October is one of my favorite times in the classroom—the excitement of a new school year hasn’t worn off yet, the weather is starting to cool (at least a little), and fall just begs to be celebrated. Why not sprinkle in some seasonal fun while also building strong reading and writing skills? Here are someContinue reading “🍂 Fun Fall-Themed Literacy Activities for October”
Tag Archives: Reading Literature
12 Fun and Engaging Literacy Activities for Your Classroom
We all know the struggle—keeping students engaged during reading and writing can sometimes feel like an uphill climb. But here’s the good news: when learning is fun, kids actually retain more. Fun activities spark curiosity, build positive emotions, and make reading and writing stick in a way that worksheets alone never could. In other words, whenContinue reading “12 Fun and Engaging Literacy Activities for Your Classroom”
Reading Practice Hiding in Plain Sight
What Skills Are Hiding Inside Your Reading Escape Room? You know that magical teaching moment when your students are so engaged, they don’t even realize how much they’re learning? That’s the sweet spot—and it’s exactly what reading escape rooms were made for. But beyond the fun, these classroom games are packed with real, standards-aligned reading practice. InContinue reading “Reading Practice Hiding in Plain Sight”
🧩 How to Run a Reading Escape Room Without Losing Your Mind
Classroom-Friendly Tips for a Smooth and Successful Experience If you’ve ever wanted to try a reading escape room but felt overwhelmed by the logistics, you’re not alone. The idea of turning your classroom into a mini mystery-solving adventure sounds amazing—but managing groups, papers, and time? That can feel like a lot. Here’s the good news:Continue reading “🧩 How to Run a Reading Escape Room Without Losing Your Mind”
📚 Why Reading Escape Rooms Work in the Elementary Classroom
If your students groan when it’s time for another reading worksheet, it might be time to shake things up—without sacrificing learning. Enter: the Reading Escape Room. These literacy-based adventures are popping up in classrooms everywhere, and for good reason. Reading escape rooms combine engagement, standards-based instruction, and critical thinking in a format that students beg to repeat. So, what makesContinue reading “📚 Why Reading Escape Rooms Work in the Elementary Classroom”
💬 Real Teachers, Real Classrooms: How Sweet Reads + Skills Are Making a Difference
When I first created Sweet Reads + Skills, my dream was simple:To give busy teachers meaningful, easy-to-use reading packs that students would actually enjoy. Now that more classrooms are trying them out, I’ve started hearing from educators who are seeing the results—and I couldn’t be more excited to share some of their stories with you. 🌟Continue reading “💬 Real Teachers, Real Classrooms: How Sweet Reads + Skills Are Making a Difference”
📚 What Are Sweet Reads + Skills Packs? A Peek Inside!
🌸 The Week Everything Felt Off I’ve always loved teaching my ELA block in a way that feels cohesive and connected—where the reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing all build on each other like puzzle pieces. But one week, I just didn’t have the time. I stayed up late pulling together a mix of passages, grammar reviews,Continue reading “📚 What Are Sweet Reads + Skills Packs? A Peek Inside!”
Understanding Structured Literacy: A Comprehensive Approach to Effective Elementary Education
In this article, I will delve into structured literacy, its components, and its significance in elementary education.
Favorite Children’s Christmas Books
I have been reading Christmas books- thinking ahead for you and your classrooms. Love all my readers! Here are three of my favorites.
Making Reading Connections: Text to Text, Text to Self, and Text to World
By incorporating text connections, teachers not only enhance students’ understanding of a book but also promote critical thinking. Students will learn to compare and contrast stories, relate the story to their own experiences, and connect it to the broader world. These connections will deepen their engagement with the book and foster critical thinking skills that extend beyond the pages of the story.
