The Science of Reading Simplified
Quick Quiz: What’s Your Reading Teacher Personality? Find Out!
If there’s one question I hear constantly in my literacy coaching sessions, it’s this: “How much time should I really be spending on teaching phonics?” Trust me, you’re not alone in wondering this. As teachers, we’re constantly juggling competing priorities within those precious instructional minutes. And with the renewed emphasis on the Science of Reading, […]
I remember the first time I saw a beautifully crafted classroom sound wall on Pinterest. Like many of you, I thought, “If I just put this up in my classroom, my students’ reading will improve!” But as much as I love making things beautiful, simply having a pretty display isn’t enough. Today, let’s talk about […]
You know what I love about the Science of Reading? It keeps teaching us better ways to help our students succeed. One of the most powerful tools to emerge from this research are sound walls. Unlike traditional word walls that organize words by letters, sound walls tap into how our brains actually process language. And […]
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 […]
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 […]
You know that moment when a kindergartner proudly sings the alphabet song, but then struggles to use those same letters to read a simple word? I was just talking about this with a group of teachers during our planning meeting, and it sparked such an interesting discussion about teaching letter names and sounds. One teacher […]
You know those moments when a student comes across a new word, and you can almost see the gears turning in their head as they work to decode it? Or when they’re writing and pause, pencil hovering over the paper, trying to figure out how to spell a tricky word? These two scenarios might seem […]
Remember your first year teaching reading? Mine was filled with sticky notes, endless Pinterest searches, and late nights wondering if I was doing it right. Last month, that familiar feeling came rushing back during a grade-level meeting when Jessica shared her struggles with teaching reading. “I feel like I’m failing them,” she whispered, eyes fixed […]
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