Where creativity & learning collide.
Teaching reading with a balanced literacy approach is the perfect combination between whole language and phonics. In a balanced literacy program, students see reading modeled, share in the reading with the teacher, are coached in reading, practice independently, and are actively engaged in word study. These blog posts are here to help you navigate your way through implementing a balanced literacy program in your classroom.
When it comes to guided reading, there are several components of a lesson. The students have jobs and you, the teacher, have jobs, too. One of those is to take a running record. What is a running record? A running record is a page of notes that you take as you listen to a readerMore
We are all SO busy! That’s why I love a good podcast that lets me squeeze in some professional learning while driving, getting ready, or exercising. Literacy podcasts can be harder to come by, but today I’m sharing a few that I think can be helpful! Some are entire podcasts dedicated to literacy, and someMore
When it comes to guided reading, there are many ways to approach it. Some people pull one group a day, some people, see all of their groups each day, some people rarely take informal running records, and others take a running record each time they sit down at their table. Basically, everyone has their ownMore
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, it’s time to figure out what to give to your kiddos. Maybe you are a teacher who wants to give something to their whole class or maybe you are a parent who wants to give something other than candy to your child’s classmates. You also do not want toMore
Taking running records on all of your students can seem daunting! If you teach a primary grade, you probably know just how important they are. I want to share a few tips for you to make taking running records a little easier and make them more meaningful. Remember, meaningful running records can really help youMore
Writer’s workshop is such an important part of the balanced literacy approach to teaching. I hope you have a good routine in place and your little writers are loving being authors! One of the most important pieces of writer’s workshop is the conferring time. This is the meat and potatoes of it because you getMore
If you are a parent, then you know how valuable our time at home with our kids can be! Even as a teacher, you know how much growth you see when parents support your classroom efforts at home! Whether you just have them home for the summer or you are a homeschooling family, there areMore
Shared reading is always one of my favorite parts of the day. It’s a part of a balanced literacy approach where students and the teacher read a text together and practice a reading skill. The teacher chooses a teaching point to model, and the students get to practice it each day. If your teaching pointsMore
When our little friends come back this fall, I know one of the first things we will be teaching and/or reviewing is beginning sounds. Phonics and phonemic awareness make up the foundation of reading. Practicing these two things builds stronger readers! With so many engaging ways to teach this skill and let students practice, IMore
Do you use Elkonin boxes with your students? Using Elkonin boxes (also called sound boxes) in the classroom helps build the foundation of phonemic awareness for students. They are a set of boxes where each box represents a phoneme to model segmenting words into individual phonemes. While they seem so simple, they are a powerfulMore
Because I have such a passion for guided reading, I also love sharing helpful things so you can implement it in your classroom, too! Guided reading is such a crucial part of the primary classroom because such powerful reading instruction takes place! I know how overwhelming it can feel to get started (or even makeMore
Friends, summer is here! This is the perfect time to take learning outside. Whether you are a mom of littles, a homeschooling mom, or a teacher looking for some new ideas, changing the scenery always freshens up learning! Hands-on alphabet activities help reach kinesthetic learners and reinforce skills. Helping our kids keep learning all summerMore
I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about guided reading by now, but what about book clubs? Do they have a place in a balanced literacy approach in the classroom? Friends, I think they do! Both of these options provide many benefits to our learners. An opportunity for students to practice reading in a group setting,More
Can you guys believe that summer is just around the corner? I know the feeling that the year is slowly ticking by, and all of a sudden, it’s over! I’m sure you’ve been thinking about what you can do to help your little friends retain what they’ve learned this year. Without a structured time andMore
Managing word work for 22 (or more!) students can be a handful. Add in accounting for differentiation and it can make your head spin! I found a program I loved to use with my kindergarten students that helped me meet each learner where they were and organize their progress. Let’s explore word work in kindergarten!More
Summer reading is so important for our students! The dreaded summer slide is real. Did you know that research suggests that kids will lose an average of one month of learning over the summer? For reading, students can drop two reading levels. Low-income students tend to decline even more. Yikes! I know that sounds likeMore
“Where can I find books for guided reading?” I get asked this all the time! You get excited to implement guided reading as part of a balanced literacy program, but then the issue is finding leveled sets of books (usually six per title) to use with your little readers. The struggle is real friends. IfMore
If you have been able to catch any of my Facebook lives last summer or even heard me present, you will always hear me talk honestly about book shopping. When I was in the classroom, I was always SO fearful of letting all of those little hands touch my books. After all, I had spentMore
