What Makes an All-Star Speller

What Makes an All-Star Speller

Lots of reading and writing is the key to learning to spell better

For some people, good spelling comes naturally. But that may not be a talent that your child has inherited. Sandra Wilde, an associate professor of education at Oregon's Portland State University and author of You Kan Red This! (Heinemann Press), advises parents on how their children can overcome spelling difficulties.

What makes some children good spellers, and others awful?

Two factors: One is that you have done a lot of reading; there is increasing evidence that seeing words over and over again in print increases the chance that you will know how to spell them. The other is natural spelling ability, which some people have more than others. Those who have the ability are more likely to be able to write a word and see that it's spelled correctly.

How can spelling be taught to both types?

Those who are naturally good spellers are going to teach themselves through reading. The ones who are not naturally good spellers must learn to proofread their writing, because when they get out into the world – applying for jobs and writing on the job – society expects 100 percent spelling accuracy.

Hew important is it that children spell correctly from the start?

Actually, the thinking now is that it's better at first not to focus on correct spelling. The term “invented spelling” refers to the spellings that children come up with on their own based on their knowledge of written language. A young kid writing the word “read” might write it “red”. Teachers and researchers have discovered that if children are encouraged to use their own invented spelling, they can start writing in kindergarten of first grade. Through writing, they are teaching themselves about spelling, because they are thinking about “What sounds are in this word? And “What letters would I use to spell this sound?”

Typically, if kids see words in print enough, they start spelling them correctly. In some ways, it's similar to learning how to talk. Really young children talk in baby talk and don't pronounce words correctly. We focus on the meaning instead, and eventually their speech gets better.

Grease. Photo by Elena 

How valuable is learning spelling by rote – memorizing lists and taking spelling tests?

One of the problems with the traditional spelling test and spelling books, where kids have to learn 20 words a week, is that on average kids know before studying them, so they aren't really learning very much. Instead of doing a list of 20 words for each kid, tests should focus on words kids want to learn, which are often words they use in their own writing. I think 3 to 5 words per week is about right. Have kids get invloved in choosing words, and get them asking, “What words would I like to learn?” I think this is especially valuable starting around 3rd grade when they know a lot of common words.

Do you like computer spell-checkers?

I think they're a really valuable tool, but not a panacea. They don't do much for really young kids, because their spellings are not precise enough for the computer to know what they were trying to spell. One problem is that they don't detect if you've used the wrong word. A lot of my college students will spell-check but not proof-read, so I'll find instances where they use the word “their” which is spelled correctly, but the situation calls for the word “there”. Spell-checkers are something I recommend for high school students and adults who are not naturally good spellers and need to fine-tune their spelling.

Insight for Every Age

Insight for Every Age

New standards for the real world

In one typical science question being developed by the National Academy of Science's standards-setting panel, students are asked to predict how long a plant will live when planted in moist soil in a clear glass jar that is tightly covered and placed in a sunny window where the temperature is maintained between 60 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The directions call for students “to use relevant ideas from the life, physical and Earth sciences.”

And the intended answer?

There isn't a single correct one, actually. But the science educators hope that students in grades 5 through 8 will employ scientific concepts such as light, heat, and photosynthesis to analyze the problem, and that 12th graders will see the plant as a physical model of the Earth's ecosystem and view photosynthesis and respiration as complementary processes.

In another real-life example, intended to hone math skills of middle-schoolers, students are given the player statistics for four basketball stars in a National Basketball Association championship game. From the statistics, which include each player's points scored, assists, rebounds, field goals per scoring attempts, and minutes played, students are asked to find such things as the best percentage shooter in the game, and who snagged the most rebounds per minute.

As the panel of math experts stated: “A problem like this is ideally suited to the curious nature of middle school students and opens up a world of questions and investigations to them.”

Unfortunately, much of what the standard-setters say every student should know is likely to be far over the heads of their intended age groups.

Teachers have discovered that if children are encouraged to use invented spelling, they can start writing in kindergarten (Sandra Wilde, author of You Kac Red This!)

How many high school students, for instance, will be able to draw upon the ideas of religious groups such as the Virginia Baptists, mid-Atlantic Presbyterians, and millennialists, to assess how religion became a factor in the American Revolution? Which college students, for that matter, would be able to compare the power and significance of the Supreme Court in 1800 and 1820, although the question is rated a 7th-grade achievement in the history panel's report? Even a Washington Post reporter might find it taxing to explain to the panel's satisfaction the constitutional issues raised by the Watergate affair and to evaluate the effects of Watergate on public opinion. 

But these are voluntary goals that teachers are meant to use as guidelines. Parents can use the standards, too, to spark some healthy debates at home. They are not being proposed as tests questions to judge whether a student should graduate. The real test lies with textbook publishers, who must decide whether to rewrite their books to reflect the viewpoints and philosophy of the new standards.

As in the standards for other subjects, rote memorization is out and a focus on critical thinking skills is in. Students analyze a variety of sources, which might include their own family histories, draft records, or historical novels. Original documents ranging from the Declaration of Independence to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allow students to develop their own opinions. Key activities to replace memorization include constructing chronologies, creating a narrative, and reconstructing historical arguments.

Math: The math standards, developed in 1989 before standards became political hot potatoes, are regarded by many as the best and brightest model for others. They are clear, concise, and full of vignettes to illustrate their points. Their vital goals call for all students to learn to value mathematics; to learn to reason and communicate mathematically; to become confident of mathematical abilities; and to become mathematical problem-solvers.

In the 54 standards proposed for kindergarten trough 12th grade, math educators are advocating revolutionary shifts away from rote memorization to focus on understanding real-life applications of mathematics. Take the study of statistics. In kindergarten through 4th grade, students are asked to explore basic statistical concepts. They may gather data on lunch preferences, for instance, and then chart the trends and analyze them.

By 5th through 8th grade, students should be able to use statistcs in real-world situations to collect, organize, and describe data systematically; to construct, read, and interpret tables, charts, and graphs; to make inferences and convincing arguments that are based on data analysis; and to understand and appreciate the power that statistical methods can have in decision making.

By 12th grade, students should be able to interpret charts, tables, and graphs; use curve fitting to predict from data; understand and apply measures of central tendency, variability, and correlation; understand sampling; and design a statistical experiment to study a problem, conduct the experiment, and communicate the outcomes.

Reykjavík City Card

Reykjavík loves its city card

Reykjavík is a cosmopolitan city bustling with energy. There are plenty of things to see and do and the the city card is the easiest and most inexpensive way to experience the Icelanders favorite city. The Reykjavík city card offers free entry to a great selection of museums and galleries as well as the thermal pools in Reykjavík. It also provides free unlimited travel by bus within the Reykjavík Capital area. In addition, the card gets you a free ferry trip to Videy island and discounts on various tours, in shops and on services. The card is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours. So you can choose the card that suits your stay!

Get to know the city the easy way and save money.

Included in the Reykjavík City Card is admission to :

Reykjavík City Buses: Unlimited travel by bus within the Reykjavík Capital Area. For schedule, visit the site bus.is or download the Straeto mobile app.

Reykjavík city thermal pools: For information about the pools, visit swimminginiceland,com or check out the page on them.

Museums: For a list of museums included in the City Card, head to citycard.is (Tourist Information Center). You check out the same site for information on where to get the City Card.

Children’s City Card: Admission to the city museums is free for those under 18 years of age. However, there are fees for children on city bus services, swimming pools, the Reykjavík Park & Zoo and on the ferry to Videy Island. To accomodate families, the city offers a special Children’s City Card for a significantly reduced fee. Cards are valid for the same duration 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. For more information check out the official Tourist Information Center.

A day with the Reykjavík City Card

Family Day out

Start the day by watching the reinders of the Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo eat their breakfast. The Reykjavík zoo doesn’t have lions or elephants, but rather common Icelandic barnyard animals and Icelandic animals, such as arctic foxes, seals and reindeer.

If the weather is nice, take the ferry out to Videy Island where you’ll find many attractions.

Head over to the Arbaer Open air Museum. The old buildings, the costumed staff and the toy exhibition are sure to keep the whole family entertained.

After a day of entertainment, there’s nothing better than relaxing in the hot tube while the kids splash in the pool and play in the water slide. If you are in the Arbaer Open Air Museum, hop on bus number 5 and head to Arbaejarlaug swimming pool.

If you have an extra day… Head to the Reykjavík Maritime Museum for a chance to board Odinn, the former coast guard vessel used during the cod wars. The National Museum is another great option, with interactive exhibitions and areas dedicated specially to kids.

Reykjavík City Card helps you see the city. Photo by Olga

The History Bluff

If you want to get to know Icelandic history and culture, start at the beginning. Excavations have revealed ruins from the 10th century, which you can visit at the Settlement Exhibition.

From there, it’s a short walk to the National Museum. This collection of historical buildings will give you a sense of what life was like in the farming community of days gone by.

Finish up a day of immersing yourself in Icelandic history by immersing yourself in a hot tub. They’re usually populated by several generations of Icelanders discussing politics, culture, their cats and whatever else they can think of.

… Check out the Reykjavík Maritime Museum or the Culture House, where historical artifacts and works of art are exhibited together, for a new perspective on what it is to be an Icelander.

The Art Lover

Start the day off by getting to the National Gallery, down by lake Tjornin. The focus is on 19th and 20th century artists and with no permanent exhibition, there’s always something new to see!

The Reykjavík Art Museum is in three separate building. Do you want to see modern art at Hafnarhus, paintings at Kjarvalsstadir, or sculptures at Asmundarsafn?

If you chose Hafnarhus, the Reykjavík Museum of Photography is right next door. The exhibitions at the museum of photography are diverse – artistic, historic, as well as journalistic photography.

Check out the locations of the Reykjavík Art Museum you missed, or head down to the Culture House, where historical artifacts and works of art are exhibited side by side, for a new perspective on what it is to be an Icelander.

Don’t forget that included in the City Card is unlimited travel on the city buses while the card is valid. Taking the bus between attractions is a convenient way to get around

Wining and Dining in Iceland

Wining & Dining in Iceland

It’s always easy to find something great to eat in Reykjavík. Fresh and seasonal Icelandic ingredients are popular and the chefs of Reykjavík are always trying to think of new ways to prepare them, some simple and others more complex. We recommend trying everything from plokkfiskur (a fish and potatoes casserole) to delicate Icelandic langoustine and the finest steaks of lamb, horse or beef.

Have you tried:

New Nordic food, Icelandic style?

The delicious products of Icelandic nature are finally getting the attention and care they deserve and taste better than ever, especially when prepared by the food wizards of Dill restaurant. Iceland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant.

Something adventurous? Reykjavík’s restaurants tend to have at least one dish that’s a bit surprising. If you’ve never tried horse, whale, or puffin, now’s your chance.

Plokkfiskur? 

Decidedly non-glamourous but consistently delicious, this fish and potato stew is usually served with dark and sweet rye bread.

Langoustine? 

If plokkfiskur is not glamorous enough for you, try Icelandic lobster. Delicious in soups, sandwhichs or just served on its own with heaps of garlic butter.

Shark? 

You’ve probably heard of this one; despite its reputation (and the smell), the shark meat is neither rotten nor putrid, but rather fermented.

Icelandic lamb?

Icelandic lamb is in a league of its own, tender and succulent.

The Icelandic hot dog?

It’s a cultural institution so get one with everything – ketchup, mustard, remoulade and two kinds of onion, fresh and fried.

Kjötsupa?

Icelandic meat soup at its most basic is a clear broth with whole pieces of lamb and vegetables, but every Icelander has his own (or his mother’s) recipe.

Icelandic craft beer? 

Stop by Kaldi bar for a taste of Kaldi beer. Microbar focuses on craft beers from microbreweries all over the world, and Bryggjan bar and restaurant has an on-site brewery.

Ice cream?

The classic is soft serve ice cream, served with all the sauces and toppings you can imagine, but gelato-style ice cream is also gaining in popularity.

Fishermen port. Photo by Olga

Eating Out In Reykjavík

The tastes and smells of another country are often what stays with you long after you’ve forgotten everything you’ve learned at the museums. But finding something great to eat in a new place can often be difficult. Here are some helpful tips to remember when dining in Reykjavík, if you want to make every meal count.

Traditional Food

Traditional Icelandic food is usually centred around fish or lamb. There’s a fair share of dishes that owe their existence to a time before refrigeration; smoked, salted, and fermented food. Many of these dishes are an acquired taste, such as the famous fermented shark and pickled ram’s testicles, and are usually only trotted out for special occasions. Others, such as hardfiskur (fish jerky) or hangikjöt (smoked lamb) are delicious all year round.

Then there are the slightly more modern classics, such as plokkfiskur (fish and potato casserole), fish balls (like meatballs, only with fish), and kjötsupa (clear-broth lamb and vegetable soup). These are simple dishes, regularly served in most Icelandic homes, but they taste delicious. For desserts, the most iconic dish is probably Icelandic pankakes (crêpe-like pancakes served plain with sugar or stuffed with jam and cream).

Fine Dining

Since traditional Icelandic cooking is relatively light on technique (it involves a lot of boiling), a popualr way to approach modern Icelandic cuisine is to focus on quality local ingredients but seek inspiration from other parts of the world on how to prepare them. The result is a melting pot of different influences. For instance, one of the most established restaurants in Reykjavík is a Tapas restaurant, but their most popular dish is cured Icelandic lamb in a liquorice sauce.

Icelandic lamb and seafood are some of the best you’ll ever taste so be sure to try them at least once while you’re here. Langoustine, or Icelandic lobster, is another thing most Icelandic restaurants have on their menu and it is some of the most delicate and delicious seafood you’ll ever taste.

Recently, restaurants like Dill and Matur og Drykkur, inspired by the new Nordic cuisine, have been making waves in the Icelandic restaurant scene, experimenting with unconventional Icelandic ingredients and rediscovering forgotten methods of cooking. Dill was even recently honoured with Iceland’s first Michelin star! Don’t be surprised to see unfamiliar ingredients on menus, such as whale, puffin, horse or even reindeer.

Light Meals

For less formal meals, there’s plenty of nice restaurants in Reykjavík that won’t break the bank but still serve delicious food. The city centre has a high concentration of bistors, cafés and gastropubs serving sandwiches, salads, soups and other delights, perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Even though Iceland is famous for its lack of McDonald’s, we still have fast food chains, such as Subway, Domino’s and Dunkin’s Donuts, as well as a few of our own. Hamborgarabullan restaurants serve great burgers and Serrano sells delicious Ice-Mex food, to name a few. Lemon, a juice and sandwich place and Local, a chain of salad bars, is perfect if you’re looking for a healthier option.

Finally, Iceland has great sushi places in varying price ranges, perfect as this is one of the few places in the world that rivals Japan for access to fresh fish.

Restaurant Etiquette of Reykjavík

• Reservations are recommended, especially for fine dining and for weekends and the summer season.
• In bistros and cafés, reservations aren’t necessary or even possible in some places, but it never hurts to ask, especially for larger groups.
• Tipping is not the custom in Iceland and there is no service fee. If you want to reward exceptional service financially, that’s fine and no one will be offended, but it’s not required.
• Icelandic tap water is not only safe; it tastes the same or even better than bottled water.
• In Iceland, dinner time is usually around seven or eight pm. Upscale restaurant kitchens are usually open from six to ten or eleven pm and a little later on the weekends, although some are open even longer.

Lion

The Lion

Belonging ti the genus Panthera, the lion is one of the largest mammals on earth. Until the late Pleistocene era, 10,000 years ago, lions were widespread and found on all the five continents of the earth, before the population began to decline. By the twentieth century the lion was found exclusively in the grasslands of East and Southern Africa, and in very small numbers in the Gir forest of western India. 

The lion attained an almost mythical status as “king of the beasts” and symbolized royalty for many cultures, e.g., the Lion and the Unicorn, the Lion of Judah; “lion-seat” in Sanskrit, sinhasana, designates the royal throne; Singapore is lion city. 

The surname Singh comes from the same root, and is used by India's warrior castes, the Sikhs and the Rajputs. In Europe there was of course Richard the Lion-heart. The Egyptian sphinx is a lioness with a human female face. And in some Islamic Shia mythologies, the first imam, Ali, was often identified with a lion. In Africa too a brave person could be called a lion. In the ancient Indian Sanskrit fables, however, the lion was a vain, pretentious, and a foolish animal; on the other hand the man-lion was an avatar of the god Vishnu.

Lion in Winter. Photo by Elena (Spadina Road, Toronto, Canada).

The lion has been a major attraction in zoos and national parks of developed nations. It also has had a more real relationship with humans, as a terror and a devourer of people. The Romans fed early Christians to liens. Stories of man-eaters were common in twentieth-century Africa, the most famous of which are described in an account called The Man-Eaters of Tsavo, set in Eastern Africa. Another curious story from Africa of the same period involves what came to be known as the man-lion murders.

The lion does not hunt at night.The lion would be in a place where lions have a strong regal association in people's minds. A zoo lion's habits are not normal, pacing his cage at midnight.