A few years ago, a number of my kindergarten students told me they were ‘building Bethlehem’. They were inspired by all of the Nativity Stories I had read to them. First, the setting It started as a few students wanting to convert the dramatic play area into Bethlehem. We looked through the stories Read More…
The benefits of a personal letter sound chart
Do you use letter sound anchor charts in your classroom? Here are the benefits of using a personal letter sound chart for early readers and writers. Visual documentation of growth over time A personal letter sound chart is a record of the sound / symbol associations for an individual student. Like its counterpart, the Read More…
5 Kindergarten teacher tips for a safe & positive 1st day of school!
Teach kindergarten? Tips for a safe, positive first day! When I returned to classroom teaching in kindergarten, I reflected on my decades of first days of school as a teacher. I started my career in kindergarten and first grade. In the years I spent in support roles, my first day of school was often spent Read More…
Fun ways to seize teachable moments with K-2s this holiday season!
As the holiday season approaches, be sure to seize and enjoy those teachable moments that present themselves so naturally this time of year! Here are some fun ideas! #christmas #writing #patterns #counting #nativity #traditions #education #kindergarten #firstgrade #secondgrade
Writing for real purposes – at Christmas!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – for kids to be motivated to write! Think back to when you were a kid. When did you pull out pencil and paper on your own initiative to write a letter? This is one of those ‘teachable moments’ – grab the enthusiasm while the getting’s good!
What reading levels mean and why kids should not have to worry about them
What do reading levels mean? Their purpose, and why discussing them should be left to the grown-ups. (Unless, of course, you’re comfortable with everyone at the bus stop comparing the number on the tags of your jeans with the others…)
Teaching the difference between letters and words
Beginning readers and writers often have a number of confusions to work out. One of the most fundamental and easily missed is knowing the difference between letters and words. Here are some tried and true strategies from the Reading Recovery world that work! #letters #words #earlylearning #teaching #readingrecovery