The Soft C Rule is an easy way to determine when the letter c in a word is pronounced as a “soft” c using the /s/ sound. Mastering this useful rule makes words that have a c easier to spell and is crucial for long-term reading fluency.

Take a quick spin with Bumble in this fun, short video as he reviews the Soft C Rule. Then read on for a sample lesson, a free practice activity, and a printable Soft C Rule poster featuring everyone’s favorite spelling bee … Bumble!

Before we discuss this LOL, auto- and spell-correcting world we live in, there is one thing we want to be sure you take away from this post:

There is no question that spelling matters to early learners. Learning the foundational elements of the language they will use for the rest of their lives is essential.

Continue reading…

We hear from many parents whose children struggle with blending adjacent consonants.

When you think about it, the jump from three-letter words to even just four-letter words is actually a big leap for early learners. They must master a new concept – blending consonant sounds together without a vowel in between. In addition, there are also many different consonant blends to learn.

Need Free Teaching Resources?

Yes, please!

Whether you’re teaching your children at home for the first time or have been a homeschooler for decades, having great teaching resources at your fingertips is an invaluable asset.

Continue reading…

If you’re looking for some great ways to teach your child to read with expression, you’ve come to the right place! Read on to download a fun printable activity and then read our top five tips.

Continue reading…

Turn reading or spelling practice into a work of art! 

Practice makes perfect, and this engaging hands-on activity is the perfect way to practice reading and spelling lesson words. The world’s most beautiful butterflies are ready to flutter into your home, so let’s get going before they fly away!

Continue reading…

Many English words come from Latin roots, so becoming familiar with these roots will naturally make reading and spelling easier. But studying word roots is really boring, right?

No! At least, it doesn’t have to be. And Word Trees are my favorite way to teach words derived from Latin roots—and make it engaging to boot!

Continue reading…

From buds on trees to sprouting seeds and baby animals, there’s always something new to discover when winter melts away and new life begins to blossom. Celebrate spring with this delightful collection of picture books.

Continue reading…

Looking for a fun way to review phonograms? “Swatting Phonograms” is a fantastic hands-on activity that your child will love! It’s fast paced, engaging … and just a little bit gross. Perfect!

Continue reading…

Go ahead and make a mistake.

It’s okay. Really, it is.

Life is full of “oops” moments and there’s no time like the present to start embracing your oops. The next time you think you’ve made a mistake, look at it as an opportunity to make something beautiful! At least that’s what the author of this ingenious children’s book thinks.

We often talk about the importance of mastery-based, multisensory lessons, but it’s also important to make learning to read FUN—and engaging games and activities may be just the ticket to make that happen! Helping kids develop a love for reading can then lead to increased focus and more efficient learning during reading time. Reading incentives like games and activities can sometimes be just the push that a struggling learner needs to advance.

Imagine this: a home library filled with an assortment of books on all subjects. Your kids can explore interesting topics, dive deep into imaginary worlds, and read to their hearts’ content. You’re cultivating their love of reading with each and every book you add to your collection. There’s just one catch: building a home library can be a daunting and expensive task.