Shells of Shells

Breaking Out of Reading Shells Shells of Assistive Technology Shells of Failure As A Tool Shells of Generalization Shells of Independence Shells of My Students' Favorite Books Shells of Teacher Responses Shells of a Blog Shells of Help for Online Learners Shells of Reading and Learning Quotes Shells of a Guestbook Shells of Graphic Organizers Shells of Books I Read Shells of Article Reflections Shells of Reading Strategies Shells of What Students Like or Don't Like About Reading Shells of Helpful Reading Websites Shells of Reading, Teaching and Learning Poetry Shells of Writing Shells of Student Comments on Twilight and Other Books Shells of My Life As A Reader Shells of More Reading Quotes Shells of Dyslexia Shells of Thoughts on Reading Shells of Turtle Poems Shells of Turtle Games and Activities Shells of What Makes a Good Reader Shells of Teaching Shells of Turtle Stories and Lessons Shells of Reading Help Shells of Social Issues Shells of Counseling Shells of Remediation Shells of Twilight Shells of Educational Turtle Games Shells of Vocabulary Shells of Memory/Test Taking Strategies Shells of Spelling Shells of Turtle Stories Shells of More Turtle Poems Shells of How Twilight is the New Harry Potter Shells of Twilight Lesson Plans and Ideas Shells of My Reading/Teaching Improvement Plan Shells of Vampires Shells of Shells

In order to help students who struggle with reading to cope and improve, reading strategies can make a great difference. Reading stories that interest the students is critical. To go full circle on this web site about reading, we need to reflect back to how our students need to have tough shells in order to not give up.

Improving our learning and reading never ends, just as we never stop learning. 

Finding the right book makes a difference for struggling readers.

Online learners struggle with their reading sometimes, too.  With these students, it is important for teachers to use their voices well and to make instructions clear.

Graphic organizers help readers to sort information, and they work well for visual learners as well.

Dyslexic students can be helped through graphic organizers, reading strategies and other assistance.

Assistive technology is available for those who need help with seeing or reading.

When students experience or fear failure, teachers can turn this into a lesson.  They can help their students to see that it is okay to make mistakes and show them that we must have flaws in order to learn.  Our best learning experiences stem from errors that we make.

Students have their own ideas about what they want to read. Twilight, Harry Potter and Goosebumps seem to be the most commonly read books, but there is a wide varietybooks of that students enjoy and find of personal value.

Reading is fun when you read about subjects that interest you.  Teach students to share their thoughts about their reading and to do the same when they write. 

Students can reach great heights if they are willing to raise the bar. Teachers can help them to do that, to come out of their shells.

Working on vocabulary skills is one of the keys toward reading improvement. 

Just as turtles are a unique kind of animal that no other animal replicates, keep in mind how each and every one of your student are unique and different.  They have their own reading and learning needs, and lessons should be individually designed to meet them.

Teachers can help their students be like turtles and go at a steady pace with their reading, but one that is sure and that will provide strategies that will get them where they are going.

Books like Twilight, Harry Potter, Goosebumps and others can engage students in ways they might not otherwise be.  Why not have them read these books if they work.

Social skills are important for the development of students, and reading is way to help students come out of their shells.  Talking to students about books is a great start toward this, and holding reading conversations with your students individually and as groups goes a lot way to enhancing their social capabilities.

Reading Shells

One day all the turtles decided to get together and read...

But they were not all so excited about this deed,

And many of them were pleading,

To not have to do all this reading,

But then one said,

Well, we might,

Read something good like Twilight,

Or maybe we oughter

Read Harry Potter,

Or if that book you want to dump,

Well, then just read Goosebumps.

One turtle then he scratched his shell,

And said, "Well,

What can it wreck?

I'll stretch my neck.

And be kind,

To my mind,

There is so much to know,

And I am, after all, a turtle!

Turtles come,

and turtles go,

Do they read?

Well, does anyone know?

And oh, do they write,

Well, not quite.

But we are not so sure

If they involve themselves in literature,

Would we laugh,

If they read a paragraph?

Would they read it well,

Or hide in their shell?

Would a teacher check,

If they stretched their neck?

So has a reading turtle ever been seen?

Well yes, as sure as he is green.

Turtles can't read to win a race,

But they sure can do it at their own pace!

If students are willing to stick their necks out as far as reading and learning go, they will go far in their lives.  To get them to do that, always be positive about education and literature.  Show them what you love about books and for them, there will be no looking back.

Remediation is possible in reading, even with reluctant or struggling readers.  Teachers can get lessons to the lives of their students, involve them in books and subjects in which they are interested,   With time and patience, learning is always possible.  You just have to be like the turtles and be willing to stretch your neck out!

What does a turtle have to do with school,

Well, there are things, at least a few,

And to all concerning,

A turtle has to do with learning,

When he is in his shell,

He will not do so well,

And this animal that is green,

Needs to be social and be seen,

Then you will smile,

At the education of this reptile...

Mertle the turtle,

Had to wear a girdle,

But you couldn't tell,

At least not when she was in her shell,

So she decided to hide,

And stay inside.

But before she knew,

There was nothing to do.

Then inside her shell she took a look,

And saw a book,

So that she read,

Then went to bed.

Then the next day,

Her green shell turned gray,

Because she had learned,

And that's why her shell turned.

I dedicate this website to my mom, Lois Myhra, who is no longer with us, but is with me constantly, every day in my heart and mind, and who taught me all I know.  She would be proud to know how she has impacted and still impacts my life daily and those of my students, for it was her instillment of literacy in me that brought me to teach and to continue my education.  She will never know how much she mattered to me and what a difference she made in my life.  I know that she watches over me still.  She was my rock, my shell, and still is because the memories of her have escalated and evolved into ways to help others through what she has taught me.  I dedicate this site also to all the teachers and professors who also taught me well, and to my daughter, Tara who teaches me also, and whom I have taught all I learned from my professors and my mom.  I will take all of this knowledge and share it with my students, and teach them, too, shell by shell...