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What are Text Features?

Text features are elements of a text that help the reader understand and navigate content. They can be found in almost any text, but are most common in informational or non-fiction text. They can include headings, subheadings, lists, tables, and graphs, and diagrams among others. Text features are used to…

RAFT Writing Strategy & Examples

The RAFT writing strategy is a powerful tool for students to use when composing a variety of writing pieces. The acronym RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic. By considering these elements, students can create a clear and focused writing piece that effectively communicates their message to their intended…

Children's book ideas for authors

Children’s Book Ideas for Authors

Welcome, fellow children’s book author! Are you ready to come up with some creative and engaging ideas for your next project? There are many different ways to come up with ideas for children’s books. Some people like to start with a specific theme or message they want to convey, while…

What is sentence case?

What is Sentence Case?

Sentence case refers to the capitalization style in which the first letter of a sentence and any proper nouns are capitalized, while all other letters are left in lower case. This is in contrast to title case, in which every word in a sentence is capitalized except for certain short…

Conclusion Transition Words - a helpful writing guide

Conclusion Transition Words

Welcome to our lesson on conclusion transition words! As you probably know, a conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay or paper. It’s where you wrap up your main points and give your final thoughts on the topic. Conclusion transition words are words or phrases that signal to your…

What is an advanced reader's copy?

What is an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC)?

An advanced reader copy (ARC) is essentially a pre-release version of a book. It’s an uncorrected version of the final manuscript that is given out by the publisher to certain people and organizations before the book is actually released to the general public. Publishers create advanced reader copies for a…

What is Orthographic Mapping and Why is it Important?

So you want to know about orthographic mapping, huh? Great choice – it’s a really interesting topic that can help us understand how our brains process written language. First off, let’s define what orthographic mapping is. It’s the process by which our brains map the letters we see in written…

Reciprocal Teaching to Improve Reading Comprehension

Reciprocal teaching is a learning strategy that involves students actively participating in the reading and comprehension process. It was developed in the 1980s by two researchers, Palincsar and Brown, who were studying ways to help students understand complex texts. The goal of reciprocal teaching is to give students the skills…

Orton Gillingham Approach to Improve Reading

The Orton Gillingham teaching approach is a highly structured, systematic method for teaching reading, spelling, and writing to individuals, particularly those with dyslexia. It was developed in the 1930s by Dr. Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham, and has since been widely used as a proven method for helping struggling readers.…

Prosody in Reading

What is prosody in reading? In case you’re not familiar with the term, prosody refers to the rhythm, stress, and intonation of spoken language. It’s an important aspect of reading aloud, as it helps convey meaning and engage the listener. So, let’s dive into this topic a bit more and…