Are you here to learn how to teach high frequency words? You're in the right place! What are sight words? Traditionally, when teachers say "sight words" they are referring to high frequency words that children should know by sight. We often define sight words as words that kids can't sound out - words like the, for example. However, reading researchers have a different definition of sight words. ... Read More
How to teach synthesizing with Aesop’s Fables
Want to know how to teach synthesizing? This lesson is easy ... and it works! This post contains affiliate links. Have you been following along with the reading comprehension series that I'm doing with This Reading Mama? Each week, we show you how to teach a reading comprehension strategy with a particular picture book. Here's what we've shared so far! Setting a purpose for readingwith Surprising Sharks ... Read More
Do’s and Don’ts for Teaching Handwriting
This post contains affiliate links. Welcome to the second in my summer series of video blog posts! In this video I share important do's and don'ts for teaching handwriting to young learners. Watch the video to learn: how to get kids ready for handwriting (before worksheets!) which letters to begin with how to correct a poor pencil grasp how to help left-handed writers.... and more! Links I refer to in the ... Read More
Determining importance strategy
Looking for a fun way to teach the strategy of determining importance? Let's dive in! This post contains affiliate links. Have you been following along with the collaborative blog series I'm doing with Becky Spence of This Reading Mama? Each week, we've shown you how to teach a specific reading comprehension strategy with picture books. Today I'm tackling one of the tougher ones ... determining importance. If you ... Read More
5 Tips for teaching the alphabet
Top 5 Tips for Teaching the Alphabetto Preschoolers & Kindergartners Do you have questions about teaching the alphabet to kids in preschool and kindergarten? I've answered the five most common questions that I receive in the following video: When should we begin teaching the alphabet? In what order should we teach the letters? Should we start with upper or lowercase? Should we teach letter names or sounds ... Read More
Visualizing with picture books
Today's post will show you how to teach visualizing with picture books! This post contains affiliate links. Today I'm sharing another way to teach comprehension strategies with picture books. It's part of the collaborative blog series that I'm doing with This Reading Mama. Up next? Visualizing! Visualizing is the ability to hear (or read) a story and have a mental image of the text. I grabbed a copy of the ... Read More
Free Games for Ending Blends
Grab these free games for ending blends! Have you seen my Roll-a-games? I've shared a ton of these no-prep games that are great for helping kids hear and identify sounds in words. You can download any of these sets for free: Roll a short vowel Roll a long vowel Roll a rhyme Roll a blend Roll a digraph Roll an ending sound Recently a reader requested a set of Roll-a-games for ending blends. What are ending blends, ... Read More
6 Whole Class Vocabulary Activities
Here are some simple whole class vocabulary activities for your learners! (This post contains affiliate links.) Thanks for sticking with me for my vocabulary series! We've covered a lot of ground. So far, I've shared: 10 common mistakes to avoid when teaching vocabulary How to choose which vocabulary words to teach How to build vocabulary through read alouds How to teach vocabulary in the primary grades How to ... Read More
How to teach predicting with picture books
In today's post I'm sharing a lesson and free printable that will show you how to teach predicting with picture books. This post contains affiliate links. Have you been following along with the blog series I'm doing with This Reading Mama? We're sharing specific ways to teach reading comprehension strategies with picture books. Today I'm sharing a lesson about predicting. How to teach predicting with picture ... Read More
Printable vocabulary journals
Are you ready to do focused vocabulary instruction but aren't quite sure where to start? Download these free journal pages and learn exactly how to use vocabulary journals! Today I'm giving away printable vocabulary journals that you can use in grades 1-5. Believe it or not, the journal is the same for each grade level. The only difference is that it's at a smaller, more compact size for children in the older ... Read More