Image of Thanksgiving pilgrim holding mashed potatoes

Teach the Five Components of Reading (with Just One Thanksgiving Phonics Poem)

With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, November is a shorter teaching month, so every literacy mini-lesson really needs to count. Would you believe one short Thanksgiving poem can help you teach all five of the essential components of reading? It’s absolutely true. For example, the Thanksgiving poem, “Mashed Potatoes,” targets the consonant digraphs /ch/and /sh/ …

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Image of "A Brooding Witch," from Halloween Phonics poems by Lorrie L. Birchall

Halloween Poems for Teaching Phonics

Who wants to teach dry or boring phonics lessons? No one, that’s who. That’s why short Halloween poems written especially for kids help make teaching phonics skills easier, more targeted, and definitely a whole lot more fun. Halloween poems are perfect for teaching literacy mini-lessons in October It would be a shame not to include …

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Image of "Zombie Jane," from Halloween Vocabulary Poems by Lorrie L. Birchall

Teach Halloween Vocabulary with Poems

It’s October, so get ready for Halloween It’s officially October and the countdown to Halloween! I’ve always loved the creepy vibe of the autumn season, so I was mighty disappointed when our school opted out of the school-wide Halloween costume parade and classroom parties, in favor of a more PC autumn festival. Fortunately, there are …

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