Saturday, February 4, 2012

I'm Giving Away Free Tickets!

Tickets here! Get your tickets here! 

I've always wanted to yell that out.  Another giveaway so soon?  Yep!  I'm gearing up for the Everything's Primary Virtual Teaching Expo (which is sponsored by Teaching Blog Addict and Teachers Notebook).

It's a good thing I'm gearing up, because I'm one of the presenters.  Ha! I've done lots of presentations for educators and parents in the past few years, but this is my first "virtual" presentation. My presentation at the Everything's Primary Expo will be about helping struggling readers. I hope you'll join me!  It's one of the few times that professional development is comfortable (in your own home), affordable (only $14.95 if you register early- or free if you win tickets) and presented by real teachers.

I've attended (watched in my pj's) each of other Virtual Teaching Expos this year.  After watching the Everything's Kindergarten Expo last weekend, I added 3 new components to my writer's workshop and tried 2 new transition activities in my first grade classroom.  I'm looking forward to hearing the ideas the other presenters share at the Everything's Primary Expo.  You can click on the image below to read about their hot topics.



This weekend I'm giving away 3 free tickets to the Everything's Primary Virtual Teaching Expo!  This expo is scheduled to launch on February 25th. You will get one entry for each of the things below.  Three winners will be chosen with the random generator thingy and each winner will win 1 ticket to the Everything's Primary Expo. The giveaway will end on Sunday evening (2/5).

 1.  Since my presentation is about helping struggling readers... leave a comment telling me the most challenging thing about helping your struggling readers. (1 entry)
2.  Sign up for the Virtual Teaching Expo newsletter (scroll to bottom of page and subscribe). (1 entry)

I will be announcing the winners for this giveaway on Monday (2/6)! 

Don't forget to stop by and link up to my "What Do You Love?" linky party!

71 comments:

  1. I signed up for the newsletter last night:)

    The most challenging thing for me is lack of parental help at home. I work in an at-risk school. Now, some of the parents of below students do their best but many others 1) are unable help because they are struggling readers as well, and 2) they do not take school seriously.

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  2. I signed up for the newsletter.

    higgystyx@yahoo.com

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  3. The most challenging thing for me with struggling readers is getting them to make an effort to learn. Some I know can do a better job if they would just want to. Kids are not helped at home to care, so they don't put effort in to their learning.

    higgystyx@yahoo.com

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  4. The most challenging thing for me with my struggling readers is knowing where to go next or what approach to use. It seems like we are always reviewing the same thing but even when changing the approach, creating a song, creating a movement it still doesn't stick.
    Jessica

    Apples and Papers

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  5. My most difficult problem is that I have so many in my class who are getting nothing at home...so we are struggling with issues (still) like sounds ..and there is no reinforcement once school ends each day.
    Jennifer
    laughinbrunette@hotmail.com
    First Grade Blue Skies

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  6. I signed up for the newsletter! =)
    Jennifer
    laughinbrunette@hotmail.com
    First Grade Blue Skies

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  7. I signed up for the newsletter! :)

    Lori
    thepolkadotowl@gmail.com

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  8. One of my biggest challenges is that I have second graders who are still struggling with letter sounds and CVC words! They get absolutely no help at home so I want to be more effective in meeting their needs with a more systematic, step by step approach. Thanks for the opportunity! :)

    Lori
    thepolkadotowl@gmail.com

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  9. What a fun giveaway! My issue with my struggling readers is that I only have them for part of the day...once they get home they are on their own. :( Sad but true.

    Gladys
    teachinginhighheels(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. The most challenging thing with my struggling readers is that there is no parental support. If you want to conference with a child's parent, the parent often declines or doesn't show up. I have also experienced when homework is sent home and the parent needs to sign, they do not. Students do better when they have support and encouragement from home.
    katie.neustadter@gmail.com

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  11. The most challenging thing for me is getting the parents to help at home by listening to them read and helping them with the homework. Many of these kiddos do not have good attendance either.
    jeris@usd253.org

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  12. I am already a subscriber to the newsletter!!!

    Diane
    kindergartenafunplacetobe.blogspot.com

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  13. I have one reader who is struggling the most. Since I have a small class in a private school, most of my students are reading at or above grade level and have tons of parental support. My reader who is struggling is terrible about looking at the first few letters and guessing at the word....not guessing a word that would make sense either. I need ways to encourage this child to attend to the whole word and not just the beginning of it. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
    ashleybowlesreed@hotmail.com

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  14. I signed up for the newsletter!!
    katie.neustadter@gmail.com

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  15. I signed up for the newsletter! I was just wondering....I didn't attend the K expo but looked at all the info on it and they got a HUGE package of resources for free just for attending. Will there be anything like this for the primary expo? Thanks!
    ashleybowlesreed@hotmail.com

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  16. I pinned the giveaway on Pinterest under my Giveaways board.
    Check it out here..
    http://pinterest.com/pin/168603579769536880/
    katie.neustadter@gmail.com

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  17. The giveaway was tweeted on Twitter.
    You can see it here..
    https://twitter.com/#!/katieneu
    katie.neustadter@gmail.com

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  18. It's the kids who no matter how you introduce something it just doesn't click with them. You could give it to them 14 different ways....nothing.....and you're left with I KNOW there is something out there that will make it click for this student but I can't FIND IT!!! GRRRRR. Sorry for the over emotion. That question hits a nerve. ;-)

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  19. My challenge with struggling readers (this year) is they do not attend to the print. They look at the pictures and make up a story. Even though I tell them numerous times to put their finger in the book and use one to one. I even physically help them hold their finger under the words as they are "reading". Here is an example of a mistake they will make in reading: The word is "at" and they say something like "dog" because there is a dog in the illustration. I will go through the whole "what sound does dog start with?" They will say /d/. So what letter should be there? they say "d". What letter is there? (they will say a) what sound does a make? They answer /a/. So it can't be dog right? they answer "No". So they know the sounds, they know their strategies. I just feel like they are not trying for some reason. I also praise them for using their picture clues, but remind them that we need to "look" at the words and use other strategies too! I have about 3 of these readers this year. I get so frustrated because nothing is sinking in. They just continue to make up stories.

    Diane
    kindergartenafunplacetobe.blogspot.com

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  20. The most challenging thing for me is having a reader that is a whole grade level behind and there is no motivation to want to be a better reader. It's also hard to find books for a 2nd grade boy that are not too babyish, which ties into the problem of motivation. He wants to read Diary of Wimpy Kid like the other boys in the class.

    Ali
    alischepis(at)gmail.com

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  21. I am already signed up for the newsletter!!

    Ali
    alischepis(at)gmail.com

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  22. My biggest challenge is the students not reading at home (or doing anything at home) so they are not progressing like they should.
    Cheryl
    cener(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
    Crayons and Curls

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  23. I already signed up to receive the newsletter! ;)
    Cheryl
    cener(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
    Crayons and Curls

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  24. The most challenging thing for me is that most of ours are on some kind of medicine and there is no consistency so one day they are on task and learning, then the next their parents didn't give/or are out of the meds.....and its a zoo, as they not only don't want to learn, they disrupt the whole class....

    Thanks for the chances!

    luvzenkm2 @ gmail.com

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  25. I already am signed up for the newsletter! Thanks again for the chances!

    luvzenkm2 @ gmail.com

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  26. The thing I find most challenging when teaching reading is trying to help those struggling readers who are still not able to sound out a C-V-C word because they don't know all of their letter sounds. How much letter sound practice should I be doing by this point in First Grade? I feel like I need to review letter sounds too often, yet these struggling readers still need that instruction.

    day-in-first-grade.blogspot.com

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  27. I just subscribed to the Teaching Expo newsletter! Thanks for sharing!

    brittanykphillips@gmail.com

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  28. I subscribe to the Teaching Expo Newsletter!

    rmariemuniz@yahoo.com

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  29. The most challenging thing for me is trying to get them to be motivated to be a better reader.

    rmariemuniz@yahoo.com

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  30. I'm singed up for the newsletter
    ✿Tiffani Time 4 Kindergarten ca-scrappin@comcast.net

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  31. This is NOT always the case but this year the lack of parental involvement is a big issue for my strugglers :(
    ~Lorraine
    Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies
    rainee2011@gmail.com

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  32. The most challenging thing about my struggling readers is their own sense that they are already so far behind the rest of the students. We are trying to learn 100 sight words by the end of the year in my kindergarten class, and a lot of kids are already up to 75!!, but my kids who are still having trouble with their letter naming and letter sound foundations know only a few words and get very discouraged. I would love to attend this to learn some techniques to keep them motivated and moving forward with their progress!

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  33. Some of my struggling readers have a hard time remembering their sight words. They try so hard to sound out every word - so some new sight words practice tips would be great. Thank you and I look forward to hearing you present!

    heydanvi@gmail.com

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  34. I signed up for the newsletter. Thanks for the suggestion I didn't even realize their was a newsletter!
    ~Lorraine

    rainee2011@gmail.com

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  35. I suscribe to the newsletter!

    Kim
    Growing Up Teaching
    kkish1110@gmail.com

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  36. I think the most difficult thing I face with struggling readers is just motivating them and finding the things that will work for them!

    kkish1110@gmail.com

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  37. The most difficult thing I face with my struggling readers and getting them hooked into books that they will enjoy. They often say I don't like this book and want to choose another book and then by the time they have chosen a new book reading time is over.

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  38. My biggest challenge is finding fun literature to motivate struggling boys...it's too "baby-ish" or too "girly." When is someone going to write fun books for boys so they'll actually want to read! Is that too much to ask?

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  39. My biggest struggle is working with the kids and they don't get the help at home to enforce those skills!

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  40. Subscribed to the newsletter. So excited about this expo!

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  41. My biggest challenge with a struggling reader is comprehension. I have a student who can read beautifully and ahead of grade level but can only answer comprehension questions if I break up a chapter into a few pages at a time. I need a strategy that will help increase his capabilities of retaining information. I have several students like this but he is my most severe.

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  42. I subscribed to the newsletter.

    ✞Heather
    Swinging Through Second Grade
    hdawntn@hotmail.com

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  43. I think the most difficult thing is getting these little ones motivated to want to learn to read better and to get the support of their parents at home.

    ✞Heather
    Swinging Through Second Grade
    hdawntn@hotmail.com

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  44. I think the most difficult thing I am dealing with is keeping the students motivated and finding activities at all the different levels.
    Life with Mrs. L

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  45. The most difficult part of teaching struggling readers for me is the lack of motivation. I teach fourth grade and I have a few students who are barely at a first grade level in reading. However these kids are so far behind, and know it so they have completely given up. I need hlep!

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  46. In first grade, the most common interference with my kids is not being automatic with sight words. We play so many games to practice, but many still struggle. I'd also agree with others who've said support from home is an issue. And it's always the kids who need the most help that don't get any extra practice at home.
    I'd love to win tickets to see you present!

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  47. Never having taught first gr is the most difficult thing about teaching reading!
    drollo@nmiddlesex.mec.edu

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  48. I signed up for the newsletter..I am excited to see what these expos are all about! :) drollo@nmiddlesex.mec.edu

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  49. The most challenging thing for me is students who have short term memory problems, but don't qualify for ESE. How do I support them in the classroom and at home?
    ~"Andi
    Andi_Monroe@yahoo.com

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  50. My biggest struggle with my most intensive student this year would be retaining skills, strategies and HFWs. She is able to show me what she knows but within a few days or weeks she's breaking down on previously learned materials.

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  51. The most challenging thing about helping my struggling readers is when we work to figure out a word and then go to re-read it and they have no idea what it is. After they worked so hard to figure it out!

    Kate
    dancinqueenks23@aol.com

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  52. I signed up for the Virtual Teaching Expo newsletter.

    Kate
    dancinqueenks23@aol.com

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  53. The most challenging thing for me right now is finding the time to work individually with each child. I wish I could spend all day working on reading, but unfortunately the other subjects get in the way :)
    Aubrey
    abrooks@usd489.com

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  54. I signed up for the newsletter!
    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First
    sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com

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  55. I think teaching how to read fluently is hard for me. Yes I model and show them how but I think it's such a hard concept for my beginning readers!!
    ❤ Sandra
    Sweet Times in First
    sweettimesinfirst@gmail.com

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  56. finding a systematic, practical, efficient, quick way to help kids progress on sight words! seems like the lower babies stay on the low end for such a long time for me :(

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  57. and i just subscribed to the expo newsletter :)

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  58. My biggest challenge is having books that are engaging for my kiddos. We do not have any leveled readers at our school so teachers are required to buy their own books.

    missnguyensclass.blogspot.com

    sn.nguyen19@gmail.com

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  59. My biggest challenge right now is struggling readers retaining the skills taught.
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com

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  60. I subscribe to the Expo Newsletter.
    Barbara
    happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com

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  61. I'm really having a hard time with my ELL kiddos learning sight words. Most of them can't practice at home because their parents don't know how to read the words either. So, I try to include sight words in our day as much as possible, but I have some kids who are still on the first 100 words while others are way ahead on 200 or 300 word lists! So, I struggle with making it appropriate and challenging for all of them!

    Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten

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  62. One of my biggest challenges is support at home. Students do not read at home and do not have anyone who helps them to read. I also am challenged with teaching them to not sound out every word - I want them to just read it if they know it (sight words) and with guessing at a word based on the first letter. I find fluency a very hard skill to teach to struggling readers.

    Jennifer
    jenniferlalsip(at)yahoo(dot)com
    The First Grade Dream

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  63. I signed up for the newsletter.

    Jennifer
    jenniferlalsip(at)yahoo(dot)com
    The First Grade Dream

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  64. I signed up for the newsletters!

    Kelly
    kellybrown at gmail dot com

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  65. Honestly, after teaching first grade for 16 years, I am again teaching Kindergarten-love it! The hardest thing for me is havingi enough leveled readers that my kids can read and enjoy. I have some, but of course need more!

    Kelly
    kellybrown at gmail dot com

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  66. The most frustrating thing for me is getting my students processing speed up. It's not that they can't read the word, they just can't get that fluency part down.
    Adrianne
    kidscogworks@hotmail.com
    Signed up for the newsletter too!

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  67. I find that the most difficult thing to do with struggling readers is finding ways to help those kiddos with symbolic memory issues.

    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  68. I subscribe to the newsletter. :-)

    Kideducator@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete