Understanding syllable types makes reading and writing so much easier. Closed syllables are typically the first type of syllables children learn because it is the most common type of syllable. Here is how I introduce closed syllables in my first grade classroom. What Do Students Need to Know Before You Introduce Closed Syllables? If you’d like a complete breakdown of…
How can you make your Monday easier? As a new teacher, I often worked harder and not smarter. However, I have learned some tricks to make Mondays much smoother. As much as I want to rush right out of the door on Friday afternoon, there are some simple things I try to do on Friday to make my Monday easier.…
The Science of Reading might feel like a hot, new buzz word. All of this talk of heart words and word mapping might be a bit different from a balanced literacy approach you are used to. When you get down to it, the Science of Reading is not new at all. It’s simple researched based instructional practices. But, what about…
Teaching in an international school is a different experience than teaching in a regular, public school in the United States. Here are 5 (sort of random) things that I’ve learned from being an international teacher. Pronunciation of letter sounds varies greatly by region One big thing I realized after teaching in an IB international school in Sweden is this. There…
Narrative writing is often one of the first forms of writing kindergarten and first grade students do. This is because writing a personal narrative, or writing about our own experiences, is often less challenging than other form of writing. Still, teaching young children how to write narrative pieces can feel overwhelming. Here is how to introduce narrative writing step by…