Vocabulary is an important aspect in reading comprehension. If students do not know what the words mean, they cannot understand what they are reading. Research has shown that vocabulary deficiencies are a primary cause of academic failure in grades 3 through 12. (Baumann, Kameenui, Stanovich, & Becker) Unfortunately, too many of our students have…
I am SO excited to have finished this Daily Calendar and Math Vocabulary packet! I really, really, really wanted to have it finished before the TpT sale was over, but it just didn’t happen with the back to school and house moving craziness that is my life right now. I am beyond excited to use…
I am always looking for ways to increase vocabulary instruction in my classroom. One study I read said that when children from families with low incomes were 3 years old, they knew 600 fewer words than children the same age from families with upper incomes. By grade 2, the gap widens to about 4,000 words. Working…
I work in a high poverty school and the majority of our students come to us with little prior knowledge. We struggle every year trying to enhance their vocabulary. In first grade, we really try to put a huge emphasis on phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary development. I have created a weeklong packet to use…
Can you believe April 8th is almost here!? It feels like we’ve been preparing for the Solar Eclipse for such a long time, and it is finally weeks away! Since this event is monumental, it is crucial that teachers explain what it means to students. However, there is a limited amount to guide instruction since…
When students hear the words “President’s Day,” they often think about an extra day off school. However, they must know the reason behind the day. It is a time to celebrate all of the United States Presidents. Serving in this role is such a difficult task, so students must know it is about more than…
Building fluency in students takes a lot of practice, patience, and perseverance. However, all the work involved is worth it, as students need to be fluent readers. Since teachers understand this importance, they find creative ways to improve fluency. For instance, practice does not always need to be in the form of passages. It can…
Phonics instruction is crucial in developing the reading and writing skills of our students. With the right lessons and activities, students do not memorize words. Instead, they gain deep insight into why words have the spellings they do. They learn to sound out unfamiliar words and how vowel teams and blends impact pronunciation. Students even…
Honestly, there are not enough words to describe how hard it is to teach students to read. Since everyone picks up decoding, blending, and segmenting at different speeds, every student is at a different place. While differentiation is critical when learning to read, planning and creating resources can become overwhelming. However, it is essential to…
Did you know September 9th is National Teddy Bear Day in the US and October 27th internationally? This day is always popular among students since they love to cuddle soft teddy bears! So, teachers can celebrate this holiday on the actual day or anytime during the school year! Students will love it no matter when…
When learning to read and write, students often work in a similar progression. For instance, they begin learning individual letters and sounds. Then, they work on putting sounds together to form words. As time continues, students start reading and writing sentences! Since this journey is complex and challenging, teachers work hard to create fun, hands–on…
Learning to read and write takes time, practice, and patience. This is because there are so many skills to learn! For instance, students must know each letter and how they make a sound. Then, they must know the relationships of blends, digraphs, and diphthongs. On top of all this, they have to read and write…
