If you teach early elementary readers, you already know the power of using a decodable text. It’s one of the best tools we have to help students connect phonics skills to real reading. But here’s the thing—decodable text can be used for so much more than just reading small groups (though you all know that’s my favorite)! […]
Literacy centers give students a chance to practice reading and writing skills in a meaningful, independent way. While you’re working with reading small groups, your other students are still engaged in purposeful practice — reading, writing, listening, and working with words. Well-designed literacy center activities help students build independence, reinforce key phonics and reading comprehension […]
November brings about a lot of warmth and excitement to the classroom, especially in reading! From turkeys to family to thankfulness these November topics are always engaging for budding readers. When it comes to November read alouds, there are many to choose from that help you build strong readers with reading comprehension skills. Because there […]
My friend recently shared this story with me, and I couldn’t help but share it as we discuss background knowledge on the blog! “I was recently reading a book and asked me a question about the word operation. The book was talking about a student who needed to solve a math problem at school and […]
When it comes to creating a classroom where all readers thrive, your reading small group time is one of the most powerful tools in your day. It’s the perfect opportunity to deliver explicit, targeted instruction based on your students’ needs. But if managing this block feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Between prepping materials, keeping the […]
As the school year winds down, energy starts to shift. The kids are excited for summer, testing is over, and the calendar is full of countdowns and celebrations. So why not channel that excitement into something educational AND fun, like with Reading Camp activities? Enter: Reading Camp Day—a special, themed day in your classroom filled with cozy […]
The end of the school year is such a special time in the classroom. Your students have grown SO much—academically, socially, emotionally—and now it’s time to start wrapping up your time together in a fun and meaningful way.One of the best ways to do that? With great end of year read alouds! These favorite end 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, including Presidents Day read aloud books. You have that teach about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and favorite read alouds that teach us what an election is, what makes […]
World Read Aloud Day is right around the corner and read aloud day activities are a must! 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 […]
Valentine’s 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. Others that teach about friendship and classroom community, too. Let’s look at some favorite read alouds you can read in your […]
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 and perfect for a groundhog day read aloud. I have vivid memories as a child of the excitement of the day as I watched the news to see what they […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. Let’s explore three simple tips for organizing literacy centers and keeping them manageable! *Amazon affiliate […]
My sweet teacher friend shared this story, and I immediately knew we needed it for this blog post as we talk about the importance of dictation activities for students! My daughter was in our playroom trying to write the word slide. She asked me, “Mom, how do you spell the word slide?” I was in […]
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 […]
Develop fluency with these fun, fluency activities for kids! As teachers, one of our primary goals is to equip our young learners with the foundational skills they need to become proficient readers. As we dig into the Science of Reading research more and more, we see this in Scarborough’s Reading Rope through the word recognition […]
Teaching reading is truly a science. As we learn more about the Science of Reading research that is rising to the top, schools are beginning to adopt best teaching practices for teaching reading, including strategies for those struggling in reading. We are better equipped to support kids in reading. But even with our knowledge base […]
