You finally get your reading group settled at the teacher table, and then it starts. Someone needs help with their work. Another student has already finished. And someone else is waiting for you to explain the directions again. Sound familiar? In moments like this, when you’re trying to focus on
It’s October, and they still aren’t getting it. You’ve taught the alphabet. You’ve sung the songs. You’ve practiced letters and letter names. You’ve pointed to letters on the calendar, read alphabet books, played games, and probably played the alphabet song approximately 7,000 times by now. And yet, when you hold up a
Have you ever had a child proudly sing the entire alphabet song, only to realize they don’t actually know their letters? Yep, me too! Memorizing the alphabet song and actually recognizing letters are two very different skills. Young children need lots of opportunities to look at letters, identify them, match
The first month of kindergarten can feel overwhelming. Between teaching classroom routines, helping students adjust to school, and building relationships, it can be difficult to decide which academic skills deserve the most attention. The truth is, you don’t have to teach everything at once. When you focus on the foundational
Have you ever hit the last few weeks of kindergarten and thought, “Wait… have we covered everything they actually need for first grade?” You’re juggling field trips, testing, behavior, and kids who suddenly have all the summer energy. It’s a lot. The good news is you don’t need to review
Ahhh… spring in the primary classroom. The sunshine is calling, the energy is HIGH, and suddenly your students can’t seem to sit still for more than five minutes. Sound familiar? We have ALL been there! But what if, instead of fighting all that energy, you used it to your advantage?
If you’ve ever wondered when the right time is to dive into letter sounds with your students, you’re not alone. As primary teachers, we know that teaching the alphabet isn’t just about singing the ABCs or identifying letters on flashcards. Before we move into phonics instruction, we need to make
Are you looking for more engaging ways to teach phonics topics in your room? I think if you’re a kindergarten, or primary teacher, the answer is always YES! Kiddos in the primary classroom are going a million miles a minute, so anything we choose to use in our lessons has
As a primary teacher, my main objective is to make sure my kids are learning all of the foundational skills they need in an engaging format. I don’t want them JUST to learn. I want them to have fun learning! Because of this, I’ve learned some tips and tricks to
Are you gearing up to begin letter identification with your students? If so, you’re in the right place! Today, let’s dive into how to teach letter identification and some of my favorite ways to keep this process fun and engaging all year long! Teaching Letter Identification Learning to recognize and