Make Decoding Practice Fun with 5 Simple Activities

Make decoding practice fun with the 5 easy activities in this post. We’ve all heard the phrase “drill and kill” – and most of us have sat through lessons with so much repeated practice that we were bored to tears. And we’ve probably taught a few phonics lessons that have felt like “drill and kill.” We also know that just because you teach something once it doesn’t mean the students learned it. It’s hard to find the fine balance between […]

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How to Teach Sounding Out CVC Words: 3 Key Steps

As a reading specialist, I’m often asked how to teach sounding out CVC words in kindergarten.  Many students pick up this skill seemingly effortlessly. It’s truly a wonder to behold! One day they are learning letters, then all of a sudden they are reading simple texts, using what they’ve learned about letters to solve words. But some kids need more intentional support in sounding out words. I’ll share some of my favorite techniques in this post. But first, let’s address […]

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11 Simple, Joyful Ways to Boost Phonemic Awareness in Kindergarten

I remember when I first learned about phonemic awareness in kindergarten.  It was early in my career and I had read an article in The Reading Teacher about the importance of phonemic awareness skills for early readers. I couldn’t wait to try some of the activities in the arcticle. Many of the tasks were set up like games or playful activities, which got my students hooked! I quickly learned that teaching phonemic awareness skills can be quick, simple and fun […]

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4 Ways to Use Readers’ Theater to Build Fluency [+ FREE Script]

Readers’ Theater is fun for students, while also secretly building reading fluency. Try it today with a free readers’ theater script. Readers’ Theater scripts are one of my favorite reading texts in first grade! The kids have so much fun reading and feel so successful. They ask to read the texts again and again – even in their free time. It makes my teacher heart happy! As a bonus, Readers’ Theater is a great way to practice reading fluency. But […]

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Fun Reading Activities for Kindergarten: 15 Simple Ideas to Try

If you are looking for fun reading activities for kindergarten, look no farther. Your kids will love the activities in this post! It’s just after lunch. I’m sitting in my chair, pointing to each of the words on the phonics chart. The children drone out the answers as I point. My head bobs and I start to wonder, “Is it nap time yet?” (To be honest, right after lunch is not my energetic time under the best of circumstances!) After […]

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10 Fun Morning Greetings for Students: Start Your Day Right

Are you looking for some new, fun morning greetings for students? These 10 greetings are the perfect addition to your morning meeting! “Good morning, Cody.” “Good morning, Aleah. Good morning, Micah.” “Good morning, Aleah. Good morning, Manuel.” These are the welcoming sounds of students engaged in the greeting for a morning meeting. It warms my heart to hear it daily. The morning greeting sets the tone for our school day. In this blog post I will describe the purpose for […]

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4 Common Mistakes When Teaching Money to Kids

Teaching money to kids is hard. Read this blog post to find ways to make it easier for kids to learn how to count money. I sat next to Damien, helping him count the handful of coins in front of him. We had been practicing coins for weeks and I was hoping he finally had it… He picked up the quarter and quickly said, “25.” I smiled. Then he pointed to the pile of nickels and said, “Are these dimes […]

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Mistakes Teachers Make when Teaching Place Value

Teaching place value in 1st grade can be tricky. It feels so abstract and confusing to kids. How can one number (2) mean a different number (200)? Sometimes our instruction inadvertently adds to the confusion. Read about some mistakes teachers make when teaching place value and how to avoid those mistakes. I was recently teaching place value in 1st grade. The task: Identify the value of the underlined digit. The number 26 was on the board. We’d been working on […]

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Subitizing Math Centers in Kindergarten That Kids will LOVE

Are you looking for some subitizing math centers for kindergarten? This blog post will share 8 fun subitizing activities that are perfect for kindergarten math centers! Why Use Subitizing Math Centers in Kindergarten? Teachers often use math centers in order to individualize instruction. Having students work in centers gives teachers time to either work with students in a small group or within one of the math centers during center time. What Can Kids Do During Math Centers? Subitizing skills are […]

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8 Quick & Easy Morning Meeting Games Your Class Will LOVE

The morning meeting is a joy-filled time of day. Kids love it – especially the morning meeting games/activities. But teachers often wonder, what are some good morning meeting games and activities? I shared a few of my favorites in my post that gave an overview of the morning meeting routine, but I will share a few more in this post. In the Responsive Classroom morning meeting, each day includes a short, but fun activity. (Note, they don’t use the word […]

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