SPIN AND READ
We often play mini games at the beginning, middle, and end of sessions. This helps students focus for longer when I am teaching as the...
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A GHOSTLY BOOK LIST
Halloween is almost here, so it's the perfect time to use the festival as a learning resource. What better way to celebrate the season...
WHERE DID THE H IN GHOST COME FROM?
Do you have students who have 'given up the ghost' with spelling because they just don't seem to understand? Do you feel like you have...
What's going on with CK?
CK looks like just another spelling for the /k/ sound — but as with the spelling QU there is a reason behind the spelling. It isn't just...
What's the deal with queue?
The word queue has a strange spelling and an interesting story to tell. The word has four vowels in a row that don't look as if they do...
Why does Q almost always go with U?
When teaching letters and sounds, a quick story about the 'why' can engage and enthuse most students. Why does Q almost always go with U?...
AN AUSSIE BOOK LIST FOR THE QU SPELLING
A list of Aussie picture books to help teach the 'qu' spelling. Let's learn all about quolls and quokkas too.
HAPPY FAMILIES
We love playing Uno with our disCARD packs. To mix it up in the clinic, we also play other games.
WHAT IS DECODING?
Teaching how to decode is crucial—gentle advice for the classroom and home. Grab the free resources, too!
LEARNING TO READ
Many components have to come together for reading to happen. For many, learning to read starts at school. A knowledgeable teacher, enough...
6 Effective Practices to Move Literacy Learning Forward
A parent guide to effective practice. I hope it helps all parents ask questions and start a conversation about what practices they see and w
MINI PHONICS ACTIVITY BOOKS
The digraph mini activity books are a great tool for instruction to motivate and engage. They are bite-sized activities to use after...
REPETITION NEEDS PLAY
There is room for play in the explicit literacy instruction classroom.
disCARD Phonics Card Game
Games are a great way to motivate and engage reluctant learners. Have you tried our Uno style phonics game called disCARD yet?
5 WAYS WITH DECODABLE SENTENCES
A sentence is only decodable if the student reading the sentence has had previous exposure to the sounds and spellings in the sentence....
FIRST SENTENCES
Many children find writing difficult. Almost all children can write a sentence, yet even as they approach year 3, many of the children I...
WORD CHAIN CAT
Word chains are a fun activity that packs a punch. So much can come from this little activity. Word chains help build the skills of...
WORD BUILDING MAN
We are halfway through the first term here in Western Australia. The beautiful preprimary students I know have worked their way through...
S A T P I N SNAKE
Learning to read takes time, repetition, and exploration to get to fluency. It can seem intimidating as a teacher or parent, especially...
KNOW YOUR LITERACY LINGO
The world of literacy learning is awash with jargon. Many buzzwords float around classrooms, and a discussion with your child or your...
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