Pathways to Readiness

03/28/2023

With coming to an end, here is a you can use all year! 📚🐛📖

03/14/2023

Decoding is a key skill for learning to read and is the foundation in building all other reading skills. When readers decode, they are applying letter-sound knowledge and patterns to sound out unknown words. Effortless decoding and automatic recognition will build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

To decode a word, students need to know:
📚the sound or sounds each letter makes
📚how to take apart the sounds in a word and blend them together
📚how groups of letters work together to make single sounds

Decoding strategies must be taught explicitly and systematically, especially since English has exceptions to many sound patterns. Students begin learning how to decode one-syllable words in Kindergarten, and should be independently decoding no later than the middle of 1st grade. Adults use decoding, too! Think about the last time you came across an unfamiliar word and had to sound it out, such as a name or a place.

In honor of , here are my favorite decoding strategies. Reading daily is the best strategy of all. If you are concerned about your student, reach out to me today!

03/07/2023

Did you know that March is National Reading Month? Similar to Springtime, planting the seeds of daily reading practices helps to bloom confident and fluent readers. Reading routinely comes with numerous benefits, including strengthening vision, improving vocabulary, and increasing creativity. Daily reading and discussions about texts builds fluency, comprehension, and fosters a love for books. In honor of National Reading Month, here are my favorite reading tips!

📚 Choose books that are of interest to your student, not what you think they should be reading
📚 Schedule daily undisturbed reading times, recommended minimum of 20 minutes
📚 It is okay to read aloud to your student. This still activates active listening, learning new words, and hearing the connection between spoken and written words
📚 After reading, ask simple “wh-“ questions: Who was in the story? What things happened? Where did they happen? When did they happen?
📚 If you want your student to read, make sure they see you reading too!
📚 Have fun!

01/18/2023

This is my first post of 2023 and I thought it would be fun to share some fun and informative facts about me!

1. My hometown is Mobile, Alabama - the true birthplace of American Mardi Gras! Laissez les bon temps rouler!
2. I have lived in 5 states.
3. I graduated from the University of Memphis - Go Tigers Go!
4. I started my teaching career in 2008 as a Kindergarten long term substitute teacher.
5. I have a Master's degree from George Mason University.
6. I met my husband when I moved to Virginia because he lived across the street from my mother! We have been married for 12 years.
7. I am a mom of two amazing children.
8. I love jigsaw puzzles and the more pieces the better!
9. I also love to cross stitch and have completed a few projects that took years to complete because of the detail.
10. I love helping families support their children's educational journeys.

09/14/2022

I am really excited to share that Pathways to Readiness is now listed on the Home Educators Association of Virginia website as a tutoring, testing, and evaluation resource!!! Find me under Region 4!!

HEAV has compiled a resource list of Virginia homeschool counselors, testers and tutors. Please scroll the list to find the specialty services near your locale.

08/24/2022

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! It is hard to believe that students are already back at school! My household was full of school excitement this week with a rising Kindergartener and 4th grader. ☺️

As a teacher and mom, the start of school is always so special. The new school supplies, anticipation and eagerness of what is to come, and the opportunity to achieve personal goals makes Back to School an exciting, new chapter in our educational journey. ✨

With school and extracurricular activity schedules kicking off, do not forget to consider educational support services for your students. Pathways to Readiness is here to support your family and students with the following:
🍎 Establishing home learning routines
🍎 Preparing for meetings with teachers and schools
🍎 Drafting emails to teachers and schools
🍎 Understanding tests and assessments from schools
🍎 Completing homeschool evidence of progress evaluations (now is the time to start!)
🍎 Providing one-on-one enhanced tutoring services

Pathways to Readiness is available via in-person or virtually. Contact us today to discuss how we can serve all of your educational support needs! 📚✏️

04/18/2022

There is not a “one size fits all” to address the needs of students. We each have unique learning styles and process information differently. As teachers, we must recognize these learning styles and support each student by teaching them focused learning strategies and by presenting information in ways to promote their success. Students grow confidence and a love of learning when they feel that they can succeed on tasks and with new information. With some flexibility, choice, time, and understanding, all students can achieve!🌟

This cartoon relates to the “one size fits all” idea because the same is true with how teachers assess and determine a student’s level of mastery and understanding of curriculum. For example, just because a student is not the best test taker does not mean they do not know the information! Some of these “one size fits all” approaches to assess learning can create pressure, stress, and then ultimately avoidance. 💥

Pathways to Readiness has various screeners and activities that can help you to learn and understand your child’s learning style. This really is the core of what Pathways to Readiness is: understanding what is unique about each student to promote their academic success and expand their educational journey! 🎉



Photo credit: http://whatsnewbuffalo.com/Schools3

04/07/2022

Remember that math is everywhere and there are many creative ways to include math practice throughout the day to give our students real life application. The more practice students have, the more their math confidence will grow! Here are some easy and fun math activities that you can do in the next busiest room of our homes: the living room! 🕰📚📝

04/04/2022

With summer fast approaching, now is a GREAT time to start thinking about how to maintain your student’s learning and progress! Pathways to Readiness conducts assessments and creates individualized action plans that target specific areas of weakness in reading, math, and writing. Prevent the dreaded summer learning slide and contact us today to schedule a consultation and begin discussing your child’s summer learning action plan! ✏️📚🐛🌞



http://pathwaystoreadiness.com

02/14/2022

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02/10/2022

Let’s talk about math and how to make it fun for students! 🧮

Math is everywhere and can be easily incorporated in your daily activities. There are many things in our homes that can help students love math and improve their basic math skills.

I will be sharing fun math games and activities that can be done in different rooms around your house. First, we will start at the center of our homes: the kitchen! 🍎🍪

02/01/2022

This graphic really speaks to how long the COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting our students and schools. The pandemic has brought a variety of challenges and changes to how students access learning and respond to learning.

If you are concerned about your child’s progress in school and would like to know how the pandemic has impacted your child’s growth, reach out to Pathways to Readiness today. We can schedule an assessment to find out your child’s current level of mastery and what supports are needed to close the gap towards their grade level benchmarks. Pathways to Readiness conducts assessments on phonics, reading, writing, math, and motivation. We also provide parent consultation support to prepare for conferences, draft emails, interpret school documents, and answer any school-related questions.

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pathwaystoreadiness.com