When to use K or CK at the end of a word? Enjoy Apple Jacks!

Playing a game while eating a snack or a meal, takes the “homework” feel out of teaching literacy. For more Eat Your Words activities, follow along on Instagram.

Is there a better way to teach spelling than with sugar cereal!? Thank you, Apple Jacks, for taking me back to my childhood. Download this free worksheet to practice spelling words that end in -k or -ck.

Teach children that the -ck spelling only comes at the end of a word right after a short vowel. When I teach this rule, I often need to reteach or review short vowels and consonants. So on the first worksheet in my download, your kids will cut and paste the words into two categories: words where the /c/ sound comes after a consonant and then those that the /c/ sound comes after a short vowel. On the second worksheet, they can practice spelling the words. And finally, if you bribed them as I did, they can make an Apple Jack Necklace! They can add a little fine motor practice (and sugar) into spelling for the day.

When you double a letter, remember to FLOSS

Playing a game while eating a snack or a meal, takes the “homework” feel out of teaching literacy. For more Eat Your Words activities, follow along on Instagram.

One of the first spelling rules children can learn after they understand short vowels is the doubling rule. When a ONE syllable letter word ends in F, L, S (or Z) and the letter comes right after a short vowel, the F, L, S, or Z is doubled. Words like kiss, bell, hill, chill, fluff, huff, miff, mess, drill, pass, miss, fill, still, sniff, and so on!

Hershey KISSes for dessert tonight with a side of spelling. Done and done!

As always in the English language, there are exceptions. Words that end in S where the S makes the /Z/ sound do not apply, such as dogs or bugs. Red words should be taught as sight words when possible, such as the word was. Two syllable words or words with more than one vowel do not apply. The word awful does not apply because it has two syllables; tail or foil would not apply because each has a vowel team.

As always, let me know if you try this at home! Don’t forget the free printable!

Building short vowel CVC words

Playing a game while eating a snack or a meal, takes the “homework” feel out of teaching literacy. For more Eat Your Words activities follow along on Instagram.

Build Short Vowel CVC Words

Do you sometimes feel like your child needs to go back to the basics to practice foundational spelling rules?  I’m taking it back to the beginning of the phonics sequence for Eat Your Words this week. (Don't miss the free printable.)

Materials:

All you will need is two different color markers and paper.

Steps:

1. First, write all five vowels and cut them out in squares. 

2. Write a few three-letter words, leaving out the vowel. For example, m_p (can become mop or map) c_t can become cut, cat, cot. Others you can try d_b, h_d, l_d, n_p, p_t, r_d, r_g, s_t, t_b, v_t, z_p. Anything works and they even need to be real words! I avoid words that end in n or m because it changes the sound of the short a and can be confusing, but it's still doable if you want to try it. 

3. Let your child move the vowels around and see what words they can make.

4. Finally, draw and spell the words! 

5. If you want to go the extra mile, pair it with a snack that also has a short vowel pair this activity like mixed nuts or Chex Mix.  

Here's what you are teaching (without teaching):  

• Remind kids that short vowel sounds can be held in one breath (unlike long vowels that say their name). Demonstrate a aaaaaaaaple, e eeeeeee elephant, I iiiiiiiiguana, ooooooooctupus, uuuuuumbrella.

• Remind kids that every single word must have a vowel.

Finally, to help kids transfer these vowel sounds into their writing, it's helpful to have a visual in your house. Click the link in my profile to download one for free. 

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Playing a game while eating a snack or a meal, takes the “homework” feel out of teaching literacy. For more Eat Your Words activities follow along on Instagram.

Who said learning parts of speech needs to be dull? We can all use a laugh right now, so for this week’s Eat Your Words I made a Thanksgiving Mad Libs for you and your family! Download for free without an email address here.

Printable Phonics Scavenger Hunts

Playing is the best way to learn! You are igniting all of your senses while also learning how to spell. A fun way to do this is to go on a scavenger hunt and simply point out the sounds you hear in CVC (consonant, short vowel, consonant) words. At night or during a read aloud, you might then strategically pick a book that repeats a short vowel sound!

If you need a refresher, short vowels are the sounds you can hold - a as in apple, e as in elephant, i as in igloo, o as in octopus (the sound you make when you open your mouth for the doctor), u as in umbrella.

You can then look for digraph sounds - two letters that make one sound. These sounds are sh as in ship, ck as in duck, ch as in chip, wh as in whistle, th as in thimble.

When your kids have a firm grasp of short vowels and digraphs, they can learn the silent -e rule and long vowels. When there is a silent -e at the end of a word, the vowel says its name. Long vowels sounds are a as in ape, e as in eagle, i as in ice cream, o as in oboe and u as in unicorn. There is no need to teach vowel teams at this point such as -ea or -ee because that can be confusing at this stage. We want our kids to feel confident by mastering skills one at a time. I hope you have a great time exploring with these scavenger hunts! If you go and play, let me know. I would love to see or you can share it here.

Journals to Keep Kids Writing in Fun Ways

You, Me, We! by Erin Jang. A pack of two journals, one for you and one for your child. Some writing prompts only require a checkmark with two choices, others writing or some with opportunities to draw. Not only will you have the chance to bond with your child, but it will keep them writing while school is out.

This Is How I Do: One Day in the Life of You and 59 Read Kids From Around the World by Matt Lamothe. This journal allows kids to document their daily lives like what they eat for breakfast, where they sleep, and who makes up their family, while learning about these parts of the lives of children around the world. It comes with stickers and postcards to send to friends.

Write On: My Story Journal by Wee Society. From the creators of Me: A Compendium, this journal provides so many different ways to create a story. It prompts little writers with pictures, fill in the blank stories and genre introductions, including poetry and tall tales. Wee Society has lots of options, some that appeal to younger writers than this one, including Yay! A Celbration of You and Go! A Kid’s Interactive Travel Diary and Journal.

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal For Kids by Modern Kids Press. This journal allows the child to keep track of ways to express gratitude. Each day it prompts the writer to list three things they are thankful for, circle an emotion that displays their feelings, and illustrate their ideas. I believe that keeping track of the things we are grateful for increases our happiness and it’s a great habit for kids to start early.

Just Between Us by Meredith Jacobs and Sophie Jacobs. There is a journal for mom and daughter, mom and son, and between sisters. This journal is geared to older children and will prompt beautiful conversations and allow you to document sweet shared moments.

Ways to improve reading comprehension for kids

My goal as a reading specialist and former social worker is to maintain excitement, confidence, and interest in reading during those years that kids are still learning the mechanics. I care more about a child’s confidence and identity as a learner than their “reading level.”

There are lots of ways to keep kids feeling good about themselves and motivated. One way is to make things easier by helping them organize their thoughts visually. Writing their ideas or drawing them also increases executive functioning skills, which are important and often lacking in today’s digital world. Print these graphic organizers to help your child strengthen comprehension skills and learn the text structure of any story.

This pyramid below shows the five components of reading and how each concept builds on the other to allow children to truly experience a book. Comprehension is the entire point of reading, which might sound obvious. If you picture a beginning reader sounding out words, you will notice that most of our young readers aren’t able to understand what they are reading. Their brains are focused on remembering each letter’s sound. That’s why most kids are learning to read until third grade and then reading to learn after third grade.

If your child is still mastering the mechanics of spelling and reading, they can still utilize the organizers with drawings. If they struggle with writing, write for them. It’s completely ok for a child to focus on practicing one concept like comprehension while you help them with the mechanics. Otherwise, frustration will prevent them from enjoying the purpose of the activity. Let me know how this works for you and your child!

30 children's books to read and then watch the movie

With so much time at home and balancing work and school, there is inevitably going to be a surplus of screen time. To make the time a little more intentional and connect it to school, try incorporating some of these children’s books into your nightly reading so that you can later share the movie with your family.

Enjoy!

Picture Books

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

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Boss Baby by Marla Frazee

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The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

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The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant by Jean De Brunhoff

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Shrek by William Steig

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Hair Love by Matthew Cherry

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Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

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Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

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A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

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Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

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Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

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How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

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The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

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Chapter Books

Stuart Little by E.B. White

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James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

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Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater

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The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

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Matilda by Roald Dahl

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Holes by Louis Sachar

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Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

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Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

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The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

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Charlotte’s Webb by E.B. White

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Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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Series

Harry Potter J.K. Rowling

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Captain Underpants by Dad Pilkey

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Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

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The LIttle Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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Label your home! Promote emerging literacy skills

One of the simplest ways to promote early literacy skills is to label your home. Print or simply write these labels and tape them to objects around your house. Seeing the labels will promote print awareness in many ways. Young children will begin to notice words that start with the same sounds. Some older children will begin to internalize the spelling by seeing it each day. Simply talking about the labels and the different words for each object is great for young kids.

Your kids can cut the words and tape them around the house.

Older children might enjoy making it into a game. Find all of the items that start with the /l/ sound. Want to add a math activity? Make a bar graph of how many words you labeled that begin with /d/ and how many start with /l/. For example, desk, door, dresser, etc. vs L words: light, lightbulb, lamp, laminator, etc. 

Enjoy!

Books for Progressing Readers, Fountas & Pinnell Level K,L & DRA 18 - 20

There's a lot of controversy about sharing a child's reading level. I like to think of it this way: you would never walk into an advanced tennis class before picking up a racket, right? You want to practice new skills on your skill level in a way that teaches the concepts you are working on while also challenging you to the extent that makes you feel engaged, confident and ready to try again.

Learning to read is similar. My short advice: let kids explore all books, while also reading a few books on their reading level to stretch and grow their skills. Present the leveled books as a gift and a special time together rather than a punishment. My hope is that these lists help parents provide the right books for their kids so that all kids become confident readers!

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Cordurouy by Don Freeman

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett

What Do You Do WIth a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Zen Shorts by

Owen by Kevin Henkes

Martin's Big Words

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stat Up Late! by Mo Willems

 Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston

 Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Books for Progressing Readers, Fountas & Pinnell Level I, J & DRA 16 - 20

There's a lot of controversy about sharing a child's reading level. I like to think of it this way: you would never walk into an advanced tennis class before picking up a racket, right? You want to practice new skills on your skill level in a way that teaches the concepts you are working on while also challenging you to the extent that makes you feel engaged, confident and ready to try again.

Learning to read is similar. My short advice: let kids explore all books, while also reading a few books on their reading level to stretch and grow their skills. Present the leveled books as a gift and a special time together rather than a punishment. My hope is that these lists help parents provide the right books for their kids so that all kids become confident readers!

I Want My Hate Back by Jon Klassen

Hush! A Thai Lullabye by Minfong Ho

Rap A Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles - Think of That! by Leo & Diane Dillon

Blackout by John Rocco

We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury

Noisy, Nora by Rosemary Wells

Leo The Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

A Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Harry, The Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Is My Child on Track? Literacy Milestones from Infancy Through Third Grade

When you become a new parent, there is an overload of information. It seems there are a million markers, tests and charts to ensure your child is on track and the pediatrician is walking right alongside every week to check off your child’s progress. There is a marker for every little hiccup in early childhood, but then when our kids enter school, milestones can feel vague and confusing. It seems you must wait for the report card or progress report to know if your child is progressing.

To provide a little help, I've created a short write-up of literacy milestones to look for and encourage in your child from birth through third grade. You might cringe when kids begin to recognize the C or M for Chick-fil-a and McDonalds because now you are going to need to stop for a snack, but this is actually a positive sign. They are learning to read logos and symbols, and this skill will help them when they learn to match a sound to a letter shape. To get the developmental chart click the link below and I’ll send it to your inbox. As always, let me know if you have any questions or ways that I can help!

15 picture books that teach short vowels

When children first begin reading, they need to master short vowel sounds. By learning the sounds before moving on to more complex phonics patterns, this will decrease later confusions or struggles, particularly in spelling.

It's probably been a minute since you discussed long and short vowels, so if you need a refresher, short vowel sounds are the ones you hold in one breath. Ahhh or o as in octupus (ahhhh-octupus), a as in apple, e as in elephant, i as in igloo, and u as in umbrella.

Reading these engaging books at nighttime or during a “spelling” time lets kids hear the sounds within context. This activity is more interesting and engaging than copying the sound onto worksheets or only reading decodable books.

If you are able to incorporate one of these books in your nightly read when you know your child is studying a particular vowel at school, you will see their eyes light up. “I know this sound! We just learned it in class!” You might also stop during a walk or a drive to point out the /o/ in the stop sign or /e/ for the eggs you are eating for breakfast.

Short vowel A as in apple

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel

This book appeals to all age groups, and beginning readers and spellers will love being able to spell and repeat the word c-a-t. It’s rhythmic so kids can join in and carries a deeper message for children and adults about perspective.

Read online here.

The Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Similar to They All Saw A Cat, this simply-worded book shares a more profound theme. Many see the stone, and each sees something different. You will need to point out the /a/ in the word sat, map, maze, haven, stage etc because it’s less repetitive. It’s a nice follow-up book to They All Saw A Cat.

Read online here.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Hilarious for all ages. Bear wants his hat back and goes about politely asking every animal he sees if they have seen it.

Read online here.

Short E for elephant

Egg by Kevin Henkes

This book is perfect for preschool students and beginner readers. It’s repetition is intuitive, and kids can join in and read along or easily retell it. Another classic is An Extrodinary Egg by Leo Lionni.

Read by the author here.

Nanette’s Baguette by Mo Williems

Nanette’s Baguette is silly but also relatable for all children, as the child allows temptation to get in the way of her task. Share a baguette for dinner while playing around with short /e/ words: fret, met, bet, wet, gazette, florette, forget, and so on.

Read online here.

Henny Penny by Paul Galdone

A classic, Henny Penny, will remind you of your own childhood. You can reread it to your child and simply point out the /e/ sound in Henry, Penny, Lenny, Denny. It might inspire a rhyming game or conversation!

Read online here.

If you are looking for something newer, try Henny, Penny, Lenny, Denny and Mike by Cynthia Rylant.

Short I for igloo

Ish! by Peter H. Reynolds

Ish is not only great for phonics but also for helping children deal with perfectionism and making mistakes. Emily Arrow sings a fun song to go along with it here.

Read aloud here.

Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

Clever and beautiful, Inch by Inch tells the story of an inchworm who measures everything. Then a bird demands that he measure his song or else he will be eaten. It’s Mine by Leo Leoni is another classic that repeats the short /i/ sound and is helpful in teaching sharing.

Read online here.

Mrs. Wishy-Washy by Joy Cowley

Another classic! Teachers have used Mrs. Wishy-Washy for decades. The book is so beloved that it’s hard to track down a hardcopy these days. You might consider writing out the story on construction paper and make it into a little book, allowing your child to illustrate each page.

Read online here.

Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan

Rubina is invited to her first birthday party. She’s beyond excited to attend but her mother will only allow her to go if she takes her little sister along.

Read online here.

Odd Dog by Claudia Boldt

Peanut, the dog, enjoys eating apples instead of dog bones. It might be fun to discuss other things your child finds odd.

Rot, The Cutest in the World! by Ben Claton

Rot is a mutant potato and enters a contest to compete for the position of “cutest in the world!” He discovers the competition is stiff but has confidence. Keep your eye out on the next book, Rot, The Bravest In the World!

Read online here

Shor U for umbrella

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

This is fun for both parents and children. It’s also a good title to include for emotional intelligence. It teaches that it’s ok to be grumpy sometimes, we all have moods. You can point out the /u/ sound like up, umbrella, grump. It also includes the short /i/ sound as Jim is the Chimp.

Read online here.

Stuck! by Oliver Jeffers

Stuck is delightful. You can point out the short u sound like umbrella, up, under, underwear. If your child is a little more progressed (or you are reading to different ages), you can also point out the -ck diagrah. The -ck diagraph only comes at the end of a word, right after a short vowel. Oh, look, short u means ck is the /c/ sound. This book is also fun for sequencing.

Read online here.

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This book is so imaginative, creative and funny! You can’t go wrong with an Amy Krouse Rosenthall book. And again, you can focus on the /u/ sounds or add the -ck spelling rule. It’s also one that young children will likely memorize and want to “read” independently.

Read online here.

Engaging Books for Beginning and Progressing Readers: Fountas & Pinnell Level G, H & DRA Level 12 - 14

There's a lot of controversy about sharing a child's reading level. I like to think of it this way: you would never walk into an advanced tennis class before picking up a racket, right? You want to practice new skills on your skill level in a way that teaches the concepts you are working on while also challenging you to the extent that makes you feel engaged, confident and ready to try again.

Learning to read is similar. My short advice: let kids explore all books, while also reading a few books on their reading level to stretch and grow their skills. Present the leveled books as a gift and a special time together rather than a punishment. My hope is that these lists help parents provide the right books for their kids so that all kids become confident readers!

Hondo & Fabian by Peter McCarty. 

Pouch! by David Ezra Stein.

Swimmy By Leo Lionni. 

Draw Me A Star by Eric Carle. 

A Kiss for Little Bear by Maurice Sendak. 

Are you Ready to Play Outside?  Mo Willems

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes. 

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang.

The Pidgeon Has Feelings, Too! Mo Willems

Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr, Eric Carle. 

The Carrott Seed by Ruth Krauss

Freight Train by Donald Crews

For other books on a Level G/H consider the favorites by Mo Williams. The appropriate titles on this particular level include I Really Like Slop, The Big Guy Took My Ball, There Is a Bird on Your Head and Are You Ready to Play Outside? 

Books to Read After BOB books

Fountas & Pinnell Level E/F, DRA 8-10

There's a lot of controversy about sharing a child's reading level. I like to think of it this way: you would never walk into an advanced tennis class before picking up a racket, right? You want to practice new skills on your skill level in a way that teaches the concepts you are working on while also challenging you to the extent that makes you feel engaged, confident and ready to try again. 

Learning to read is similar. My short advice: let kids explore all books, while also reading a few books on their reading level to stretch and grow their skills. Present the leveled books as a reward and a special time together rather than a punishment. My hope is that these lists help parents provide the right books for their kids so that all kids become confident readers!

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales

Not A Stick and Not A Box by Antoinette Portis

You Are (Not) Small! Boxed Set by Anna Kang. If you want to dip your toe in, try You Are (Not) Small first.

Today Is Monday by Eric Carle

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? by Eric Carle

A Color of His Own By Leo Lionni. F

Fly High, Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold. (f)

The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra Barracca and Sal Barracca, Illustrated by Mark Buehner. (E)

This Is the House That Jack Built by Simms Taback. (F)

The Cat and the Bird in the Hat by Norman Bridwell. (E)

This Little Chick by John Lawrence. (e)

My Favorite Bear by Andrea Gabriel. (e)

Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Denise Fleming. (f)

Other book on this exact level include:

• The Ear Book

• Go, Dog Go

• Inside Outside Upside Down

• Pete the Cat and the Surprise Teacher

• Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach

• Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School

If your new reader becomes interested in Pete then pair these books with nighttime read-alouds, that you read to your child. Another classic and general crowd pleaser to read after BOB books is Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. 



Picture Books for Children’s Worries and Anxieties

Image by Sixth & Berry

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall. Each child copes with worries in their own way. Sometimes kids feel ready and even appear overly confident but find out that feeling scared is just part of trying something new. Jabari Jumps is a relatable and straightforward story. Jabari practiced and passed his swim test but stalls when it’s time to climb to the top of the diving board. When Jabari finds the courage, the author shows how proud he feels and even excited to try more difficult tasks.

Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna. From the author of The Journey, Sanna continues the beautiful story of immigration, as a young girl settles into a new country and school. This book shows a type of courage and anxiety that not every child will experience, but each can relate to in some way. If you haven’t read The Journey to your children, I encourage you to do so. It is a beautiful and moving book about a refugee family and the sacrifices they make for safety and security.

What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada, Illustrated by Mae Besom. From the creators of What Do You Do With an Idea? and What Do You Do With a Chance? this book is helpful for all ages. I recently read it to a group of 6th graders who were creating academic goals for the school year. The author shows how opportunities lie in every part of our lives, even the difficult ones.

How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear? by Jayneen Sanders, Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman. How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear? is one that can help the child who is always thinking of the next thing on the agenda. Little Bear is a thoughtful and helpful read for parents and children and comes with discussion questions for each age group.

Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival. Ruby is, in fact, a happy child, as most kids with regular worries are. Yet when she meets her first worry, she realizes it’s hard to make it go away all on her own. Something about this book reminds me of the way that Headspace presents worries and anxieties. I’ve been using the kid’s modules in the Headspace app in my classroom. Meditation is making a huge difference in my students’ ability to focus.

The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. This book provides the vital message that you don’t need to be great at everything or anything to try out a new activity. We just need to have fun trying new things!

The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken. The illustrations and colors in The Book of Mistakes make it a beautiful gift for both a child or an adult. If I’m being honest, I like this book more than my kids do. The author shows how an artist can turn splotches and ink splatters into beautiful works of art. The author and illustrator also recently presented an exercise in Kazoo magazine for young girls in an article, Finding Beauty in Blunders.

After The Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat. Ever wonder why Humpty Dumpty was sitting on the wall in the first place? He’s a bird watcher, of course! This adorable book shows what happens after Humpty’s fall and highlights the courage and resilience that is within all of our children.

It’s Okay to Make Mistakes by Todd Parr. It seems Todd Parr is the Chicken Soup for the Soul messenger for children. He has a way of explaining the most relevant and complicated topics in the simplest manner that has all children nodding and agreeing. Also be sure to check out the I’M NOT SCARED Book.

The Best Toys for Young Readers

Photo by Jayden Balogun

You want your child to have beneficial toys but don’t want to waste your money on tons of plastic things that clutter your home. You want to feel like your toys are developmentally appropriate but don’t want to bombard them with “school” time at home. I hear you! The following list includes my favorite toys and activities for young readers that I’ve come across in the past decade of being a reading specialist. You will find the items listed by developmental stages with a little note about why I appreciate these toys over the many options on the market. Enjoy! 

Beginning Readers

Bingo - These simple games are popular both in school and at home. I use the vowel, initial consonant, and sight words bingo in tutoring and at home.

Bananagrams – This particular Bananagram is most useful to beginning readers because the short vowels and blends are identified and categorized by color. Even while children are learning how to read basic words, they can build them and sound them out by recognizing that each word can be made by putting together two consonants and a vowel. As your child progresses, then you can add in the blends, which ideally come as one piece or one Bananagram.

Phonemic Awareness Linking Letter Cubes - Another toy that identifies the short vowels by color and allows kids to interact and manipulate the entire word and match it with a picture. 

Magnatab – Another Kid-O product, the magnatabs help children feel the formation of each letter as the magnets slides over the letter formation. The brand offers both print and cursive versions, as well as upper and lowercase versions. One reading specialist tip for parents of children who greatly struggle with writing speed is to consider teaching cursive before print, as this method is actually easier to learn first. 

Advancing Readers

Sentence Building Games - As children progress in their reading and writing skills, it’s harder to find engaging and challenging toys. I like this fun sentence builder and this advanced version. The activity can be extended by either writing the sentence on a white board for beginners or using the silly sentences as a story writing prompt for older students.  

Phonics Dominos - This phonics toy is similar to the cubes above, however, the toy below is slightly more advanced because your child must determine how to manipulate and generate words without simply rhyming. The short vowels set is good for beginner and pre-readers, the blends set is good for advancing and the long vowels set should be used for advanced readers. This toy can be used as a bridge into more complicated word games like Boggle and Scrabble. 

Story Cubes - Once children are reading fluently, they will find it more fun to make their own stories as they grasp story structures and plots. Story Cubes allow them to both master structure and also develop their own stories. Once they start writing be sure to check out the Story Pirates podcast! 

Book Making Kit - If you have a budding author on your hands, give them the gift of seeing their own words in print. The My Awesome Book kit helps your child write a story and the Illustory brand offers a Comic Book version.  

Picture Books to Teach Sight Words

Sight words make up over half of all the words children are reading. I love teaching sight words in creative ways because it can be a lot of fun and helpful, but overall, any new concept we learn is most easily retained when we discover it within context. In other words, it's more meaningful when we read the word in a book rather than simply write it a few times. One easy way to do this is to utilize rich and interesting picture books that repeat sight words. Try reading these books at night for bedtime or when your child is practicing sight words.

I Am Enough by Grace Byers. "Like the bird, I'm here to fly and soar high over everything. Like the trees, I'm here to grow. Like the mountains, I'm here to stand." Besides teaching the sight words, I, am and like, this book has a powerful, necessary message for all children and adults. 

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. This silly story is rich in sight words and repetition. A great place to start is to teach the word 'seen' before reading the book. Children can read this story over and over again to practice fluency. After reading it a few times independently, they will grasp the humor.  

Why Am I Me? by Paige Britt, Illustrated by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls. This picture book can provide very deep conversations with older children, and also simple but necessary teachings for younger children. The story asks the question, "Why am I me ...and not you?... Why is everyone who they are?" Examining humanity, children develop empathy for others through guided conversations. 

Home by Carson Ellis. The sight words home, are, and is are repeated throughout this book. It's a visually stunning book that reminds us we don't come from the same places or surroundings, yet love can make a home anywhere. It's also a great one to read when preparing your kids for a move. 

When's My Birthday? by Julie Fogiliano, Illustrated by Christopher Robinson. I mean, who doesn't love planning their birthday? This book is perfect for children who already have a few sight words under their belt. I'm also a sucker for all Christopher Robinson books. If your child can read short phrases, then they might enjoy When's My Birthday?

Wait by Antoinette Portis. Every parent and child can relate to hectic mornings. This book tells the story of a mom who is in a hurry and a child who needs to stop to observe every single beautiful thing about their journey to school. The entire book consists of only two words, hurry and wait. Children can read it to themselves after being introduced. It would be fun to extend the reading with this sight word activity afterward. 

Now by Antoinette Portis. Portis really knows how to present repetition in a beautiful way. Each page in this book begins with, "This is my favorite..." The book shows a girl going about her day and experiencing each moment as her favorite. A reminder to us all to be fully present.

Egg by Kevin Henkes. Egg presents words in a systematic and graphically stunning way. The author repeats words such as wait and crack over and over again on a single page so kiddos can discover the word once and then practice it. Preschool students through first graders enjoy this book. 

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzal. This book delivers both repetition and a socially conscious message. Teach the word saw. Read the story to your child and stop when you come to the word saw, letting your child chime in. This practice takes some pressure off and helps to build confidence.