The Science of Reading Simplified
Quick Quiz: What’s Your Reading Teacher Personality? Find Out!
Have you ever noticed how young children naturally mimic the voices and expressions of adults around them? This natural learning process is exactly why modeled reading is such a powerful tool in our literacy instruction toolkit. Today, let’s dive into what modeled reading is, why it works, and how you can use it effectively in […]
Every teacher has those moments that shape the way they teach. One of mine involved a third grader named James, a well-worn copy of Charlotte’s Web, and a technique called echo reading. Since learning about echo reading and seeing the positive impact it had on James, I’ve used this approach with lots of other readers […]
You know that magical moment when your whole class is reading together, and even your most hesitant readers are joining in? That’s what we’re going to talk about today. After years of working with struggling readers, I can tell you that choral reading is one of those research-based strategies that I’m glad I have in […]
You know that moment when you’re listening to a student read and you just wish you could clone yourself to give every child more practice time? Trust me, I’ve been there! That’s exactly why I want to talk with you today about partner reading – it’s honestly one of my favorite strategies for building reading […]
Can we have a heart-to-heart about decodable texts? I know that moment when you’re sitting with your small group, decodable readers in hand, and you’re thinking, “Shouldn’t we be moving on to ‘real’ books by now?” Trust me, I’ve been there too. After twenty years of working with teachers to improve reading fluency, I’ve learned […]
Let’s talk about decodable texts – those carefully crafted books that help our young readers practice their phonics skills. In my years as a literacy coach, I’ve seen how helpful these resources can be when used effectively. I know the questions that come up again and again in my coaching sessions: When should we use […]
You know that feeling when you find something that actually works for your struggling readers? That’s what we’re talking about today. After two decades of supporting teachers and students with reading challenges, I’ve learned that decodable texts are often the missing piece of the puzzle. Grab your favorite pen – you’re going to want to […]
You know what question keeps popping up in my coaching sessions lately? Teachers are asking whether they should move away from leveled books. And I totally get it! I remember when my own classroom library was organized with those familiar A-Z labels, and every student had their “just right” reading level. It felt so organized, […]
As a literacy specialist who works with struggling readers every day, one of the most common questions I hear is “What are heart words?” It’s a great question and one that’s changing how we teach high-frequency words in our classrooms. Today, I’m going to share everything you need to know about heart words, drawing from […]
Have you ever wondered why some of your students breeze through certain words while others seem to get stuck on even the most common ones? Or maybe you’ve noticed conflicting advice about whether to use flashcards for practicing high frequency words? You’re not alone – these terms often get used interchangeably, but understanding the difference […]
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