Decodable texts are necessary for strong reading instruction in all grades, but particularly in kindergarten and first. Students in these grades are still breaking the reading code, so it’s important for them to have texts they can easily decode using the letter sound knowledge they’ve developed so far. Here is how you can use decodable partner plays to help your…
R controlled vowels are in many common words that first and second grade students need to be able to read. R controlled vowels are vowels immediately followed by an r. The vowel sound changes and is influenced, or controlled, by the r. Understanding how r controlled words and syllables work is very important for students learning to read. However, sometimes…
Sending home a weekly classroom newsletter to parents is a great way to connect with parents and keep them informed. However, it can be overwhelming to decide the best way to send it. Here are my top 5 recommendations of ways to send home a classroom newsletter. Click here to read about what to include in a classroom newsletter. 5.…
If you’re required to send home a weekly newsletter to update parents on your classroom, you might be wondering what to include. Or, if you just want to keep your students’ parents in the loop, you might be trying to figure out what to say. Here are the top things I recommend including in newsletters to parents. Things to Remember…
Anchor charts are a huge part of teaching and learning because it’s often the quickest and easiest way to document learning, share new information, and collect student ideas. Anchor charts also allow students to look back and recall past information. Anchors serve very specific purposes, and have an important role in lower elementary education. Here is why I always save…