How To Orthographically Map Tricky High-Frequency Words - with and without High-Frequency Words WorksheetsScience of reading research shows that children learn to read through orthographic mapping, where the brain links sounds to letters in a word. This process turns unfamiliar words into sight words, allowing for instant recognition.Read more →
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Phonics
Best Toys for Fine Motor SkillsIn the early years of school, students are developing their fine motor skills as well as learning how to read and write. Many play-based learning activities and educational toys can not only target a child's fine motor skills, but they can also be a great way to consolidate educational skills too.Read more →
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Science of Reading Book RecommendationsThe following Science of Reading and Synthetic Phonics books have been a fantastic tool for me as I’ve expanded my phonics knowledge.Read more →
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Literacy
Phonics
Reading
7 Phoneme Segmentation Activities & Tools for KindergartenMake reading exciting for your students with these fun phoneme segmentation activities for kindergarten! They are a fun way to support these essential literacy skills so you can set your students up for reading success.Read more →
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Phonics
Best Printable Alphabet Matching Worksheets & ActivitiesHelp your students learn their letters with these alphabet matching worksheets! In this post, I'll share a variety of tools and activities to make this easier and more fun than ever before.Read more →
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Phonics
Phonics Tools for the Classroom“Programs don’t teach, teachers do” – Louisa Moats.Read more →
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Phonics
DIY Phonics Ideas: 12 ways to create your own alphabet manipulatives for phonics lessonsAlphabet manipulatives are a must-have teacher resource in an early years classroom. Through play-based learning activities, it gives students the opportunity to physically move and manipulate sounds. This helps phonics concepts to really STICK as students are first learning how to read and write.Read more →
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Phonics
30 Rhyming Books for KindergartenPicture books foster a love of reading and enrich vocabulary early on. Rhyme skills, key for learning to read, can be taught through engaging stories, word families, and phonemic awareness. Luckily, there are many books to introduce these essential skills in fun, memorable ways!Read more →
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Literacy
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Decoding Strategies for Reading - Research-Based Reading Strategy CharactersWith new insights on reading, it's clear kids need explicit phonological awareness and phonics instruction, not guesswork. Teaching decoding strategies builds strong letter-sound understanding, helping early readers develop lasting, effective reading skills.Read more →
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Literacy
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Phonics Worksheets for Kindergarten - how to use a kindergarten phonics worksheet effectively for cumulative reviewPhonics worksheets for kindergarten can be valuable when used selectively. While hands-on learning and explicit teaching are key for early literacy, quality, evidence-based printables can also support young readers when used at the right time.Read more →
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Phonics
Literacy
Narrative Writing for Kindergarten and First GradePlanning a writing unit can feel overwhelming, especially for new teachers. Here are tips for creating engaging, effective narrative writing lessons, perfect for Kindergarten and Grade 1/2 students, but adaptable for older kids too!Read more →
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Unicorn Classroom Visit with Google 3DThe day a unicorn came to our classroom was a VERY exciting day!Read more →
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Teaching & Writing
Writing
Literacy