• Skip to main content
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Courses
    • Teaching Every Reader
    • Teaching Every Writer
  • Subscriber Freebies
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Member Login

The Measured Mom

Education resources for parents and teachers

  • Alphabet
  • Reading
    • Structured literacy
    • Printable Books
    • Pre-Reading
    • Phonics
    • Sight Words
    • Comprehension
    • Fluency
    • Vocabulary
  • Writing
    • Grammar
    • Handwriting
    • Spelling
    • Writing in Pre-K
    • Writing in K-3
  • Math
    • Counting
    • Number Recognition
    • Addition & Subtraction
    • Colors, Shapes & Patterns
    • Visual Discrimination
    • Time, Money & Measurement
    • Place Value
    • Graphs
    • Multiplication & Division
    • Fractions
    • Problem Solving
  • Book Lists
    • Letter of the Week
    • Early Childhood Themes
    • Pre-Reading Skills
    • Math Concepts
    • Writing Mentor Texts
    • Versions of Familiar Tales
    • Holidays and Seasonal
    • History
    • Leveled Book Lists
  • Join Membership
Home
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • Alphabet
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Math
    • Book Lists
  • Podcast
  • Courses
    • Teaching Every Reader
    • Teaching Every Writer
  • Subscriber Freebies
  • About
  • Membership
  • Contact

March 2, 2022 •  10 Comments PSPKK123

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

February 26, 2022 •  14 Comments PSPKK123

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

February 20, 2022 •  16 Comments PSPKK123

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

Get a FREE Literacy Pack!

Looking to save time while boosting your learners’ literacy skills? Download a free sample pack from our membership site.

Pre-K Sample

Download

Pre-K Sample

Did you know that members get even more resources? When you join The Measured Mom Plus, you'll get one-click access to hundreds of printables ... and we add new ones each month!

Want to try before you buy? Fill out the form below to get a FREE sample of Pre-K printables from The Measured Mom Plus.

Kindergarten Sample

Download

Kindergarten Sample

Did you know that members get even more resources? When you join The Measured Mom Plus, you'll get one-click access to hundreds of printables ... and we add new ones each month!

Want to try before you buy? Fill out the form below to get a FREE sample of kindergarten printables from The Measured Mom Plus.

1st Grade Sample

Download

1st Grade Sample

Did you know that members get even more resources? When you join The Measured Mom Plus, you'll get one-click access to hundreds of printables ... and we add new ones each month!

Want to try before you buy? Fill out the form below to get a FREE sample of first grade printables from The Measured Mom Plus.

2nd Grade Sample

Download

2nd Grade Sample

Did you know that members get even more resources? When you join The Measured Mom Plus, you'll get one-click access to hundreds of printables ... and we add new ones each month!

Want to try before you buy? Fill out the form below to get a FREE sample of second grade printables from The Measured Mom Plus.

3rd Grade Sample

Download

3rd Grade Sample

Did you know that members get even more resources? When you join The Measured Mom Plus, you'll get one-click access to hundreds of printables ... and we add new ones each month!

Want to try before you buy? Fill out the form below to get a FREE sample of third grade printables from The Measured Mom Plus.

February 13, 2022 •  9 Comments PSPKK123

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

February 12, 2022 •  61 Comments PSPKK123

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

February 6, 2022 •  16 Comments PSPKK123

Why you should include spelling dictation in your phonics lessons

Spelling dictation allows children to apply the sound-spellings you've taught in your phonics lessons. Keep reading to learn best practices for this important activity! When you hear the word dictation, you might visualize an old-school boss dictating a letter to his efficient secretary, who is madly typing on a typewriter. But today I'm talking about spelling dictation. What is spelling dictation? This ... Read More

January 29, 2022 •  30 Comments PSPKK123

How to use blending lines

Today we're going to talk about blending lines - a powerful, easy-to-use tool that will help your students become masters at decoding! It's the fourth post in our 10-part series about teaching phonics. Blending is the stringing of letter sounds to read a word. There are two main types of blending: Successive blendingFinal blending *Weird but important note: Some phonics experts use the terms ... Read More

January 24, 2022 •  6 Comments PSPKK123

How to use a sound wall

I'm sure you heard the buzz about sound walls. Most literacy experts are telling us to replace our word walls with sound walls. And I agree. :) But what exactly IS a sound wall, and how do you use it? We've got the answers in today's post! What is a sound wall? A sound wall is a visual reference to help students when they are reading and spelling. Unlike a word wall, where words are ... Read More

January 17, 2022 •  12 Comments PSPKK123

What order should you teach phonics skills?

We can all agree that teaching phonics is important. But there are SO many skills. Which ones should we teach? And in what order? Today we'll look at my recommended order for teaching phonics skills. Before we get into my recommended order, I want to be clear about a few things. There is no perfect order for teaching phonics skills. When choosing your own scope and sequence (mine or someone ... Read More

January 10, 2022 •  13 Comments PSPKK123

What every teacher should know about the reading wars

The reading wars are alive and well. Should you pay attention or stay out of the debate? Here's what every teacher should know about the reading wars. As a mom of six, I've refereed countless arguments. It wasn't much different in the classroom. I loved my years as a classroom teacher, but I remember how incessant student squabbles can be. The truth is ... I've heard enough bickering to last the ... Read More

  • Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 89
  • Next Page

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” –Matthew 6:33

Copyright © 2023 The Measured Mom •  All rights reserved  •  Privacy & Disclosure Statement  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs