If your phonics block feels a little stale or you’re noticing gaps in decoding and spelling, phonogram cards might be the missing piece. Phonogram cards give students repeated, structured practice with sound-spelling connections. They’re simple to use, easy to prep, and work for every setting—from whole group to centers. Let’s walk through practical, no-fluff routines…
How Teaching Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words Builds Stronger Readers When we think about teaching early reading skills, phonics and decoding often take center stage. While these are essential, there’s another powerful tool that helps students become stronger readers: morphology. Morphology is the study of word structure—how words are formed using prefixes, suffixes, and root…
Teaching students to recognize tricky words that don’t follow regular phonics rules can be a challenge. When words don’t play by the rules, they need extra attention to help them stick. That’s where the heart word method comes into play, and I have found that flashcards and slides are very handy. These mapped out cards…
Setting up effective reading groups can transform your classroom by providing targeted instruction that meets your students’ unique needs. However, getting started can feel overwhelming. This guide will walk you through each step, from assessing your students’ skills to planning engaging lessons and monitoring progress. By focusing on skill-based grouping aligned with the science of…
Creating an effective learning environment for struggling readers, especially those with dyslexia, can be challenging. One powerful strategy to support these learners is setting up a heart words center. This specialized area focuses on teaching high-frequency words that don’t follow regular phonetic patterns. These words are often referred to as heart words because students need…