Blog Posts

Linda 4/29/26 Linda 4/29/26

National Poetry Month: Why Poetry Belongs in Every Classroom

April is National Poetry Month—a perfect time to bring poetry into your classroom in meaningful, engaging ways. From building phonemic awareness through rhyme to expanding vocabulary and figurative language, poetry plays a powerful role in literacy development. This post shares why poetry matters, how to spark student interest, and simple ways to celebrate—including Poem in Your Pocket Day.

Linda 4/9/26 Linda 4/9/26

Wet World: A Rainy Day Text Set for Vocabulary & Writing

This rainy day text set blends poetry, picture books, and science to build vocabulary and deepen student writing. Designed for grades K–3, it includes book pairings, interactive read-alouds, word collection systems, and writing extensions—all centered around the theme of rain. Perfect for National Poetry Month or weather units.

Linda 3/22/26 Linda 3/22/26

Savvy Suffixes: A Simple Guide to Teaching Morphology with Confidence

This March Tip of the Month introduces teachers to the foundations of morphology with a focus on suffix instruction. It clarifies key concepts like morphemes, roots, and bases while breaking down the difference between inflectional and derivational suffixes. Educators will learn why suffixes are critical for building vocabulary, how spelling rules connect to suffix use, and how to teach them through explicit, systematic routines. The post also provides practical classroom activities and games to make suffix learning engaging and meaningful for students.

Linda 3/12/26 Linda 3/12/26

Get Lucky with Words: Teaching Shades of Meaning

This month’s vocabulary tip helps students move beyond simple emotion words and discover the power of shades of meaning. By exploring subtle differences between similar words—such as nervous, anxious, and terrified—students learn to choose language that is more precise, expressive, and engaging. Using fun seasonal activities like St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks, paint strips, thermometers, or number lines, teachers can help students visualize how words vary in intensity. These tools build word consciousness and strengthen both writing and discussion in the classroom.

Linda 2/8/26 Linda 2/8/26

Broken Hearts Suffix Game

The Broken Hearts Suffix Game is a low-prep, hands-on literacy activity perfect for word work stations. Students sort puzzle pieces, identify base words, and build new words by matching suffixes—then read and write the completed words for added reinforcement. Built-in challenges and easy variations allow teachers to differentiate for phonics, morphology, syllables, prefixes, or contractions, making this activity flexible, engaging, and highly effective for any early reader.

Linda 1/7/26 Linda 1/7/26

Ring in the New Year with Words: Reclaiming the Power of Read Alouds in 2026

A new year invites reflection, intention, and renewal—even in the middle of a busy school year. As educators and caregivers navigate the Science of Reading, it’s time to pause and ask: what might we be leaving behind? In this January Tip of the Month, Linda reminds us of the unmatched power of daily interactive read alouds to strengthen vocabulary, background knowledge, language comprehension, and joy. With just 15–20 minutes a day, we can reweave the full rope of literacy and bring warmth, meaning, and connection into the winter months.

Linda 10/28/25 Linda 10/28/25

Building Knowledge with Topical Text Sets

Topical text sets are powerful tools for boosting comprehension and vocabulary in nonfiction reading and writing. By curating related texts around one topic, teachers can build background knowledge, increase engagement, and help students tackle complex informational texts with confidence. This post explores what topical text sets are, why they work, and how to use them effectively in your classroom.