What Is a Syllable? A syllable is an uninterrupted segment of sound formed by opening and closing the mouth to create a vowel sound. Every syllable must include a vowel sound, because vowels are what make the “beats” in words.Some syllables have two vowel letters that work together to make one sound, such as ea…
This year Prime Day runs for 48 hours from October 7-8. It’s their second biggest sale of the year and I always take advantage. But you do have to be a Prime member to get these special prices so if you’re not, then sign up already! Click here to try it out free for 30 days…
What Is the C or CK Rule? After students master short vowels, they’re ready to learn when to use c and when to use ck at the end of words. The rule says:CK is used only after a single vowel which says its short sound. In kid-friendly terms: “If a short vowel word ends in…
Teaching phonics doesn’t have to feel like memorizing a giant list of exceptions. The rules of English spelling follow clear patterns, and once you know them, you can help students decode and spell with confidence. This page is designed to be a teacher’s reference hub. You’ll find the rules: Before you scroll, grab the Free…
Do you wonder why some words are spelled with a double consonant at the end, like miss, and others aren’t (like rob)? There is actually a reason this happens, and it’s called The Floss Rule. The Floss Rule is one of the first spelling rules students learn after short vowels.. In this blog post, we’ll…
You’ve assessed your students. You’ve created your small groups. But a few weeks in, things start to shift.Some kids are breezing through the lessons. Others are stuck. And your carefully grouped students? Not so aligned anymore. This is where most reading group plans fall apart, not because teachers don’t care or don’t try, but because…
Reading groups can feel overwhelming. You have students who need very different things, but you’re often expected to sort them by level and hope for the best. But what if we stopped grouping by reading level altogether? Skill-based grouping is a better way to meet your students where they actually are. Instead of lumping students…
Summer is the perfect time to brush up on your teaching skills and learn about any new or updated teaching strategies. I’m sharing my top recommendations for professional development books for reading and phonics. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I love a good book on the latest research and recommendations for educators,…
And what to do next—without a curriculum or complicated assessments Teaching reading at home can feel like trying to hit a moving target.One day your child sounds out cat, and the next they’re guessing cheese from a picture. Are they behind? Are they in the “right level”? What are you even supposed to teach next?…