Caleb was in the second grade. He wasn’t able to read at all. In addition, he had a severe language delay and struggled to piece together 2-3 word sentences. His speech was incomprehensible, and he was rightly frustrated when he wanted to communicate something and others failed to understand. Caleb began reading with intensive individualized […]
Archives for March 2018
Silent e Rule Books & Lessons
I’m very excited to release my silent e books. They teach kids to read the silent e rule. The pictures are professional and fun. The stories are sometimes silly, and sometimes realistic. With the silent e books, kids can master the silent e rule, and begin to develop fluency with silent e words. When your […]
Free Silent e Decodable Text (The Red Rose)
I’m excited to share a free silent e decodable text. Simply click on the link “Silent e Book” to download. My silent e decodable text, just like all my phonics books, is systematic, meaning sounds are introduced slowly and gradually. This step-by-step progression allows students to adjust to each new unit. If you’re interested in […]
Phonics Strategies Prevent Reading Failure
How important are phonics strategies? In one recent post, I mocked the absurd whole language approach by comparing it to a swim coach who fails to teach children through gradual skill acquisition, drills and leveled practice. Instead, he urges kids to leap into the water. He believes the ability to swim is innate and that […]
Consonant Blends Lessons & Books
Myla was in the second grade, yet she was at the kindergarten reading level. After she mastered simple short vowel and consonant digraph words like “fin, catch, mat, ship…etc.” she began to learn consonant blends. Myla’s school expected kids to memorize long lists of blends. Therefore, Myla spent her after-school hours memorizing “nt, sp, sm…etc.” […]