Embedded mnemonic alphabet instruction gives young learners a meaningful way to connect letter sounds, shapes, and letter names. In this post, I share what research says about embedded mnemonics and how I use them in a speech-to-print routine with mnemonic cards, real mouth photos, alphabet posters, and handwriting practice.
Help young students understand what it means to belong to a classroom community with meaningful Our Class Is a Family activities. This post shares ideas for a class promise poster, bracelets with poems that help remind them of the bracelet’s meaning, an anchor chart, an editable class book with predictable text and student photos, a collaborative puzzle, and a coordinating bulletin board that help the class-family message stay with students.
These simple Mother’s Day questionnaires were designed with young learners in mind. With just a few easy prompts and a drawing space, students can share their thoughts without feeling overwhelmed. The themed pages make it easy to match your Mother’s Day events, activities, or gifts while creating a meaningful keepsake families will love.
Groundhog Day is the perfect time to let students make predictions, explain their thinking, and create something they’re excited to share. These Groundhog Day crafts and prediction writing activities are hands-on, low prep, and classroom-tested, making them easy to use with young learners. Inside this post, I’m sharing two favorite crafts — a paper plate groundhog burrow and a shapes craft — that pair creativity with meaningful writing and make adorable classroom displays.
This craft and writing combo gives your students the chance to share what they’re looking forward to this summer or what they’ve enjoyed if you’re doing it at the beginning of the school year or wrapping up summer school. Best of all, it’s simple enough for little learners to complete with just a few materials.
Create a heartwarming and engaging Valentine’s Day classroom display with these adorable bulletin board crafts and writing prompts! Perfect for celebrating love, kindness, and creativity, these hands-on projects help students express themselves, build writing skills, and take pride in their work. In this post, discover three easy-to-make Valentine’s crafts that double as meaningful student-created bulletin boards—perfect for your classroom, hallway, or door!
Discover how decodable sentence scramble activities can boost beginning reading and writing skills in kindergarten and first grade. Learn the benefits of hands-on literacy practice, from improving grammar and fluency to building vocabulary, with engaging, fun activities that support young learners’ success!
Ready to teach the alphabet in a way that’s truly effective—and backed by science? In this post, I’m sharing how I introduce letters and sounds using a speech-to-print approach that aligns with the science of reading. You’ll also find a free phonics lesson you can download and use right away with your students!
Explore four engaging student-created bulletin boards inspired by popular back-to-school books. These crafts simplify planning, foster creativity, and build classroom community. Learn about “The Crayons Go Back to School,” “The Little Engine That Could,” “How Full Is Your Bucket?” and “Our Class is a Family” activities to create meaningful and vibrant displays that value student contributions and set a positive tone for the year.
As the new school year approaches, it’s time to think about creating a welcoming and engaging environment for your students. One way to do this is by incorporating fun and meaningful activities that capture their interest right from the start. This “The Crayons Go Back to School” bulletin board display is the perfect solution for a vibrant, student-centered classroom display that will not only brighten your space but also build connections and encourage creativity.
This blog post offers practical tips and effective strategies for introducing and utilizing sound walls to help students connect speech to print and improve phoneme-grapheme correspondence. Learn how to make daily lessons engaging, use mirrors for articulation awareness, movement, build excitement with lock cards, and incorporate interactive activities. Find helpful resources and professional development recommendations to enhance your teaching practice.
This post offers practical tips and resources for setting up and using a sound wall effectively in your kindergarten or early elementary classroom. Learn how sound walls support phoneme-grapheme correspondence, enhance reading and spelling skills, and organize sounds by articulation. Discover space-saving options, lesson ideas, and the importance of professional development to maximize your sound wall’s impact.