Right now I am blogging, playing with kittens, and watching the Dodger Game. I went to an intriguing training on improving reading and writing skills for students today. It really made me think about some of my instructional techniques and how they could be improved. Only 1/3 of all students entering high school are proficient in reading! Some states use 4th grade test scores to estimate how many prisons they will need! Comprehending college texts is the number one predictor of college success as well!
We need to transform they way we teach reading in schools. Teachers are overcoming the achievement gap, poverty, and all the other things that get in the way of student learning using certain techniques. We now have “effective score” for instructional techniques that predict with a fair amount of accuracy what is a “high impact” or “low impact” activity, which was news to me. Our presenter, LeAnn Nicholson wrote the book, The Literacy Triangle. It is packed with information, reusable printable worksheets, all of it very evidence based! If you are a teacher frustrated with outdated reading and writing strategies, I highly recommend it!
I have another day of training tomorrow and then back to my classroom. I was kind of bummed today to have to go to a training and miss my classes today, but at least it was a really good one. I hope you all are having a great evening doing whatever you are doing (or morning). Thanks for checking out Bunchiesblog! Likes, follows, shares are always appreciated!
Right now I am blogging, playing with kittens, and watching the Dodger Game. I went to an intriguing training on improving reading and writing skills for students today.
The Quail Fire (2022) burned away the guardrails up to my favorite fishing spot last August. The road going up there has been closed since… Continue reading → Photograph of the Day Challenge
I am a very active person, so I guess it is not all that surprising that most of my things I do to relax involve activities. Nature for me is the great healer, finding some way to interact with nature, usually provides me with great joy. Not to say that I don’t enjoy time spent…
I am holding a pretty big grudge against our school district right now. They offered our union a 0% C.O.L.A. in the first round of negotiating our contract this year.
I have traveled to Europe twice which from a “farthest from home” perspective would be the farthest in miles, however, I want to write about my intellectual journey through history as the topic of this post.
Joy can be a difficult thing to find at times with all the trials and tribulations of life. Some of my most joyful moments have come on the back end of great sorrow, disappointment, and difficulty. I don’t know if you can have one without the other. To truly understand joy, you must understand some…
Sunset reminds me of the mysteries and beauty of life when I take the time to appreciate it. Living near the beach in Los Angeles, the sunsets that can be seen there, perhaps rival any other. The different hues of pink, orange, purple, and blue going off into a near sighted infinity until they meet…
How to Build a Better Tomorrow, exploring the ideas of The Venus Project is the topic of this article. Humanity is facing a tipping point, will we make it, or destroy ourselves?
The ideal city of the future should be designed following the guidelines of “The Venus Project”. “The Venus Project” is a non-profit organization that has been working to bridge the gap between humanity and economic growth/development in a sustainable way.
The ideal city of the future should be designed following the guidelines of “The Venus Project”. “The Venus Project” is a non-profit organization that has been working to bridge the gap between humanity and economic growth/development in a sustainable way.
Where did your name come from? My parents were hippy folkish. My father wanted to name me Moonbeam or Starlight and a host of other… Continue reading → My Mother’s Desire For Me To Have A Normal Life
If you have never been, I would highly recommend visiting Los Angeles. There are countless things to do, places to visit, and interesting day or weekend trips. The climate is pretty ideal most of the year, especially close to the beach, the people are friendly, and best of all, it is my home!
Five Ways To Help Your Child Succeed In School from a veteran high school teacher. How can you best help your child succeed in school? Advice from a veteran teacher.
This is kind of a tough one…..but I would have to go with “you know” as a phrase. I catch myself using it all the… Continue reading → Do You Know What I Mean?
What brings you peace? Getting up early and “putting the work in”. I feel a deep sense of pride when win that all important first… Continue reading → Finding Peace…Discipline Equals Freedom
I have been playing with Chat GPT the last few weeks and have began the new science of, “prompt engineering” otherwise known as laughing at (or with just in case machines take over the world) what Chat GPT creates. I was just doing this as practice, but it is pretty damn hilarious, thought I would…
I admire journalists who speak truth to power. Large corporations, governments, and even smaller businesses in small towns will stop at nothing to avoid having their “dirty laundry” aired.
The Perseid meteor shower, a celestial event that has captivated the imagination of skywatchers for centuries, is set to unveil its luminous display tonight. For followers of my blog and enthusiasts of the cosmos alike, this is an opportune moment to delve into the rich history that has shaped the Perseid meteor shower into the…
It is amazing to me to think that there are millions of people doing what I am doing right now, that we are all contributing to the whole of human knowledge (hopefully).
Today I registered my daughter for her senior year in high school. It sounds cheesy, but I remember when she was just a tiny little thing crawling on the floor, banging on things and laughing. Now we are worried about what classes to take, driving, and college. Seventeen years ago, I also started my full-time…
Can we bring back dinosaurs? This theme has been explored in depth in the famous Jurassic Park movies, but can we actually do it? I happen to of stumbled upon a lecture at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles about just this question a few years ago and what they said was quite interesting.
I think maintaining health and well-being differs in some ways from person to person, but there are some basic things that are important for everyone. So here are: My Three Keys for Mental and Physical Well Being.
Games have always captured my imagination. I do not think there is a day of my conscious life that I have not played some sort of game, even if it was just in my head.
What is truly essential to modern life in the United States? This is a question I ask my Economics class each year. What is the difference between a want and a need? How do we differentiate between them?
I am currently seeking a bit of both. I have a lot of time off due to being a teacher and it gives me a lot of time to adventure, but the flip side of the coin is that it takes money to adventure.
As a lifelong athlete as well as coach, I have had many days where I have had to practice or play on exceptionally hot days. Some days it feels like the sun will melt you in your uniform or training gear like a runny egg into your shoes. On these days, it is critical to…
#Let’sWinTogether is all about increasing engagement on the WordPress platform. Take the challenge, comment on ten posts from any category, post your name in the comments section and I will follow you.
From original author: Today, we’re discussing a hypothetical dinner party where we invite two controversial figures: Tom MacDonald and Donald Trump. Strap in, as we delve into the reasons behind this intriguing guest list.
If I could host a dinner for anyone throughout history it would probably be Babe Ruth. Ruth by all accounts was a “life of the party” type of guy. He enjoyed having a good time and was not shy about it.
This is both an informative post about the current Tik-Tok ban and a invitation to a “Civil Discussion” or debate. Feel free to comment, question, just keep it respectful!
A short list of countries I would want to visit and some recommended traveling sites. Thank you for considering a like, subscribe or submitting thoughtful comments!
Self Love is vital to being able to connect with others. I decided to make a article with a few resources including the new Spider-Man song titled, “self-love” linked in. Listen to the song as you read! Thanks for considering throwing a like, comment or subscribe my way!
I compiled a list of my top five places that I would consider retiring. Feel free to comment, share, and discuss! What is more fun than talking about travel?
Cookies are the best. Homemade oatmeal raising are more personal favorite, especially when made for me by my loving girlfriend. There are so many different… Continue reading → I Would Have to Say Cookies!
These separatists declared independence from Ukraine and sought to join Russia. The Ukrainian government responded by launching a military operation to regain control over the separatist-held territories.
California, often dubbed the “Shaky State,” is no stranger to seismic activity. Nestled along the volatile Pacific Ring of Fire, this geologically diverse region experiences frequent earthquakes of varying magnitudes
The search for the best form of government remains an ongoing and dynamic quest. No single system can guarantee perfection, as societal needs, cultural contexts, and historical circumstances vary. Nevertheless, by combining the strengths and mitigating the weaknesses of different models, we can strive to create an optimal form of governance that promotes individual liberties,…
Happy Monday! I am inspired today to write about a chrome extension I used today to make a video for my classes distance learning. I… Continue reading → Screencastify is a Total Gamechanger
I look forward to meeting new people via my blog, having stimulating discussions, and hopefully providing a valuable service to the community and dare I say it, the world.
Some of my favorite brands are the ones that have the highest quality products as well as a strong relationship with the people in the communities they serve. There are many examples of this, In-N-Out-Burger comes to mind here in Los Angeles….
Curious, …how many prisons they will need! Reading is a very big problem here. I’m blessed that my kids were able to learn reading and writing before they were out of nursery/kindergarten. The school employees a method called jolly phonics to teach toddlers reading and pronunciation and the children are not taught the alphabet before they learn the vowels.
In the U.S. prisons are big business. Often they are run by private companies that have no incentive for the inmates to leave because they lose money. It costs over $100,000 a year to lock up one person for a year in California. We have millions locked up. How many literacy trainings, books, after school programs could that fund? It’s such a waste.
Wow. What a long and detailed oriented blog post brother. I am very happy that you are taking reading and writing skills induction training because the bare truth is that we all need to read and write if we want to be productive in life. All the best with your upcoming projects and writing trainings. I am sure your students will ace their exams once they adopt the habit of consistent writing and reading.
Wonderful share with the best things doing. Perfect for the prompt.
Thanks!
Curious, …how many prisons they will need! Reading is a very big problem here. I’m blessed that my kids were able to learn reading and writing before they were out of nursery/kindergarten. The school employees a method called jolly phonics to teach toddlers reading and pronunciation and the children are not taught the alphabet before they learn the vowels.
In the U.S. prisons are big business. Often they are run by private companies that have no incentive for the inmates to leave because they lose money. It costs over $100,000 a year to lock up one person for a year in California. We have millions locked up. How many literacy trainings, books, after school programs could that fund? It’s such a waste.
Wow. What a long and detailed oriented blog post brother. I am very happy that you are taking reading and writing skills induction training because the bare truth is that we all need to read and write if we want to be productive in life. All the best with your upcoming projects and writing trainings. I am sure your students will ace their exams once they adopt the habit of consistent writing and reading.
Take care
Thank you, education is such a powerful tool!
Yes sir👏
Thank you for sharing.