If you are a teacher, you can probably figure out this sentence written by a 5 year old: “The bdrfi iz prpl.” When I asked the student what it said, they proudly pointed to each word and read, “The butterfly is purple.” Although you may feel inclined to have the
My first year teaching Kindergarten, I realized I did not understand how to teach phonics. With the exception of one Early Literacy college course, I knew nothing about phonics or how to teach students how to read properly. These are the 5 phonics instruction mistakes I made my first year
Are you looking for some ideas to create engaging phonics lesson activities? With your phonics instruction, you want to first make sure it is systematic and explicit, and done daily. However, this doesn’t mean it needs to be boring! Here are my top 4 simple and engaging phonics lesson activities
My phonics routine used to consist of a 30-minute phonics lesson followed by an independent activity. I quickly found that this was too long for my students and not very effective. Soon, I switched to a quick and simple 15-minute step-by-step phonics lesson plan, which now includes additional independent practice
Are you at a school where you need to create your own daily schedule? After my first 3 years teaching, I was at a new school that did not give me a minute by minute schedule for the day. I was used to having exact times for not only lunch
What does your daily schedule look like in Kindergarten? Everyone’s schedule looks different and sometimes depending on your school or district, you may have a set schedule that you MUST stick to. At my last school, I was free to create my own schedule, so I have some tips and
Congrats parents! Your child is heading to Kindergarten very soon and you may be wondering, “What do kids needs to know before Kindergarten?” I’ve taught Kindergarten for 5 years and have a few suggestions to help make the transition into Kindergarten easier for both you and your child! These are
This post provides a comprehensive overview of the Sweet for Kindergarten Phonics Curriculum for both Kindergarten and First Grade. It covers the curriculum’s contents, sample lesson plans, usage tips, and more. Additionally, you’ll find some free resources from the curriculum, including a free sample week, that you can try out.
As teachers, we are always looking for ways to improve our teaching skillset. Over the summer, I try to read at least one professional and personal development book. My goal is to incorporate some of what I’ve learned in the classroom when I return in the fall. I’ve read at
