Sarah 3/5/25 Sarah 3/5/25

Language Arts Instructional Components for Grades 3-6

Once students complete a foundational reading program, it can feel overwhelming to know what language arts skills to teach next. Let me break it down for you!

Sarah 1/24/25 Sarah 1/24/25

Speech to Print vs. Print to Speech: What Parents Need to Know

Learn why speech-to-print is essential for teaching reading at home. This approach builds strong readers by focusing on sounds first and connecting them to print. Get expert insights and practical tips to use in your homeschool!

Sarah 1/23/25 Sarah 1/23/25

What to Do When Your Child Struggles with Spelling: A Weekly Routine

Struggling with spelling? Discover effective strategies and a step-by-step weekly routine to help your child improve. From phoneme-grapheme mapping to dictation practice, this guide empowers parents with actionable tips for confident, successful spellers.

Sarah 1/8/25 Sarah 1/8/25

Literature With My 10-Year-Old

Our literature routine is pretty solid at this point. Since my oldest finished his foundational reading program, we have focused on novel studies with a side of vocabulary and word study for the basis of his reading instruction. Each year, I pick a selection of books I would like to work through with him for a literature focus.

Sarah 11/13/23 Sarah 11/13/23

the shift from learning to read to reading to learn

Let’s chat about the shift from learning to read to reading to learn. There is a heavier emphasis on decoding in foundational reading instruction, whereas in the upper elementary grades, when children have become fluent readers, this shifts to reading comprehension.

Sarah 11/2/23 Sarah 11/2/23

supporting a struggling reader

Some children, roughly 15-20%, will struggle with learning to read due to a reading disability, like dyslexia. That’s 1 in 5 people. Another 40-50% of children need structured literacy — systematic, explicit instruction. Approximately 35% of children learn to read easily with systematic instruction. And only 5% of children learn to read on their own. Children need high-quality, structured literacy instruction. And you can do it.

Sarah 5/21/23 Sarah 5/21/23

Structured Literacy in Homeschooling

When it comes to literacy instruction, structured literacy has emerged as a highly effective method that equips students with strong reading and writing skills. In this blog post, we'll dive into structured literacy and explore its benefits for homeschooling families.

Sarah 5/21/23 Sarah 5/21/23

'Follow the Child' Meets Diagnostic Assessments

Diagnostic and prescriptive instruction play a crucial role in supporting students' literacy development. By observing and understanding each child's unique abilities and interests, we can tailor our teaching methods to meet their individual needs.

Sarah 3/29/23 Sarah 3/29/23

decodable vs. leveled readers

There are many types of early readers available for beginning readers, but they are not all created equally. Let’s dive into the differences and my recommendations.

Sarah 3/19/23 Sarah 3/19/23

how to choose a reading curriculum

Are you overwhelmed with all the options for reading curriculum? Let’s break down the components of a strong reading program and review my top recommendations.