Spelling! Okay. Now I’m ready to talk about spelling instruction. We all know the plan. Get the words Monday, repetition repetition repetition – test on Friday. Sometimes it seems like not much has changed. I’m not going to talk...

I’ll be the waiter, you be the person having dinner…” Holding a pad of paper, “What would you like to have for dinner today? The child then scribbles fake words on the pad as the other child places their order – mac and cheese and an ice...

I haven’t posted here in my reading blog for a while. That’s because I’ve been caught up in a huge life project. Let me tell you all about it… One day, after being particularly disenfranchised with the world of higher education, I had this...

Spelling is intricately related to many literacy processes. Reading and spelling. Writing and spelling. We even see (sometimes misguided) connections between vocabulary and spelling practice. It is not easy to break apart spelling from other literacy...

Press Here, by Herve Tullet. This was the first book by Herve Tullet that I discovered and one of my favorites, though I do like a few of his others, too. It is wonderfully interactive as it invites kids to be a part of the book through simple...

I have to admit that I’m most excited to talk about choices for read alouds because children’s books are my thing. Honestly, children come in to my house and are astounded by the kids books they see. And, though my kids have pretty full...

Now that we know that there are many good reasons to read aloud, it’s time to think about how to go about it. There’s a lot of resources out there on how to read aloud. Seems silly, right? Pick up a book and read. Sometimes that’s all there...

You’ve heard it from everyone. You know to do it. But why? how? what to read? Some nights, you’re just so tired. Other afternoons, you’re just so busy. Your child has learned to read on their own, so you feel a little relieved that you can...