Shared Reading may be a new phrase to you if you are a new teacher within the last five years. But some of us know exactly what that phrase means. It may even bring back fond memories of reading with our kids as we gathered close on the carpet. Shared reading is a method of […]
February is full of so many holidays and is such a short month. There are many great books to read aloud in your classroom this month. From books that teach about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to favorite read alouds that teach us what an election is, what makes a great president, and the value […]
World Read Aloud Day is right around the corner. This is a day we celebrate reading, specifically, reading aloud to kids! This year is the 15th anniversary, so let’s “blow it up” big!! What is better than a day full of engaging reading activities? My 6 year old would say only one thing: A bubble […]
Valentineโs Day is just around the corner, and there are so many great Valentine’s Day books to read aloud in your classroom. There are so many warm stories that teach about kindness and love. Letโs look at some favorite read alouds you can read in your classroom this February to celebrate Valentineโs Day! Why Should […]
Every February 2nd, children wake up with one question, “Did the groundhog see his shadow?” It’s such a fun day that is rich in history. I have vivid memories as a child of the excitement of the day as I watched the news to see what they said or ran off to school for the […]
Read aloud lessons are one of the most magical moments in a classroom. They allow teachers to model fluency, introduce new vocabulary, and model the pure joy of reading rich stories. However, keeping little learners engaged during read alouds can sometimes feel like herding cats, especially in this tech world with instant gratification. By using […]
The holiday seasons brings so much excitement to the classroom. From family traditions being shared to memories being made with classroom elf, there are so many moments to take in! One of my favorite things to do is read aloud and the holiday season is filled with wonderful Christmas read alouds for kids! I have […]
The holiday season is the perfect time to bring festive, hands-on learning into the classroom! A gingerbread man craft activity is a delightful way to engage our students while practicing writing conventions. This interactive project combines smiles and academics. That’s something we all want to see more of! Whether you use it as part of a writing […]
As the Thanksgiving holiday is near, it’s time for all things pumpkins, leaves, and turkeys! I don’t know about you, but as a child, I never once saw a real, live turkey in person unless my school took a field trip to a farm. I don’t think we ever did that. Turkeys are fascinating birds. […]
Teaching phonics skills like the hard C and soft C sounds can be a thrilling journey for young learners as they unlock more phonics skills. Just think–now the word “circle” makes sense! It can feel tricky to teach, so let’s dive into an explicit explanation of how to teach each of these phonics skills. I also will […]
From digraph activities to digraph worksheets to digraph games, you are sure to find something for your classroom! My friend recently shared this story: “My daughter has been grabbing easy chapter books from our home bookshelves. Last night, she came to me and said, โMom, I canโt figure out this word. I said each sound, […]
Spending time to set up literacy centers in kindergarten truly helps build a solid literacy foundation. Literacy centers allow students to practice reading and writing skill at their own pace because they are easily differentiated. There are many options of how to run and set up literacy centers and I typically had 8 centers that […]
Most of us, as teachers, read aloud to our students. We love it! They love it! It’s a win! The science of reading research has shown us how children learn to read and the best practices for teaching reading. Reading aloud to kids is a powerful tool that aligns well with these evidence-based strategies. Today […]
Are you looking for engaging activities to help your growing readers understand the concept of comparing and contrasting characters in books? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ll explore some fun and creative activities to make this important literacy skill come alive in your classroom. Plus, I have a free download of an event […]
Creating and maintaining organized literacy centers can be the key to a smooth and productive classroom. For kindergarten and 1st grade teachers, having a system that helps students find what they need, stay focused, and follow clear directions is crucial. Letโs explore three simple tips for organizing literacy centers and keeping them manageable! *Amazon affiliate […]
When I was in the classroom, reading assessments looked like this: a large DRA box, a stack of running records that were to be carefully analyzed, leveled texts with lots of wear and tear, and maybe some checklists. But now that we know what we know, thanks to the science of reading research, we can […]
Introducing poetry to young learners can be an enjoyable and enriching experience. It fosters creativity, language development, and a love for writing. Sometimes, it can feel tricky to know where to begin when it comes to teaching poetry. With engaging activities and strategies for teaching poetry elements to our young writers, it doesn’t have to […]
We all know how important phonics instruction is. It is a pillar in the 5 pillars of reading, itโs integrated into Scarboroughโs Reading Rope, and it is heavily supported by research when it comes to how the brain learns to read. Phonics instruction is both explicit and systematic, but that doesnโt equal boring! We need […]
