Be Better, Be a Better Reader

Enrichment, From the Teacher, Reading No Comments

Do you agree that being better starts with being a better reader?

 Everyone has different learning styles which is the reason why schools offer different teaching styles and philosophies to cater to a diverse population of learners.

Learning is self-improvement no matter what age or level“, according to Jerry Vicente and May Jovero-Catabijan, the educational entrepreneur couple behind Saint Mary’s Publishing Corporation.

To be a lifelong learner, one has to develop the love for reading and be a dedicated reader and have a source of guidance and inspiration to help with the learning process. This is the core of the publishing of textbooks for the last 47 years that keeps the couple team inspired. They try to keep their published books interesting to keep the students engaged and inspired.

Engaging in intellectual discussions and getting involved in worthwhile activities are also great help in paving the way to be better learners.

The role of the teacher in a learner’s life is given emphasis as most important instrument in the learner’s learning process.

Mr. Catabijan says “You can have all the fancy educational gimmicks and gadgets, the best books and even the most advanced facilities, but if your instructor is not competent and committed or more importantly, passionate, then you won’t learn as much as you should be.

be better

 That being said, teachers can now read about helpful teaching tips, book features, profiles of writers and educators in the website: BeBetter.com.ph. Be Better is composed of contributing writer/teachers plus a dedicated editorial team.

The website Be Better has several features:

  • articles on practical tips like “How to discourage cramming” or how to use a journal
  • feature articles like “Notable Pinoy Scientists”
  • resource materials for teachers
  • sections like “Feed your need to read” for a list of recommended books based on different themes, “Shaping the self-learner” and “Be Better Spotlight”, which features profiles of educators.

 The word BETTER is an acronym for “Better Education Thrives Through Endless Reading”. “When we talk about ‘endless reading’, we’re not only referring to the students but the teachers as well,” adds Mr. Catabijan.

Check out the Be Better Facebook page.

Sign up for regular updates here: Be Better

Indeed, we can be better through reading!

 “Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another.” — Marva Collins

Reading: Decoding Skills

Enrichment, From the Teacher, Language Arts, Preparatory Lessons, Reading 1 Comment

Decoding is the ability to translate written language (units of sounds and/or phonetics = letters symbolizing sounds and words) as spoken words.

Decoding is the ability to put together letters to form words like C-A-T being read as “cat”

Decoding is a very important skill in developing the reading skills of children.

  • Children should be able to recognize the letters of the alphabet first and match the phonetic sounds that go with each letter before they can begin to decode. First words to be read are the CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words
  • Children should be able to put letters together through phonetic sounds to be able to decode, like the example above C-A-T for cat
  • Alongside decoding, children should be able to sight -read commonly used words for incorporating with the decoded CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words

How to start decoding?

Start with familiar names and brands that are used on a daily basis and you are starting in the right direction. So better start “reading” those labels like street signs, consumer products, brand names (be careful with these though for the child might get used to reading expensive brand names, LOL)

Don’t forget to have the children “read” their names too, even if they can’t write it yet 🙂

Number Words 10 – 100

Mathematics, Preparatory Lessons, Reading, Younger Daughter Comments Off on Number Words 10 – 100

Math Prep

Number Words 10 – 100

10 ten

20 twenty

30 thirty

40 forty

50 fifty

60 sixty

70 seventy

80 eighty

90 ninety

100 one hundred

Answering “When” Questions

Enrichment, Preparatory Lessons, Reading, Younger Daughter Comments Off on Answering “When” Questions

Reading Prep

Answering “WHEN” questions

Number Words 11 – 20

Mathematics, Preparatory Lessons, Reading, Younger Daughter Comments Off on Number Words 11 – 20

July 29

Math Prep

Number Words 11 – 20

  1. eleven
  2. twelve
  3. thirteen
  4. fourteen
  5. fifteen
  6. sixteen
  7. seventeen
  8. eighteen
  9. nineteen
  10. twenty

Wh- Questions

Grade 2 Lessons, Reading, The Son Comments Off on Wh- Questions

Answering WHO, WHAT, WHERE and WHY questions.

  • The who question answers about a person.

  • The what question answers about things.

  • The where question answers about places.

  • The why question gives the reason or why an action was done.

Answering “Where” Questions

Enrichment, Preparatory Lessons, Reading, Younger Daughter Comments Off on Answering “Where” Questions

July 28

Reading Prep

Answering “WHERE” questions

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