As a former 2nd-grade teacher, current reading intervention specialist, and mom of two growing readers, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful decodable texts can be. In the classroom, they help build confidence and fluency. At home? They’ve become a regular part of our bedtime routine—right alongside Oliver Jeffers and Jory John.
How to Set Up Magnetic Letter Boards for Phonics Instruction Letter boards are a simple, effective tool to support explicit, hands-on phonics instruction. Whether you’re working one-on-one, in a small group, or during independent centers, having a ready-to-go board can make word building seamless and engaging. Let’s walk through exactly
Parent-teacher conferences are just around the corner, and while they can feel a little overwhelming, they don’t have to be! With a little preparation, you can walk into those meetings feeling confident and ready to have meaningful conversations with parents. Whether it’s your first round of conferences or you’re a
Are you looking for fun ways to review for testing? Games have always been my ultimate go-to for mastering skills, especially when it comes to test prep. Fond memories of my school days are flooded with the thrill of playing educational games. As a teacher, weaving games into lessons not
It’s that time of year again–parent-teacher conferences. If I’m being completely honest, I used to dread them. However, after some experience and time to perfect my preparation, parent-teacher conferences have become a time to connect with families and learn more about my students while sharing updates about students’ progress in
It’s time to start the day, and what better way to do that than with some fun and engaging morning meeting games? With these 12 creative ideas, you can focus students’ attention, review important skills, build class unity, and create an exciting learning environment—all before diving into your daily lesson
Hey there, elementary educators! If you’re anything like me, you’re getting pumped up for an amazing school year ahead. And what better way to kick things off than with the best first week ever? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie teacher, a solid plan will help you start
As teachers, the start of a new school year can bring feelings of excitement and anticipation – but also anxiety. The first few days tend to be hectic as everyone gets back in the swing of things; however, there are several steps you can take beforehand to make the transition
Teaching syllables can be a tricky task. It requires planning, creativity, and an understanding of the various syllable types to engage students in learning what can often be considered a tedious topic. Whether your student is just starting out or further along in their reading journey, it’s important for all
Are you finding that your students’ daily prompt writing is becoming tedious and monotonous? As teachers, our goal is to keep learning exciting for our students so they can fully achieve their academic potential. Fortunately, by taking a few simple steps to switch things up in the classroom, we can
