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Use these books to sneak in meaningful instruction this week
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Hi Reader, December is a blur. Spirit weeks, assemblies, indoor recess… it’s a lot. But here’s one thing that can still feel grounded and meaningful: It’s easy to grab a themed book and speed through it just to check it off the list. But if you slow down and plan for just a few strategic moments, your read-aloud can do so much more. Think oral language. Vocabulary. Comprehension. You don’t need a new activity or a pile of worksheets. You just need to ask the right questions, model your thinking, and make time for students to talk about the book with you and with each other. In my experience, those 10 minutes can lead to deeper discussions, stronger writing, and better understanding, all from one book. If you want to make the most of your read-alouds this season, I pulled together a list of Christmas books that work well for this kind of work. These are high-interest titles with plenty of opportunities to target comprehension and language skills. 🎄 Click here to see my favorite Christmas read-alouds
And if you’re looking for more inclusive or secular options, I have another post of winter-themed books that are cozy, fun, and still perfect for skill-building in this post. xo, P.S. If you’re looking for quick, seasonal activities this week, here are some favorites that keep the learning going with zero prep:
They’re all seasonal, skill-based, and easy to use during this chaotic week. Check them out if you need something ready to go.
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Thrive Literacy Corner
Join 60,000+ educators who want to learn how to easily incorporate the science of reading into their lessons. Get free downloads, weekly tips, and access to sales on literacy resources to help you create more effective and engaging lessons, and ultimately, cultivate strong and confident readers.
Hi Reader, The long U sound can be tricky because it has two different pronunciations—/ū/ (as in music) and /ü/ (as in rule). A great way to help students hear the difference is to sort words into two categories. Write words like cube, unicorn, and use in one column, and words like blue, moon, and truth in another. Then, have students say each word out loud and listen for the two distinct sounds. This simple sort builds awareness and helps them recognize patterns in spelling! Need a visual...
Hi Reader, Teaching phonics rules can feel like a constant challenge—some students get it, while others need constant reminders. Wouldn’t it be great if they had a simple, go-to reference to help them along the way? These phonics anchor charts give K-2 students clear, visual support for tricky phonics rules, helping them decode and spell with confidence. Perfect for classroom displays, phonics notebooks, and small group lessons! No prep—just print and use! Here is everything included in this...
Hi Reader, I received a few questions about why -nk was split into 2 sounds on my worksheets when -ng is not. The simple answer is that -nk is 2 sounds and -ng is 1 sound. Here is an example that helps clarify: Say the word seen. Segment it: /s/ /ē/ /n/ Now say the word sin. Segment it as /s/ /ĭ/ /n/ Now say the word sing. Segment it as /s/ /ē/ /ng/. Notice the /ng/ sound is not the same as the /n/ in seen and sin. Also notice that you don't pronounce the G in /ng/ (you don't hear the same...