Good Reminders...

Practice Skills with "Folding In"

Check out this method to gain fluency in skills incuding letter names, letter sounds, high frequency words, math facts, etc. Folding In by Stephanie Stollar

Phonemic Awareness Screeners

We have scheduled phonemic awareness screeners for December with kindergarten students. When looking for information to share with parents, check out the link, Phonemic Awareness.

Collecting reading data is important because it gives a clear picture of where students are, what they need, and how to help them grow. Here are the key reasons we do what we do: 1. Identifies strengths and gaps Data shows which students are on track and which ones are struggling with specific skills (like phonics, fluency, or comprehension). Without it, teachers might miss students who are quietly falling behind. 2. Guides instruction Teachers can adjust lessons to meet student needs. For example: if data shows many students are weak in phonemic awareness, the teacher can focus more on sound/letter connections. 3. Tracks progress over time Regular data collection shows whether interventions and teaching strategies are working. Growth can be celebrated, and lack of progress can trigger changes in support. 4. Supports early intervention Struggles with reading don’t usually “fix themselves.” Data helps catch issues early, before they become much harder to close in later grades. 5. Drives accountability Data helps schools, teachers, and even policymakers see how well reading instruction is working. It ensures all students—not just the ones who thrive naturally—get attention. 6. Engages families Sharing concrete data with parents helps them understand their child’s needs and how to support reading at home.

Best Children's Books of 2025 by Indigo

10. The Pigeon Won't Count to 10! by Mo Willems 9. Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Megan Mcdonald 8. Touching Grass by Kristy Jackson 7. Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe 6. Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner 5. An Anthology of Remarkable Bugs by Jess French 4. The Humble Pie by Jory John 3. Troubling Tonsils! by Aaron Reynolds 2. The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell 1. Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson More information about the books is available at Indigo.

Helping Students Read Complex Test

When you have students struggling to understand complex grade level text, provide opportunities for students to practice fluency with the text first and then move to comprehension. This can be done in many ways from listening to the text, reading with a partner, echo reading with a teacher, etc. If students read through the text a few times, they will be more successful in comprehending it. Studies show that "pre-reading" fluency work raises students' reading level with the text by at least one grade level. Check out the link by Dr. Shanahan.

Letter Sound Fluency Demonstration

Letter Sounds