TRT Podcast#70: What phonics skills should students learn in each grade? In this episode I share the phonics skills we should teach by grade level. Do you agree with how I break it down? Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Links you'll love Ultimate collection of phonics word lists What order should you teach phonics skills? (with a free scope and sequence) Free decodable book series Free ... Read More
What you need to know about Orton-Gillingham
TRT Podcast#69: What you need to know about Orton-Gillingham What IS Orton-Gillingham anyway? Is it backed by research? What do critics have to say? We'll answer these questions and more in today's episode. Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript A complete look at IMSE's OG Method For brevity's sake, I did not include all lesson components in the podcast episode. Get the full IMSE lesson ... Read More
How to give small group phonics lessons
We're nearing the end of our phonics series, and it's time to get down to the nuts and bolts. What exactly should phonics lessons look like in your classroom? Today we'll look at how to meet the needs of all your students using small group instruction. My first year of teaching first grade, I was required to use a very explicit, scripted phonics program. It was a fail. Full disclosure: At the time I ... Read More
What does phonics have to do with comprehension?
TRT Podcast#68: What does phonics have to do with reading comprehension? What does phonics have to do with comprehension? A lot! We lay it all out in this episode. Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Related resources Scholastic article: How Phonics Contributes to Reading Success Reading Horizons article: How Does Phonics Impact Reading Comprehension? ... Read More
Free phonics assessment
Are you looking for a phonics assessment to help you determine your students' phonics knowledge? I'm sharing a free assessment in today's blog post! Today I'm sharing what I wish I had in my early teaching years ... a phonics assessment! While most of my teaching career was with first and second grade, the first few years I taught a combination class of third, fourth, and fifth graders. Looking back, I ... Read More
Do’s and don’ts for teaching phonics
TRT Podcast#67: Do's and don'ts for teaching phonics Should we teach letter sounds before letter names? Do kids need to learn syllable division rules? We'll examine it all in this episode, the first in our new series about teaching phonics. Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Related resources What order should you teach phonics skills? Blog post Scope and sequence for teaching phonics ... Read More
Mistakes to avoid when giving phonics instruction
For decades I considered myself a balanced literacy teacher. Of course I believed in phonics instruction. Of course I taught phonics. Or did I? Looking back, I made some pretty big mistakes when it came to phonics instruction. I'm sharing them here in the hopes that I can help you avoid my own mistakes! Phonics Instruction Mistake #1: Not following a strong scope and sequence As a balanced ... Read More
Reaction to Fountas & Pinnell #10: Do Fountas and Pinnell REALLY want teachers to educate themselves?
TRT Podcast#66: Reaction to Fountas & Pinnell #10 - Do Fountas and Pinnell REALLY want teachers to educate themselves? Fountas and Pinnell claim that administrators need to prioritize ongoing professional learning for teachers. But what happens when these teachers find out that what they're learning contradicts Fountas and Pinnell's approach? Listen to the episode here Full episode transcript Related ... Read More
Answers to common questions about decodable readers
What are decodable readers? Who should be reading them? When can students move on to a different type of text? We'll answer these questions and more in today's post! I've been upfront about this before, but I'll say it again. I wasn't always a fan of decodable readers. Decodable readers (also called decodable books) can be stilted, boring, and nonsensical. The good news is that times are ... Read More
Free decodable books
Are you looking for free decodable books to use with your learners in the classroom or at home? You're in the right spot! My experience with decodable books I admit it. As a first grade teacher, I was in the anti-decodable books camp. A big reason for that had to do with my misunderstanding of how children learn to read. I thought kids should use three-cueing as they read leveled books. Now, ... Read More