tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84062640714931012742011-04-21T19:12:18.357-05:00HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.comBlogger131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-75440006507825208532009-04-27T18:06:00.003-05:002009-04-27T18:15:05.509-05:00

I recently found a blog that is moderate, informative and well-researched. I think you might like it, too. In an ongoing debate conducted by Dr. Cairney, I recently responded this way. I'd love your opinion after you read this. Do you have a definite belief about teaching young children to read?"Thank you, Dr. Cairney, for the moderate, unbiased view you are presenting to parents and educators.

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-32963418111356822592009-04-19T14:36:00.004-05:002009-04-19T15:02:13.958-05:00

DO NOT AGREE TO HOLD YOUR CHILD BACK TO REPEAT A GRADE LEVEL. I do not approve of flunking a child. Most educational researchers and reviewers agree. Flunking is just too damaging to your child for you to even consider it. It does not give your child benefits. It is all negative. There is no positive.Many studies have shown that children who are flunked a year most often are still not doing

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-43668830295842882162009-03-31T08:08:00.003-05:002009-03-31T08:44:27.897-05:00

It's that time of year again when I begin to get calls: "My son's teacher says she will hold him back this year." "My child's school recommends that he take Kindergarten again."And even worse.... "My third grader is going to be retained to do third grade again next year!"The term "flunking" is rarely used anymore but parents aren't stupid. It's still that most dreaded worry in every

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-82602118620473601652009-03-26T21:10:00.007-05:002009-03-26T21:27:20.008-05:00

I predict teaching very young children to read is the coming new wave. And why not? Many children are in day care programs. Most children go to preschool before they go on to school. Schools across the nation are implementing PreK classes, free to 4 year olds. Kindergarten teachers and 1st grade teachers struggle to find academic material for the number of children who are coming to their

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-49327458008745683162009-01-17T02:20:00.005-06:002009-01-17T02:51:11.856-06:00

I was always a good student in school. So was my husband. Our four very-different-from-each- other children were also. And now, amazingly, my six grandchildren who are school age and in public schools are very good students.Are we just a smart family? No. We are a family of readers. We have figured out that the secret to school success is to be an excellent reader. We teach our children to

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-35783049047789498462009-01-17T01:57:00.005-06:002009-01-17T02:50:37.685-06:00

This last year has been one of exhilaration and passion and one of long hours and little sleep. It has been a time of putting all my years of teaching together and creating a specialized reading program that teaches ALL children to read!I now find myself in a bind. I have a website, a great website, put together for me by my son. I have a reading program, a great reading program that really,

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-44479722901049089192008-12-11T07:23:00.007-06:002009-01-17T02:45:42.328-06:00

Grade Level. Sounds so definite, doesn't it? As if it was the admission price for 2nd grade or 9th grade. As if it was the admission charge to your school.First of all, the word 'grade level' is a misnomer. We really should be saying Minimal Grade Level, because it is not a good thing to have your child "on grade level." Children who are on grade level feel like they are not good readers. They

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-13726723914378556542008-11-08T08:28:00.003-06:002008-11-11T11:32:03.250-06:00

My last two posts dealt with your elementary or middle school child who is not yet a good reader. Be sure you read those before reading this. They lay out the guidelines for a parent's involvement in teaching reading.Once again, YOU, the parent, may be your child's best chance at learning to read. Each child deserves one-on-one reading time with an adult. Its the right way to learn. Its the

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-57018446171351612182008-11-05T01:16:00.007-06:002008-11-11T11:32:34.817-06:00

Every child can learn to read. I mean, EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN TO READ. How is that accomplished? In different ways but basically in a one-on-one setting with one teacher and one child sitting next to each other or looking at each other across a table. That means your child will not improve noticeably in a classroom.If you are interested in helping your child yourself, jump right in! These

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-86216462805821612142008-10-26T10:58:00.011-05:002008-11-11T11:33:17.683-06:00

If you have a second grader, a fourth grader, or maybe a 6th grader who is not a good reader, NOW is the time for action. Learning to read well is a MUST for every child.A reading problem will affect many aspects of your child's life. First, a poor reader will not do well in school, and what could be worse? Your child is required to spend hours at school every day for all of childhood. A poor

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-6441540856690996562008-10-22T20:29:00.005-05:002008-11-11T11:33:54.756-06:00

Favorite childhood memories are the games I played. Let's see: tic tac toe, my ship sails, freeze tag, red rover, sticks and stones, jacks, dominos and marbles. What games do you remember?I don't recall reading games, however, unless I count the ABC game while traveling. Reading games for little ones can be so, SO much fun for them. After all, their favorite people, their parents, are playing

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-31991515245690930862008-10-21T21:05:00.007-05:002008-11-11T11:34:38.566-06:00

You've heard it over and over. Read to children and with children often. Two times a day would be great. Two times a week is also good. Keep your reading time fun. If everyone in the family is too tired or too grouchy, don't waste your time reading. Lay down on the floor and giggle together instead.Always keep your ultimate goal clear in your own mind. Your aim should be to develop a happy and

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8406264071493101274.post-89653235371332256342008-10-12T22:25:00.007-05:002008-10-16T15:41:23.463-05:00

Early to Read! Why are some children early to read? Why should we want children to be early to read? What kind of a parent or a professional would promote such an idea? And last, shouldn't children just get to be children?Let's take these in order. One of my four children taught herself to read at about 3 and one half. My other children became early readers because those three played reading

HURST FIRST Let's Read!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02224196498674033918noreply@blogger.com1