A Primary Teaching Blog
Since the Science of Reading research has gained traction more recently, I have been discussing the difference between leveled readers vs. decodables (see my instagram highlights for some video details). These are important discussions for those of us who teach primary reading/phonics. It can be confusing to know the difference, but as we revamp and reeducate ourselves to align with Science of Reading, it’s… Read More
It’s time for the magic of SILENT E! 🪄 This is absolutely one of my favorite sound/spelling patterns to teach because it unlocks so many more words that creates so much excitement for the students! (note: this isnt the only job of “e”, but it sure is fun) WARM UPS FOR SILENT E When introducing a new phonics patterns, I usually begin… Read More
Subitizing is an important part of learning numbers. Subitizing is when you can identify a set of numbers quickly without counting. A good example of this in our own lives is rolling a dice for a game, it’s very likely you can identify what you land on within a second and you didn’t have to count the dots. This fluidity… Read More
Research projects are a great way to introduce little learners to the world of non-fiction. Throughout first and second grade we enjoy many non-fiction texts. By the end of first grade, I had my first graders doing a research project practically on their own (in a small group). Here are some tips and even a research project template you can… Read More
Let’s talk about short vowels. Distinguishing short vowels can be tricky! Especially short i and short e (but I’ll get to that later in this post). Here’s one of my favorite quick activities for short vowel intervention or just practice for that matter. Vowel Tents Basically, your students have “tents” or cards in front of them with each short vowel… Read More
Grammar is an important feature in reading skills, but sometimes it seems mundane to teach. There are some simple ways you can integrate grammar skills into your teaching, reading centers, or small group time. Somethings do need to just be taught directly, but the practice doesn’t have to be boring! Here are some ways you can sneak these skills into… Read More
Emergent Readers are a great way to build confidence in new little readers. The sentences are simple and repetitive. They include pictures for students to associate with words (and to color). These readers also include sight words. All these things wrapped up into a little book make these a must in primary classrooms. Here’s a freebie for you (click the… Read More
If you were to look in your files (or your TPT purchases-who am I kidding, that is my files now), do you own a set of “task cards“? I own about 7,000 sets (okay that’s extreme, but I do own quite a few) and sometimes I need to spice up how I use them. Here are some ideas on… Read More
Scholastic Book Clubs has changed my life. I remember getting the book flyer every month in elementary school and visiting the book fair once a year when it came by my school. Honestly, one of the first things I did as a new teacher was join the Scholastic Book Clubs! I couldn’t wait to get books for my library and… Read More
Quick, what’s 6 X 7? Maybe it took you a second to figure that one out or maybe it sent you into panic mode that you couldn’t remember (or maybe you’re just that smart and knew in 1 second). I know for me there’s a black hole when my 6/7/8 facts are concerned. I’ve been reflecting and having a lot… Read More
