We think every day is the right day to celebrate the work of educators. So, for every single teacher committed to making our schools better places for kids, this one’s for you. Today, we celebrate educators. We celebrate those committed to finding more ways to make...

As more and more schools are making shifts to more brain-friendly practices, many have embraced the idea of marking certain parts of a high-frequency word with a heart, a star, or a surprise face. Chances are you have, too! And whatever the symbol you use, your...

Listening to proficient readers, it is easy to assume that the word you hear them say is the word their brain is processing. From the outside-in, it just looks like their comprehension coincides with the words they are saying. But this is one of the places where...

Friends, When we wrote our little book, Shifting the Balance: 6 Ways to Bring the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom, we wanted it to be an invitation for balanced literacy educators to take an honest second look at some current practices. Turns...

We love it when educators ask for something to simplify their busy lives, and we can find a way to make it happen! Since our Fall 2022 blog series highlighting our structured (but flexible) Phonics Lesson Template, we’ve had a number of people ask if we could offer an...

In this Decodable Text Series, we’ve been exploring questions about the place, the purpose, and the practicality of using decodable texts with beginning readers. You can catch up here if you’ve missed our previous posts. Today’s question:  What are some other...

Tax-free. Gluten-free. Free sample. Free time. Free shipping. Free parking. Who doesn’t love a freebie? We know we do! And, if you love free stuff, then Part 5 of our “Decodable Texts: Question and Answer Series” is for you! Here we begin to tackle the question: What...

Last week we launched a series focused on questions and answers about the very hot topic of decodable texts. We explored what decodable texts are, why they are important, and who really needs them. You can revisit that post here. This week we are thinking about your...

Decodable texts! Conversations about them seem to be popping up everywhere these days! If we’re honest, we have to admit that we both started this journey with a whole bunch of baggage that left us feeling more than a little bit leery of decodable texts. But more and...

It’s tempting to look for research to prove an opinion we already hold and feel deeply committed to. Kari loves dark chocolate. And she knows there’s research that shows it has many sweet benefits. Jan loves coffee. And she’s relieved to know there’s research to show...

Last week, we shared 5 adjustments that can help you bring small-group instruction for early decoders more in line with your other shifts to early literacy instruction. If you missed it, you can find that post here. We hope that you have taken some time this week to...

What about small-group instruction? What changes in light of new learning? What stays the same? If you're like many of the educators we work with, questions like these are top of mind as you consider shifts to more brain-friendly literacy instruction for early...

Have you ever set out to make a big purchase like a washing machine (TV, car, computer), only to discover that you don’t know enough about the two options to make an informed decision? Chances are you’ve been there. You’ve been standing on the sales floor of your...

After our last blog series exploring each component of our Explicit Phonics Lesson Template, we knew we had to revisit one component in particular: Explicit Skill Practice. In our initial post about this lesson component, we looked at the focused skill practice from...

Today’s post introduces the final component of our Explicit Phonics Lesson Template. Your readers have made it to the finish line. They’re ready to read connected text! Having navigated the previous components of the template, you’ve provided a supportive base for...

We’ve all had them! The kind of days when you just need to call a teacher friend on the way home from school to talk to someone who just “gets it.” This is your person! The one who offers a listening ear, offering empathy, and encouragement. And the great thing about...