Effective Small Group Instruction
11 Exhilarating Ways to Use Nonsense Word Activities Nonsense words are key to reading success. We read nonsense words every day without even realizing it! These words often are syllables hidden within larger words. Think of the word “picnic”. This features two nonsense words: pic and nic. In order to successfully read the word, “picnic” students need to be able… Read More
Easy and Fun Activities that Teach What Are The Glued Sounds Stuck wondering “what are the glued sounds”? Talk about things they don’t teach you in teacher college! When I got into the K/1 classroom phonics baffled me, especially higher-level phonics skills. Letter sounds, I got. Vowels making two sounds? A little tricky, but I’ll get there. Now, you’re telling… Read More
7 Low-Prep, Fun Winter Classroom Activities to Engage Kids Hit a teaching slump? Use these 7 low-prep fun winter classroom activities to put some life back into your classroom! Winter is a hard time for teaching. The holidays are over and you’re in the thick of day-to-day life in the classroom. It’s often darker outside and if you live where… Read More
FLOSS Rule Are you stressed about teaching the FLOSS rule? Do you even know what the FLOSS rule is? Spoiler alert: I didn’t! I opened up my curriculum and my eyes popped – what is this rule?! I had to find out more. You can get week-long, step-by-step activity plans to ensure your students will master the FLOSS rule… Read More
Consonant Digraphs Interested in easy, no prep ideas to improve teaching consonant digraphs? Grab these digraph activities featuring an in-depth week for each consonant digraph sound. These lessons will guide your students from introductory to mastery with each digraph sound. Small groups are a great way to teach consonant digraphs but do you find your students are not engaged or… Read More
Struggling Readers Are you unsure how to help your struggling readers? You’ve done every trick up your sleeve and still your readers are struggling to make the connection. Reading is complex. Transferring the knowledge of spoken word to written word is challenging. It’s learning a new language, a new code. Reading is part instruction, part developmental. With direct, explicit, consistent… Read More
How to Teach Sight Words Are you wondering how to teach sight words? You’re in the right place! Through small group instruction, you can effectively teach sight words and make it fun for kids! You’ll also find out how to weave trick word practice throughout your day, so your students are constantly practicing and memorizing their sight words. … Read More
The Importance of Nonsense Words & How to Teach Them! Are you using nonsense words in your phonics instruction? If not, you’re missing a big piece of the puzzle to support your students reading! These silly words should be a daily part of your phonics instruction. They are an important piece of the puzzle to help students read fluently. … Read More
5 Quick and Easy Ways to Differentiate Instruction Every teacher wants to be able to differentiate instruction easily and effectively. Each kid in a classroom has their own learning style, their own strengths and weaknesses, and requires their own curriculum. How can teachers possibly provide individualized, differentiated instruction to a class of 15, 20 or even 30 students? Read… Read More
Decodable Reading Passages Do you remember the first time you read a book by yourself? Or have you seen a child’s face light up when they read something for the first time? You may be using decodable reading passages in your classroom, but you may not be getting the most out of these stories. Decodable readers are a wonderful… Read More