The science of reading tells us that explicit phonics instruction helps students to become fluent, successful readers. In this post, I provide you with clear and concise definitions for the most common phonics terms you will encounter when teaching students phonics. I also offer a FREE downloadable Phonics Terms Cheat Sheet that makes a great reference for teachers and is… Read More
Different Types of Blending Practice
In this post, I discuss the importance of offering blending practice to beginning readers. I explain the difference between successive (also known as additive sound-by-sound blending)and whole word blending (also known as final blending) practice and explain when to use each. I share best practices for blending instruction and suggest resources you can use to give your students meaningful blending… Read More
The 44 Phonemes in English
In this post, I share information about phonemes and offer resources to help you systematically and explicitly teach your Kindergarten, first, and second-grade students the 44 phonemes in English. Be sure to grab the FREE Phoneme-Grapheme dictionary that lists the 44 phonemes and matches them with the correct graphemes. It is widely known that the English alphabet has 26 letters. … Read More
The Best Decodable Books
In this post, I explain what features to look for in decodable texts to ensure they are high-quality and aligned with the science of reading. Then I share a list of the BEST decodable books for readers of different levels and ages. Be sure to download 5 FREE decodable books with comprehension questions for kindergarten, first or second-grade students! A… Read More
What is the Schwa Sound & How Do You Teach It?
In this post, I answer the question “what is the schwa sound?” and explain how to identify the schwa sound in words. I offer 4 tips for how to teach the schwa sound to students and leave you with a FREE, downloadable schwa word list. Do you know what the most common vowel sound is in the English language? If… Read More
5 More Ways to Use a Sound Wall in the Classroom
In this post, I share 5 simple things you can do to get students to engage with your classroom sound wall. I’ll share simple instructional routines you can implement, sound wall games, and routines for review. All of these things are sure to keep your kindergarten, first and second-grade students excited about using a sound wall in the classroom! I… Read More
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