Understanding phonograms is vital to your child’s success in reading and spelling—but the thought of teaching them may seem intimidating. Fear not! Phonograms are actually very simple to understand and easy to teach.

Let’s start with a quick definition.

Taking the time to review spelling Word Cards is an important part of your child’s day, but sometimes it just doesn’t seem “exciting.” But as we all know, review is what makes learning stick. The more kids review what they have learned, the more they will remember.

In fact, regular review is such an important part of learning to spell that every lesson in All About Spelling includes a review of previously taught skills.

Reading to an active child can be a challenge, but interactive picture books can help your child reap all the benefits of reading aloud together—without forcing him to sit still.

Is your child struggling with handwriting? The cause may be more than just laziness or lack of motivation; it could be a neurologically-based learning issue called dysgraphia. This post explains the signs and symptoms of dysgraphia and the steps you can take to help your child succeed in reading and spelling.

Happy Mother’s Day!

In honor of moms everywhere, we have a special downloadable activity sheet today: “Baby Animal Names!”

When I was growing up, I was always enchanted by the special bond between animal moms and their babies. I was also delighted to learn that there are special names for many animal babies.

Have you heard of Learning Ally?

I first became aware of this wonderful organization back in 2000 when my son’s struggle with Tourette’s syndrome and dyslexia made it difficult for him to focus on text. Back then, the organization was known as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, but in 2011 they became simply Learning Ally.

Continue reading…

Do your children have a hard time sitting still during read-alouds? Many kids do. They can sit still for two minutes, and then—ZOOM!—they are off. There are so many interesting things to do at any given time. There are block towers to construct, cool insects to check out, computer games to play, and physical feats to perform. Sometimes all at once! Life is great!

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!

What Is Print Awareness?

A child who has print awareness understands that print represents words that have meaning and are related to spoken language.

Spring is Here!

Springtime is that wonderful time of year when life bursts forth—trees and flowers bloom, lambs and calves are born, and baby chicks emerge from their eggs.

And here’s a great way to hatch some springtime fun in your kitchen!

Welcome to our mini teaching guide on suffixes! In this post, you’ll find many different tools to help you teach suffixes to your child, as well as downloadable resources and activities. Let’s dig in!

Have you ever taught your child something one day, only to have him completely forget it the next? That is one of the most frustrating things as a teacher, isn’t it? One of your main goals is to make reading and spelling “stick” in your child’s brain, and this blog post will give you solid techniques for doing just that.