading comprehensionSpellingWritingMath It’s important to know that while dyslexia impacts learning, it’s not a problem of intelligence. Dyslexia signs and symptoms Dyslexia impacts people in different ways. A key sign of dyslexia is trouble decoding words. In some people, dyslexia isn’t picked up until later on, when they have trouble with more complex skills. Some of the signs of dyslexia have to do with emotions and behavior. Dyslexia doesn’t just affect learning. Reviewed by

FaceJack - Hijack someone's face - A new entertainment app for iPhone®, iPad™ and iPod touch® News-O-Matic Now Available for Computers & Chromebooks This month I’ve visited a handful of elementary schools looking to use iPads and Chromebooks effectively in English Language Arts instruction. News-O-Matic has been one of my favorite iPad apps to share with elementary school teachers. I’m excited to announce that News-O-Matic is now available on web browsers, making it perfect for Chromebook and laptop classrooms. Students can now access NOM whether they use the app or open up a web browser. Visit News-O-Matic’s website to check out the web version of this popular currents events resource for K-8 students. Monica Monica Burns is an Author, Speaker, Curriculum & EdTech Consultant and Apple Distinguished Educator.

Story Starters If you’re looking to inspire your students’ writing and creativity, turn to these fun and exciting writing prompts. Perfect for overcoming writer’s block or even starting a brand-new short story in a different narrative, creative writing prompts can help students begin a new piece with confidence. Plus, these story starters can also encourage students to explore different genres while honing their writing skills. There are a lot of ways you can use writing prompts in your classroom. Try: Reading a book in a genre, then having students use a story starter in that same genre. Take inspiration from classics like Treasure Island and newer popular series like The Bad Guys to explore how to write thrilling adventure stories. You’re part of a pirate crew in search of a long-lost storied treasure trove. Get students excited about adventure stories with these great books: If you’re looking to inspire your students’ writing and creativity, turn to these fun and exciting writing prompts.

5 Ways to Use Audiobooks to Help Struggling Readers Traditionally, audiobooks have been used in the classroom to help students with visual impairments or learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Now, however, experts are realizing the power of audiobooks to help students who struggle with many different issues and aspects of reading. Here are five creative ways you can use audiobooks in the classroom to help these readers. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Question for you: Do you use audiobooks in the classroom?