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Showing posts with label easy-to-read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label easy-to-read. Show all posts
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Preventing Summer Reading Loss
Research has shown that the few months of loss in reading skills over the summer months compounds over the years; by the time children reach middle school, those who haven’t read during their summer breaks may have lost as much as two years worth of achievement.
Trying to balance the busy, physical activities that the warm summer weather brings with quiet reading time, is not an easy task for most parents. Some children welcome the idea of reading books during the summer months, while others, particularly weak or reluctant readers, will find this a tedious chore and will make many creative excuses to avoid doing it.
The good news is that if children read just six books over summer vacation, they will likely avoid summer reading loss! Try some of these tips to make sure your child’s summer reading goes smoothly:
Trying to balance the busy, physical activities that the warm summer weather brings with quiet reading time, is not an easy task for most parents. Some children welcome the idea of reading books during the summer months, while others, particularly weak or reluctant readers, will find this a tedious chore and will make many creative excuses to avoid doing it.
The good news is that if children read just six books over summer vacation, they will likely avoid summer reading loss! Try some of these tips to make sure your child’s summer reading goes smoothly:
- Set aside a consistent time each day for reading. Summer camps, play dates, and videos are all fun things kids like to do during the summer. However, by the end of the day, children may be too tired to pick up a book and read. When planning summer time activities for your child, remember to leave some time in their schedules for reading. Find a convenient time each day – before bedtime or over breakfast.
- Help your child select books at a comfortable level. If you are having trouble judging, consult your local librarian who is likely to be an expert in matching books to reading levels. Another great source is the Lexile Framework for Reading. This website will give you a Lexile Measure from a reading test. You can then look up books according to your child’s lexile measure. If your child makes 5 or more errors in reading a page of around 50 words – the book is too challenging.
- Become a reader yourself and lead by example! Read the newspaper at breakfast, pick up a magazine at the doctor’s office, and take a book to the beach or on your family picnics. If kids see adults around them reading often, they will understand that reading can be a fun and important part of their summer days.
- Read about your vacation destination before you go. Have your child read about your travel spots ahead of time and help plan the trip for you. If you go camping, explore the wildlife and scenery on-line.
- Read a book that is now a movie, and then take them to see the movie!
- Make sure to bring books on vacation, outings and errands to keep your children occupied and entertained with great stories. Pack books in your beach bag and picnic baskets instead of electronic game devices.
- Connect books with activities! Read a story that mentions something yummy to eat and then try out a recipe at home. Try some exotic foods from stories from other countries.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Dyslexia: Swedish Centrum för lättläst - English
Easy-to-Read Publications: Swedish Centrum för lättläst - English
The aim of easy-to-read publications is to write simply and understandably, but at the same time in an adult and varied manner, and to use a combination of text and pictures. To achieve this we try to take into consideration the content, language, pictures and the graphic layout.
Content
An easy-to-read text should have concrete content, usually with a simple story-line. Few people and places are involved. The course of events is usually described in chronological order, i.e. no jumps in time such as from present to the past.
Naturally the same criteria apply to easy-to-read texts as to other texts: if the reader considers the content to be interesting then it is easier to read the text.
Language
The language should also be concrete. Long, unusual words should be avoided, as well as concepts that may have two meanings. "He is a big actor" may mean that he is a large man or that he is well-known.
Some of our readers often understand concepts in a concrete manner - i.e. that the actor is a large man. Neither do we use figurative language such as "castles in Spain" in easy-to-read texts, since such phrases can be interpreted literally.
We often choose to write two short sentences instead of using subordinate clauses.
One cannot assume that all readers are aware of places and countries or of dates. Such information must be placed in context: "1932 was when grandmother was young".
Pictures
Pictures are important in easy-to-read texts. Concrete pictures should illustrate clearly what a thing looks like, without irrelevant details and strange angles. However, abstract pictures can also be used to express atmosphere or feelings. Other criteria apply in that case.
Layout
It is important for form and layout to be well thought through. It is easier for the reader to absorb information if text and pictures are presented as clearly and with as much space as possible.
Running text written with CAPITAL LETTERS or in italics is difficult to read. Many readers have difficulty in noticing full-stops and in reading long lines.
An easy-to-read text is thus often written with line-feeds at the end of each phrase. A new line starts at a natural point in the sentence, and always after a full stop. The reader can then make a pause at the proper place.
General framework
Over the years these rules have become more like a general framework. They are not to be taken too literally. An author of an easy-to-read text must – just like any author – use his or her intuition and linguistic sense. The author must imagine and relate to the readers / listeners in mind.
* More about easy-to-read – according to Centrum för Lättläst
Material you can download for free
The aim of easy-to-read publications is to write simply and understandably, but at the same time in an adult and varied manner, and to use a combination of text and pictures. To achieve this we try to take into consideration the content, language, pictures and the graphic layout.
Content
An easy-to-read text should have concrete content, usually with a simple story-line. Few people and places are involved. The course of events is usually described in chronological order, i.e. no jumps in time such as from present to the past.
Naturally the same criteria apply to easy-to-read texts as to other texts: if the reader considers the content to be interesting then it is easier to read the text.
Language
The language should also be concrete. Long, unusual words should be avoided, as well as concepts that may have two meanings. "He is a big actor" may mean that he is a large man or that he is well-known.
Some of our readers often understand concepts in a concrete manner - i.e. that the actor is a large man. Neither do we use figurative language such as "castles in Spain" in easy-to-read texts, since such phrases can be interpreted literally.
We often choose to write two short sentences instead of using subordinate clauses.
One cannot assume that all readers are aware of places and countries or of dates. Such information must be placed in context: "1932 was when grandmother was young".
Pictures
Pictures are important in easy-to-read texts. Concrete pictures should illustrate clearly what a thing looks like, without irrelevant details and strange angles. However, abstract pictures can also be used to express atmosphere or feelings. Other criteria apply in that case.
Layout
It is important for form and layout to be well thought through. It is easier for the reader to absorb information if text and pictures are presented as clearly and with as much space as possible.
Running text written with CAPITAL LETTERS or in italics is difficult to read. Many readers have difficulty in noticing full-stops and in reading long lines.
An easy-to-read text is thus often written with line-feeds at the end of each phrase. A new line starts at a natural point in the sentence, and always after a full stop. The reader can then make a pause at the proper place.
General framework
Over the years these rules have become more like a general framework. They are not to be taken too literally. An author of an easy-to-read text must – just like any author – use his or her intuition and linguistic sense. The author must imagine and relate to the readers / listeners in mind.
* More about easy-to-read – according to Centrum för Lättläst
Material you can download for free
The UN Standard Rules in easy-to-read English.
New revised edition with illustrations. (1041 kb) The publishing of Easy-to-Read in Sweden.
Lecture given at the National Library of Australia, Canberra 1993, by Bror Tronbacke. (32 kb) Easy-to-Read - an important part in reading
promotion and the fight against illiteracy. Lecture given at IFLA open session, Beijing 1996
by Bror Tronbacke. (33 kb)
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