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
November is one of those months where the classroom buzzes with activity! With fall projects, family events, a Thanksgiving feast, and those last-minute lesson pivots before the break, it can feel a little hectic. Seasonal, low-prep centers are lifesavers during the holiday rush because they keep learning meaningful and festive
If you’ve ever sat down with a small group of students to teach phonics, you already know the struggle… every child is at a different place. Some are still working on letter recognition, others are confidently identifying beginning sounds, and a few are ready for blends and word families. Although
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
As a kindergarten teacher, one of the things I am constantly looking for is new ways to build independence in the classroom. When my students come to me, it’s often their first time at school. We have so much to learn to build their confidence and promote more independent action.
In kindergarten, we’re focused on learning the basics. Shapes, letters, numbers, and of course – colors! Recently, I’ve been using colors as the inspiration for our writing activities and it’s been so much fun! We dive into exploring a new color every few weeks with tracing activities, engaging prompts, and
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