Happy Holidays!
The students are full of excitement, and I am hearing lots of cute talk about Santa. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and wonderful break.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” –Charles Dickens
Monthly Archives: December 2017
Monday Mornings: Proverbs, Quotes, and More
“Surely everyone is aware of the divine pleasures which attend a wintry fireside; candles at four o’clock, warm hearthrugs, tea, a fair tea-maker, shutters closed, curtains flowing in ample draperies to the floor, whilst the wind and rain are raging audibly without.” –Thomas De Quincey
Monthly Book Recommendation: NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
This month, I am recommending the book:
NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman
If you are interested in a deeper understanding of the history of autism, this is a great and in-depth book to read.
The book definitely has some heft, and took me awhile to get through. In the afterward, Silberman shares that it took him five years to research the history of autism.
His main emphasis is a positive one: the world thrives with neurodiversity. He also advocates for people on the spectrum to have a larger role in advocating for themselves, and for a greater push in services.
Note: The book is not without some controversy. My simplified read on his take regarding some controversial issues is: overall, autism has not increased dramatically, rather, now we have an increase due to society identifying autism and widening of the spectrum, and that vaccines have no bearing on the increase. Even if you disagree with some of his viewpoints (I felt his section on pollutants skimmed the surface), it is still a very worthwhile and great read!
Monday Mornings: Proverbs, Quotes, and More
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” –William Butler Yeats
The Six Syllable Types: Consonant-le Syllable
This week, we are taking a look at the syllable type: consonant -le.
Consonant-le Syllables:
- Have three letters, a consonant, an l and an e (there can be a /s/ added to make words plural).
- The e is silent.
- The syllable is the last syllable in a multisyllabic word.
Some examples are: apple, crumble, sparkle, giggles, brittle, vehicle, little, multiple, snuggle, rectangle, etc.
There are some words with exceptions to this rule. The exception occurs when the consonant is an s. It makes the t silent, and the sound is a /l/. As in bus·tle, whis·tle, and cas·tle.
This is a great syllable type/spelling pattern to teach, as it is fairly straightforward. I hope this helps!
Monday Mornings: Proverbs, Quotes, and More
“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is a vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” – Carl Jung