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A teacher emailed me recently with a question that hits right at the heart of structured literacy and basic decodables. She said (and I’m paraphrasing just a bit): “I want to embed rich vocabulary when my learner is still reading basic decodables. I know read-aloud is important, but a good read-aloud takes time—how do I…
As Orton-Gillingham educators, teachers often wear many hats. In a single lesson, they may be teaching phonics, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, handwriting and reading comprehension. With so much to balance, it is easy for morphology instruction to feel like it is happening on its own, separate from everything else. When morphology instruction is taught in isolation,…
You know those little “aha” moments that teachers love to see happen? Like when a student runs into a new word, hesitates for a second, spots a familiar root, and suddenly everything makes sense. Their face brightens, they decode with confidence, and they understand the text on a deeper level. Moments like that show just…
Why Play Still Matters in Serious Reading Instruction Teachers who use structured literacy or Orton-Gillingham lessons know how important direct and explicit teaching is. But even with all that structure, there’s still room for play. When teachers bring simple, low-prep literacy games into reading instruction, something powerful happens. Students stay motivated, pay attention longer, and…
If you’re a structured literacy teacher, the right structured literacy books can sharpen your practice tomorrow morning. Luckily, I’ve rounded up eight super practical books that offer: 1. Research you can explain to families and colleagues.2. Routines you can plug into your OG lessons.3. Joyful ideas that help our most reluctant readers feel successful. The…
Discover 7 must-read books for structured literacy teachers to boost reading, writing, and retention using Science of Reading strategies.
When you’re new to Orton-Gillingham (OG) or structured literacy instruction, you might feel like you have to teach something new in every single lesson. A new phonogram. A new rule. A brand-new syllable type. However, in OG lessons, review trumps new concepts. With OG lessons, review is essential. Teaching new concepts every time isn’t necessary….
Whether you’re a structured literacy teacher with summers off or a practitioner that works year-round, summer represents a shift in rhythms and schedule. My thoughts always turn to summer reading books. I definitely intend to read the summer’s hottest beach read or that gripping new thriller. I also find that the change of seasons inspires…
If you are anything like me, you love going to conferences and workshops. Although I always wind up physically exhausted, I somehow also find myself energized and my batteries recharged. Professional development has so many wonderful benefits. You may discover a whole new vein of interest and develop a brand-new skill set. You can reignite…