Children who are able to segment and blend sounds will be able to apply this knowledge to spelling and reading more easily than those that have not yet mastered these skills. First, let’s define the two processes.  Phoneme segmentation is the process of breaking a word up into its individual sounds.  For example, saying the...Read More

Sound isolation is the ability to isolate a single sound from within a word.  Children usually master initial sound isolation in the middle of kindergarten, and final and medial sound isolation at the end of kindergarten or early first grade.  Phoneme (sound) isolation is a very important step in early literacy development. Kids that have...Read More

Rime or rhyme?  What’s the difference?  Rimes rhyme, but not all rhymes are rimes.  Easy peasy, right?  (See what I did there?) Rimes are word parts that refer to a specific spelling pattern, and rimes of the same word family will rhyme.  Rimes begin with a vowel sound and end before the next vowel sound. ...Read More

Are you looking for some Valentine’s Day activities to do at home?  Check out some simple activities you can do at home as well as a free math printable for your child to complete! Write Notes of Kindness Valentine’s Day is about being kind to one another and spending time with the people you love. ...Read More

We’ve probably all had experience with virtual learning in some form or fashion over the past year.  As a parent, you may be wondering, “How will my child connect with his/her teacher in the same way they do at their brick-and-mortar school?”  This can be challenging in any virtual learning environment (K-12, tutoring, accelerated programs,...Read More

Strong Foundational Skills If you have ever seen a child struggle when sounding out a word, chances are there are gaps in their phonological awareness skills. The great news is that getting a head start on building this foundational skill is easy to do and is most impactful if done early. I often think about...Read More

The Importance of Conversation Babies are born wired to pay attention to sound and language. Starting from a very young age it is important to engage in meaningful conversations with children. This could be as simple as talking to your child about the world around them – describing people, events, and places to them in...Read More

Relationships are IMPORTANT! As an elementary teacher in a public school, one of my favorite aspects of the job was truly getting to know my students. Each year, I welcomed a new group of students with eager and open arms. I couldn’t wait to discover their unique interests, likes, dislikes, and learning styles. I watched...Read More

Do I have to read that book again? Are you sick of Brown Bear? Have you read Goodnight Moon more times than you can count? Why do kids ask to read the same books over and over again and do I have to read it again? Kids love to hear the same stories more than...Read More

Does anyone else get nervous before parent-teacher conferences? Is it just me? Walking into a parent-teacher conference feels a little bit like walking into the lion’s den. Here’s the thing…I’m the teacher. Yea…it’s hard on all of us. I am the teacher, but I am also a parent. And I know the stress from both...Read More