Saturday, November 14, 2009

New Handwriting iPhone App from Kate Gladstone

Yes -- the iPhone/iPodTouch application Kate Gladstone has been developing is finally out!
See the informational page (includes download link for
iPhone/iPodTouch users) at
http://www.deeppocketseries.com/Better_Letters.php .

If you know anyone who has (or whose children have)

/a/ an iPhone or an iPodTouch,
/b/ US$2.99,
and
/c/ handwriting that could use some help

how about mentioning the app to him or her?


Yours for better letters, Kate Gladstone
http://www.HandwritingThatWorks.com
Handwriting Repair/Handwriting That Works
and the World Handwriting Contest
6-B Weis Road, Albany, NY 12208-1942
518/482-6763 - handwritingrepair@gmail.com
Twitter -- http://www.twitter.com/KateGladstone
SONGS OF PENDOM -- http://stores.lulu.com/handwriting
POLITICIAN LEGIBILITY ACT Petition --
http://www.iPetitions.com/petition/PoliticianLegibility

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Book of the Month:

Readings for Fluency
by Gloria Goldsmith
This book is for any student who does not read fluently or with little or no expression, even if the student reads at grade level.
It targets the little words (such as how and who) that tend to be confused. For a student to read fluently, these words must become automatic. This book purposefully uses many types of fonts including a handwriting font and all capitals in order to improve the decoding skills of many students who have difficult identifying letters when the letter looks slightly altered in size or shape from the font they are used to seeing.
To make the learning easier, the readings are in paired sentences. The tutor reads a sentence (often a question) and then the student reads the next.
Set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes. Don't feel obligated to read the entire page. If you can, fine. If you read it twice in fifteen minutes, that's great. You can switch to having the student read the question and you read the answer. Model what you want the student to do: read with enthusiasm and punctuation. The voice drops down on periods and up on questions.
Don't waste learning times by having your student sit and try to sound out a word. Count to two, if necessary, and then give them the word. Be sure to encourage and praise your student when they have accomplished today what they couldn't do yesterday. Give as much help as needed each time. They will learn. Available at avko.org at 33% Off.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Don McCabe on Real Talk Radio 1160
Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 10:45, Don McCabe, AVKO’s Research Director, will be on
Kathryn Raaker’s radio show.

You can stream it live on your computer at www.realtalk1160.com and at www.kathrynraaker.com

The topic: Is Dyslexia a Myth? Call-in line: 513.522.2261
Call with your comments or questions!

Some of these stations below may be in your local radio listening area.

Partner Stations
CBSL Corporate
WSNL - Victory 660 AM
Flint/Saginaw, MI
WLCM - Victory 1390 AM
Lansing, MI
WCVX - Victory 1050
Cincinnati, OH
WJMM - 99.1 Life Changing Radio
Lexington, KY
WCGW - 770 Southern Gospel
Lexington, KY
WLRT - Real Talk 1250
Lexington, KY
WJIV - Victory 99.1 & 101.9
Albany/Utica, NY
CBSL Satellite

Monday, September 14, 2009

Sidewalk and Table Top Hopscotch

Sidewalk and Table Top Hopscotch
By Gloria Goldsmith, Gloria@AVKO.org

Sidewalk Hopscotch is played outdoors and is so much fun, it doesn’t seem like your REALLY working on spelling! Get some chalk and use the driveway or the sidewalk area. (If you live in the country without paving or sidewalk, see Table Top Hopscotch.) Give your student(s) each a piece of chalk and have then draw LARGE boxes in any order they like but they must have both single, double boxes mixed in any order on top of one another. Make it 12 to 16 boxes single and double boxes long. Then give each child a word they will write out correctly (with your help, if needed) filling in all the boxes with different words. When done writing, then take a small rough stone with lots of edges and let them roll it along toward whatever word they want as their target. The word it lands nearest is their word.. They have to hop to the word, pick up the stone, look up at the sky and spell the word aloud. If they spell it correctly they go forward from that word. If they spelled it incorrectly, they have to come back to their last position. The goal is to go to the end and come back first. The winner should get some sort of prize. Maybe a pencil, tootsie roll, but I like a home-made Crown as King or Queen of the Hopscotch! Or course the King or Queen can do a victory dance, making it all the more fun! A nice glass of ice tea or lemonade under a shade tree is a great way for everyone to celebrate and plan their victory dance for the next contest.

Table Top Hopscotch is played in doors for winter games or if you have no sidewalks or paved driveways. It is played the same way except the student draws out the rectangles on a large piece of paper. (Tape two pieces or more together.) Use a small piece of paper wadded into a ball as your stone. And instead of hopping by foot they hop their fingers over the course, slapping their hand over the target word they are to spell. Without peeking they spell the word to you or another player and if they get it right, put a bingo chip or paperclip there to mark it while the next player has his turn. Be sure the winner gets to put on the crown and do a victory dance and everyone gets some sort or celebration.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Review of Don McCabe's, Get Outta Mah Face! Get Offa Mah Case!, by Dr. J. Oatman, Ph.D.

Don McCabe’s, Get Otta Mah Face! Get Offa Mah Case!, provides clear understanding of the importance of language, verbal and body in relationships with others.

Illustrations of positive and negative effects of language and suggestions for assisting family, staff and students to adapt behavior are included. Ideas such as, family and staff training sessions, student role playing and classroom games are detailed.

Emphasis also is given to students’ beliefs about themselves and others which affect personal interactions and practical tools for implementing change are described. Suggestions are given for use in Schools, Business, Family and Correctional Settings.

J. Oatman, Ph.D.,

08/30/2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Homeschool.com's "101 Things to Do This Summer"

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@AVKO.org

[From Homeschool.com]


1

Make a scrapbook of everything you do this summer
The Basics of Scrapbooking
http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/beginners.html

2

Have a picnic
Planning a Picnic
http://www.the-picnic-site.com/

3

Learn how to play soccer
How to Play Soccer
http://www.ehow.com/PrintArticle.html?id=2044097

4

Visit another country
Lonely Planet Destination Guides
www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/

5

Go to a ballgame
Major League Baseball Team Schedules
mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/schedule/index.jsp

6

Get a job (parent permission)
Teens 4 Hire
www.teens4hire.org/

7

Become a photographer
BetterPhoto for Kids and Teens
www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp

8

Make dinner for your family
Do-It-Yourself Dinner Party Project (PDF)
www.reynoldskitchens.com

9

Compare a book to a movie
Compare and Contrast Essay (PDF)
www.csudh.edu

10

Write a poem
30 Days of Poetry
www.msrogers.com/English2/poetry/30_days_of_poetry.htm

11

Learn about fireworks
How Stuff Works: Fireworks
people.howstuffworks.com/fireworks.htm

12

Bake some cookies
Science of Cookies
www.bakingandbakingscience.com/cookies.htm

13

Take a boat ride
Boat Safe Kids!
www.boatsafe.com/kids/index.htm

14

Sketch a picture of your house from the outside
Perspective Drawing
www.artyfactory.com/perspective_drawing/perspective_1.htm

15

Go to camp
Smart Start to Business
http://www.youthpreneur.net/camps

16

Visit a farm
4-H Virtual Farms
www.ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/virtualfarm/main.html

17

Take a walk and record the sounds
Listening to Nature
www.museumca.org/naturalsounds/

18

Embrace Other Cultures
Culture Quest
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/cquest/

19

Keep a journal of what you do during the Summer
Keepsake Diary
http://kids-indoor-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/keep_a_summer_journal

20

Cut up an old greeting card picture and make a puzzle
(parent help)

How to make your own jigsaw puzzle
tn.essortment.com/howtomakeyour_rgzx.htm

21

Start a band
Make Music! Start a Band
www.mustcreate.org/kid_home/kids3_1.shtml

22

Learn how to make a movie
Digital Movie Making for Kids
http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/intro_video/making_of_movie.html

23

Blow up balloons, put notes inside and hand them
out to friends

Message in a Balloon
www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/nmha-activities.html

24

Go backpacking
The Beginning Backpacker
www.backpacking.net/beginner.html

25

Learn how to oil paint
Free Art Lessons
http://www.interactiveartschool.com/free-art-lessons.html

26

Create a web site
Lissa Explains HTML for Kids

www.lissaexplains.com/

27

Go camping
Go Camping America Kids Pages

www.gocampingamerica.com/kidspages/

28

Learn how to use Microsoft Office
Free Tutorials for Microsoft Office
http://www.baycongroup.com/tutorials.htm

29

Help an elderly person with house or yard work
(parent permission)

20 Great Reasons to Volunteer

www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/tipstricks.jsp

30

Visit the zoo
National Zoo Animal Web cams

nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/default.cfm

31

Learn a foreign language
Free Online Language Courses

www.word2word.com/coursead.html

32

Make an obstacle course in your back yard
How To Set Up An Obstacle Course

www.ehow.com/how_3113_set-obstacle-course.html

33

Make a treasure hunt
The Ultimate Treasure Hunt

www.allthatstuff.net/treasurehunt.htm

34

View and learn about Modern Art
Destination Modern Art
http://www.moma.org/destination/

35

Learn about the Animals that live on our planet
A Library of the World’s Animals
http://www.learnanimals.com/

36

Recycle bottles and donate the money to a local charity
The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide

www.obviously.com/recycle/

37

Explore the Universe
A Learning Center for Young Astronomers
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html

38

Build a tree house
The Tree House Guide

www.thetreehouseguide.com/

39

Create a new world
World Building
teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa071602a.htm

40

Set up a lemonade stand
Lemonade Stand Game

www.coolmath-games.com/lemonade/

41

Learn how to make ethnic food
Ethnic Recipes
http://www.bhg.com/recipes/food-slide-shows/ethnic-food/

42

Attend a concert
Buy tickets
http://www.ticketmaster.com/section/concerts

43

Have family game nights
What Game Should We Play?

http://www.hasbro.com/familygamenight/en_US/

44

Learn about science
Latest Science News
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/

45

Make a collage from magazine words and pictures
Collage

pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/collage.html

46

Create a terrarium
How to Make a Terrarium

www.ehow.com/how_9374_make-terrarium.html

47

Learn how to help the environment
Environmental Kids Club
http://www.epa.gov/kids/index.htm

48

Discover new games to play
Nature Games
http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/nature-games.page-1.html

49

Go to a museum
Find a museum in your area

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_the_United_States

50

Make a fire plan
Home Fire Safety

www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/flash.shtm

51

Make up bubble solution and have a contest
Casey Carle's "Secret" Bubble Solutions

www.bubblemania.com/faq/solution.html

52

Find a pen-pal (parent permission)
Pen Pal Directories

www.stonesoup.com/main2/penpal.html

53

Plant something
Gardens for Beginners

www.geocities.com/mastergardener2k/

54

Learn about Plants and our Environment
ThinkQuest
http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/

55

Host a yard sale
How to Plan a Yard Sale

www.ehow.com/how_137461_yard-garage-sale.html

56

Build a sandcastle
Sandcastle Tools

www.sandcastlecentral.com/toolpages/

57

Donate some of the toys and clothes you no longer use
How To Donate Toys

www.ehow.com/how_10124_donate-toys-children.html

58

Research your family tree
Free Genealogy Information
http://genealogy.about.com/cs/free_genealogy/a/free_sites.htm

59

Fly a kite
Professor Kite and the Secret of Kites

www.gombergkites.com/howgen.html

60

Invent your own board game
Design Your Own Board Game

la.essortment.com/boardgamedesig_rxcu.htm

61

Make your own comic book
Comic Creator
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/

62

Create a book cover for your writing projects
Book Cover Creator
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/

63

Act in a play
So You Want to Put On a Play?

www.writewords.org.uk/articles/theatre1.asp

64

Learn to Cook
Introductory Cooking Lessons
http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/kids-cooking-lessons-cit-intro.html

65

Make a bird feeder
Easy birdfeeders for young children
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-easy-bird-feeders.html

66

Organize a bike safety clinic
Bicycle Safety Command Center

www.state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/

67

Spend time with your grandparents
10 Great Activities

www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson136.shtml

68

Learn how the Internet works
Learn the Net
http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/intbas.html

69

Dig for fossils
Dinosaur Dig

www.sdnhm.org/kids/fossils/

70

Write a song
Notes on Songwriting

www.robinfrederick.com/write.html

71

Tie-dye some t-shirts
How to Tie-Dye
iaia.essortment.com/tiedyedyefa_rmel.htm

72

Make your own banana split
Yum!
http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/recipesforkids/ht/bananasplit.htm

73

Create a themed dinner
Theme Dinner Ideas
http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/theme-dinner-ideas.html

74

Tour the World
Google Earth Style
http://earth.google.com/tour.html

75

Throw a pajama party
Make it a success
http://www.ehow.com/how_2047629_plan-pajama-party.html

76

Learn some new outdoor games
Games Kids Play
www.gameskidsplay.net/

77

Make something from recyclables
Crafts from Recycled Products
www.makingfriends.com/recycle.htm

78

See a movie with a friend
In the theatre or on DVD
http://www.movies.com/

79

Make homemade ice cream
Kitchen Theater Science in a Scoop
www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmag/bk_issue/1996/julaug/dept4.htm

80

Build a time capsule
For the entire family
http://www.ehow.com/how_6637_make-family-time.html

81

Get a magazine subscription (parent permission)
Magazine Listing
www.magsonthenet.com/chilmag.html

82

Organize a scavenger hunt
Outdoor Scavenger Hunts
www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/kids/scavengerhunt.htm

83

Go swimming
Video Clips of the Swimming Strokes
wellness.lattc.cc.ca.us/real/strokes.html

84

Paint a portrait of your best friend
Draw Your Friend
www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sparkers/friend_portrait/
portrait_friend.html

85

Start a collection
How to Start a Collection
www.ehow.com/how_10563_start-collection.html

86

Write a fairy tale
Fractured Fairy Tales
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/fairytales/

87

Travel in time
Odyssey Online
carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/MidElem_Home.html

88

Stargaze and track the moon phases
Moon information
http://www.moonconnection.com/

89

Learn how to sew
Learn to Sew
http://cyberseams.com/

90

Visit a National Park
National Park Service Guide
www.nps.gov/parks.html

91

Rent a video of a ballet
Easy to Read Profiles of the Histories of Ballets
classicalmusic.about.com/od/historyofballet/

92

Roast marshmallows
How to Roast a Marshmallow
www.ehow.com/how_1164_roast-marshmallow.html

93

Watch the birds
Tips on Getting Started with Bird Watching
www.birdwatching.com/tips/kids_birding.html

94

Arrange a bouquet of flowers
Learn how to make a beautiful display
http://interiordec.about.com/library/weekly/aa021403b2.htm

95

Learn to blog (parents’ permission)
How-to
http://learn2blog.pitas.com/

96

Re-decorate your room
Decorating Gallery
http://www.hgtv.com/topics/bedrooms/index.html

97

Learn to play chess
Chess is Fun
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/chess/chess.html

98

Adopt a pet (parent permission)
http://www.petfinder.com/

99

Keep your brain going
Brain Teasers
www.brainconnection.com/teasers/

100

Teach someone to use email
How eMail Works
www.learnthenet.com/english/html/20how.htm

101

Create your own holiday
A Month With No Holidays? Make Up Your Own!
.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson018.shtml

Monday, August 17, 2009

Bind Your Own Books at Home

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@AVKO.org

Whether you are scrapbooking, self-publishing your child's best-selling work of fiction, doing arts and crafts, or creating a portfolio of writings, there are many reasons why you may want to bind your own book at home. AVKO recommends daily writing; creating a book that contains all of these writings, in chronological order, can easily show the progress that your student has made in writing over the course of a lifetime.

BindingBooksBeautifully.com
has ready-to-go packages for you to use to make your own books at home.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

AVKO Philosophy

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@AVKO.org

Read all about the philosophy behind AVKO's methods and curriculum materials on the AVKO Philosophy page of the website.

Learn:
  • what AVKO believes about dyslexia testing.
  • what AVKO believes about teaching reading and spelling.
  • what AVKO believes are the most important factors for teaching students reading and spelling.
  • what AVKO believes about studying.
  • how AVKO teaches handwriting.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Become an Institutional Member Today

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@avko.org

AVKO has recently revamped Institutional Membership, increasing the resources offered as well as the discount. Everyone can become an Institutional Member, not just schools, non-profits, tutoring centers, etc. and can reap the benefits.

The newest e-books are available for free download with Institutional Membership, including the Word Family Supplements 1-7 (that correspond to each of the levels of Sequential Spelling) and the Spelling Remediation Test Kit (which has 17 pre-tests, diagnostic tests, and prescriptive tests for remediation and evaluation of spelling and reading level). Additionally, Institutional Members have read-only access to all of the other AVKO materials (excluding Sequential Spelling and Engaging Language Kits). They can read and use the entire books of the other AVKO supplemental and reference materials from the internet, but cannot download or print them.

Benefits of AVKO Institutional Membership

Institutional Membership is open to individuals as well as tutoring centers, schools, learning centers, homeschool resource centers, etc.

  • Access to all of the benefits of AVKO's Individual Membership (see below)
  • 25% discount off all materials ordered
  • Read-only access to ALL AVKO curriculum materials (except for Sequential Spelling and Engaging Language Kits)
  • Access to AVKO's newest e-books:
    • Word Family Supplements 1-7 for Sequential Spelling
    • Spelling Remediation Test Kit
If you are currently an individual member, you may upgrade your membership to an Institutional Membership for only $50 from now until the end of August. E-mail info@avko.org or call AVKO at 810.686.9283 or toll-free at 1-866-285-6612 to do this.

Learn more about membership here

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

New Teaching Aid Freebies on AVKO.org

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@AVKO.org

AVKO is proud to share with you a few new teaching aid freebies for the teaching of reading and spelling, or for your reference in the classroom, homeschool, or resource/reference room.

Newest Freebies:

Monday, July 27, 2009

New AVKO Resource: Sequential Spelling Word Family Supplement E-books

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@avko.org

AVKO is proud to announce that we have launched a new e-book resource series called Sequential Spelling Word Family Supplements. These invaluable e-books correspond to each of the Sequential Spelling levels and contain the pages from The Patterns of English Spelling: Combined with Word Families in Sentence Context for ALL of the major word families presented. This means that you can quickly turn to see all of the other words in a particular word family being tested, as well as have a bank of contextual sentences for the most common words. These can be used for dictation exercises, vocabulary building, choral reading, reading practice, handwriting practice, keyboarding practice, and more! These e-books are available for $7.50 apiece on Scribd.com

Friday, July 24, 2009

New AVKO Resource for Testing Spelling and Reading Levels

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@avko.org

AVKO has introduced a new e-book resource: a collection of diagnostic, prescriptive, and pre-tests for spelling and reading. This collection of 17 tests written by Don McCabe will allow you to quickly determine which spelling patterns your students need to learn, where they should be placed in Sequential Spelling (or another spelling program), and how to best remediate their spelling. This collection will also give you all of the information you need to quickly create your own spelling program. These tests can also be used for ESL instruction, special education, creating an IEP, and many other things!

This is available for purchase from AVKO for only $5.00 from the Scribd website. You can see all of AVKO's documents on Scribd here.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Become an AVKO Commissioned Salesperson -- Now Even Easier

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@AVKO.org

AVKO has a commissioned sales program where you can earn 10% for each and every sale that you refer to us. We have now made it even easier for you to earn money: All you have to do is enroll as an AVKO commissioned salesperson ("associate") and then when people click on the link that you send them or that you have posted on your blog, e-mail signature, website, etc. and purchase something from us, you earn 10%. You can even log in and track your earnings.


For more information and tips on how to earn more money, see the sales section of our website; also visit the Retailer Resources section of the website for advertising and product graphics, ISBNs and SKUs, and more. Remember that you can also earn bonuses for getting new schools and bookstores to carry or purchase AVKO materials. Also, do not hesitate to contact Brian at Brian@avko.org for more information.

Engaging Language Kit by Brian McCabe Sample on Scribd

Posted by Brian McCabe, Brian@AVKO.org

Learn more about AVKO's Engaging Language Kits by Brian McCabe. Check out this sample of the various language arts activities that your students will have fun -- and learn -- with below.

381 Sample