02/08/2026
This is getting real! Hooray for ELA is heading to homeschool conventions this summer! Any specific ELA topic you would like to see covered?
Hooray For ELA
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Comprehensive, Intuitive Language Arts System Rooted in Reading
01/27/2026
Let's read!
01/27/2026
Here's a sneak peek at the Level 2 first unit of Hooray for ELA designed for 3rd to 5th graders
01/27/2026
Fantastic scaffolding!
Last week I was working with a teacher who said,
🗣️ “He’s doing great with tracing… but I don’t know how to move past the tracing worksheet.”
And honestly? That’s such a common place to get stuck.
The student WAS successful — but tracing alone wasn’t helping him learn how to actually write his name independently.
So we talked through how to fade the prompts instead of staying in full tracing mode 👇
➡️ Start with what’s working
– Tracing gives confidence and success
– It’s a starting point, not the end goal
➡️ Then begin fading supports, some examples include:
– Trace only the hard letters
– Provide a model above the line instead of on it
– Use visual boundaries or boxes instead of dots
– Use highlighter and then fade the highlight
➡️ Move toward independence
– Student writes the name on their own
– Adult support steps back
– The worksheet goes away
I shared with her that I’m not a big fan of tracing when it becomes the strategy instead of the bridge.
Tracing teaches kids to follow a line.
Writing teaches kids to plan, remember, and execute motor movements.
📎 I attached an example showing how you can fade from tracing → writing a name without visual supports, step by step.
That “aha” moment was the best part ❤️
She walked away with something she could use immediately in her classroom.
If you’re stuck at the tracing stage, ask yourself:
👉 What support can I fade next?
That’s how we build real independence.
01/27/2026
Every morning I give my first few hours to writing quality, comprehensive language arts curriculum for 3rd-5th graders. No matter the fears, I will show up consistently for our children.
12/17/2025
Teaching parts of speech in this order:
1. Noun
2. Verb
3. Preposition
Will save a lot of frustration and tears!
Then onward with teaching the other 5
12/13/2025
Listen for the learning that your children have acquired while they play!
12/05/2025
Graphic novels are fantastic for Reluctant readers. We have to cut the anxiety, dread, fear around reading. Graphic novels are a great way to dump the dread and embrace the excitement of stories and storytelling.
12/04/2025
Formatting is an important part of the learning experience. Cutsie Clipart and images or pages crammed with text can outlet the learners ability to consume and process the knowledge they need to learn.
12/04/2025
Are you a Charlotte Mason educator? Here are some great books!
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