Are you wondering about the best ways to teach reading strategies to your Emergent readers?  These students are at the beginning stages of reading; but that’s why it’s so important for them to grasp these important tools for reading and decoding. As Emergent readers start the adventure of learning to decode, the Stretchy Snake strategy …

How to Teach the Stretchy Snake Strategy to Emergent Readers Read More »

Are you wondering how to effectively teach reading strategies to your Emergent readers? Readers at the Emergent level are reading on levels A through C. Graphophonic or visual cues are so important for readers at this level. Once they can recognize and use these cues, they’ll begin to see how letter-sound relationships help them solve …

Teaching the Lips the Fish Strategy to Emergent Readers Read More »

Are you wondering how to tackle the task of teaching reading and decoding strategies to your Emergent readers? Readers at the Emergent level are reading on levels A through C. They rely heavily on the semantic cueing system, using the pictures they see to make meaning. There are some strategies that may be too advanced …

Teaching the Eagle Eye Strategy to Emergent Readers Read More »

What words come to mind when you think about doing Guided Reading lesson plans? Stress? Frustration? A late-night race against the clock? Planning lessons for your Guided Reading level groups takes some work. I’ve been there, and I feel your pain! Lesson planning is a huge part of our job as educators, and to be …

Guided Reading Lesson Plans Made Simple Read More »

We teachers live for long weekends. In warm weather, we head for sunshine and a sandy beach, but in winter we may choose a cozy cabin near the slopes. Either way, we’re prepared to chill. For the beach trip, we pack sunscreen, flipflops, a pair of cool shades and a fun romance novel. For the …

How to Choose a Just Right Book: Teaching Tips Read More »

“Why did the chicken cross the road?” That’s one of the first jokes children learn; and I love seeing the twinkle in a child’s eye as they tell it for the first time. And it’s not just the chicken joke; there are a thousand other knock-knock jokes based on the premise that some questions have …

Rigor in the Classroom – 7 Strategies for Success Read More »

Have you ever thought about the one thing veteran educators and first year teachers have in common with Pre-K students and doctoral candidates? I’ll save you the suspense and just cut to the chase: They’re all humans. Yep! Newsflash: WE are all humans. And as a human condition, each of us wants to do what …

Creating Classroom Rules & Procedures: Who’s in Charge Here? Read More »

As teachers in the primary grades, we love fairy tales and funny stories: mostly because the kiddos in our classrooms love reading them! Although those fictional favorites have an important place and are fantastic vehicles for teaching children to read, our kiddos also need to encounter informational non-fiction texts. Let’s take a look at how we …

Informational Text Reading Strategies Read More »

Emergent readers — ya gotta love ’em, and ya gotta teach ’em to read! It’s more than just a job–it’s our privilege to open the door of literacy. We get to be the ones to introduce these kiddos to the joys of reading! So let’s take a quick look at how to effectively scaffold & …

Teaching Emergent Readers in Guided Reading Read More »

Literacy Centers – ABCs & 123s for Active Learners & Busy Bees… Literacy centers are a vital part of the success of my Guided Reading program. While I’m teaching students in a Guided Reading group, the other kiddos in the class are actively involved in learning! Want some tips on how to effectively use literacy …

Literacy Centers – Easy Tips for Success Read More »