Northern Lights Literacy

BEST. NEWS. EVER!! 📚🌈

🎶 Take a look, it’s in a book 🎶 After nearly 20 years… Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course… new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow 📚🌈✨ #FollowTheRainbow

Love this infographic from Stacey Rickman. Learn more about each fact here: https://www.ldatschool.ca/facts-reading/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMq6XoBHVK3_o9NVJUbYR_X0YwnM1m0xjICAEM8qyNIFnjoVFOBRmZASC3mto-kow

Last week I shared screen-free ways to support reading, this week I’ve got something handy for on-the-go moments.

Check out Phonics and Stuff: https://phonicsandstuff.com/games

These reading games are designed to build decoding and spelling skills in a fun, engaging way. Perfect for kids to practice reading while keeping it playful and stress-free!

Whether it’s five minutes of waiting or an hour on the road, these games make it easy to sneak in meaningful practice.

Phonics & Reading Games - Phonics & Stuff Phonics & Stuff offers free reading games for pre-readers through early reading. Each game focuses on specific phonics skill and has customizable options for the student's needs.

📚🎲 5 Games to Boost Reading Skills at Home 🎲📚

Looking for fun ways to support your child’s reading growth without more screen time or worksheets? These five games build decoding and phonics skills through play (and kids actually enjoy them!) Great for family game nights or quiet weekends!

• Snap-It-Up – A fast-paced word-building game that strengthens phonemic awareness and decoding.
• Blah Blah Blah Phonics – A silly-sounding card game that targets short vowels, digraphs, and vowel teams.
• Scrabble Slam (Card Game) – Players race to change one word into another, building decoding flexibility.
• Zingo Word Builder – Combines Bingo and phonics to help younger readers blend sounds and build CVC words.
• Bananagrams (Junior or Classic) – Encourages fast-paced spelling and word creation in a hands-on way.

Keep the focus on fun, not perfection. Encourage sounding out, celebrate their attempts, and watch confidence grow! ✅

Not sure how to help with your child’s spelling homework?

You’re not alone, most parents weren’t taught how to support spelling at home. But this 12-minute video from Dr. Tiffany Peltier shows a simple, effective routine based on the science of reading.

📚 It’s clear enough to try at home, even if you're new to phonics.
⏩ Skip to 3:33 to see the routine with a kindergartener.
🎥 https://youtu.be/iyNs5F4Vl8U?si=BuWSK0fX88-IPI5Y

📌 Save this post and share with a friend who might need it!

More home literacy tips coming soon.

Happy International Day of Friendship!

Great learning doesn’t happen alone. Behind every confident reader is a circle of support: friends, family, teachers, and tutors who cheer them on. 💛📚

Here’s to the friendships that help us grow, stay curious, and believe in ourselves.

Looking for tutoring this school year?

I offer personalized reading support for learners of all ages in the Champaign-Urbana area and I’m now booking for fall! 📚

🕓 Availability: Evenings + weekends
📍 Location: Champaign-Urbana. I can meet at the public library, your home (if local), or virtually!

The best way to reach me is through DMs or by email at [email protected]. Let’s build confidence and strong literacy skills, together!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but I haven’t gone anywhere! I’ve been busy doing what I love: tutoring amazing students and earning my Master of Education along the way! 🎓✨

Now that things have settled down, I’m excited to start posting more regularly with tips, insights, and updates for families.

Stay tuned for fresh resources and openings for the school year! 📚💬