the primary brain

Beach Scavenger Hunt

Beach Scavenger Hunt

Let’s take learning to the beach! There is no better way to fill our summer days than with a quick trip to the beach. Since we are local to the beach, I love to find ways we can take our learning to the beach during all 4 seasons of the year. This scavenger hunt is perfect for outdoor learning so that we can go to the beach all year long! You c... Read more

How to Plan Differentiated Phonics Lessons

How to Plan Differentiated Phonics Lessons

As we head into the back to school season, there is always so much to do! So, I teamed up with some teacher friends to help get you ready to start your year! I want to make your back to school planning as simple as possible, so I have put together some tips on how to prepare everything for teaching phonics in your small groups before the school ... Read more

Lemon Playdough Recipe

Lemon Playdough Recipe

Nothing feels more like childhood than a fresh batch of homemade playdough! My go-to recipe for playdough is this lemon scented dough. If you haven’t ever tried cooking in the kitchen with your little ones, then today is the day! Measuring, pouring, mixing, and kneading are all excellent exercises for building fine motor skills in their hands, ... Read more

What are cvc words?

When you first begin teaching phonics, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with all the new literacy language that is thrown at you! If you are teaching young children, then one of the first phonics skills you will need to be prepared to teach are cvc words. So, let’s break down what cvc words are and some of my favorite ways to teach them! CVC word... Read more

Use Phonics Books to Build Confident Readers

Use Phonics Books to Build Confident Readers

Do your students struggle with confidence when they sit down to read a passage? When our students are first learning how to read, it is so important to break down a phonics skill into simple and manageable steps. By focusing on just ONE phonics skill at a time, you will be able to prepare your students to feel confident reading a passage since t... Read more