The Daily Alphabet

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) affirmed today that dyslexia, a reading disability, is entirely unrelated to a person's intelligence or cognitive potential. Dyslexic individuals possess the capacity to think, lead, and achieve at the highest levels, and countless have gone on to accomplish extraordinary achievements across every field.

IDA stands firmly in support of dyslexic learners by advancing evidence-based reading instruction grounded in the science of reading, while also championing the unique strengths, resilience, and potential that define this community.

Can’t believe it’s time to go home! I had a great time at for their annual primary conference!! I got to meet some of the best teachers around and talk about all things literacy!!

Annnnnnddddd……I have the greatest friends, that is all!

This weekend I had the privilege of presenting at the , and I was reminded of the following:

Curriculum matters. Programs matter.
�But it’s teachers……..our knowledge, decisions, and daily moves…..that change reading outcomes for little readers.

It was so great to spend time with educators who are asking hard questions, refining their practice, and doing the work that actually moves the needle in early literacy.

February is packed with themes...and the perfect excuse to refresh your read-aloud stack!

From kindness and perseverance to fun seasonal connections, these 4 read-alouds are engaging, meaningful, and classroom-tested.

👉 Grab the full list here: https://thedailyalphabet.com/4-fun-read-alouds-for-february/

Starting a sound wall doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

And guess what? You don’t even have to fully set it up right away.

You can begin by teaching the *sounds*.......and make the wall work *with* your instruction, not against it.

Here are some simple steps to help your students start connecting speech to print with confidence:

👄 Teach place and manner of articulation (where and how the sound is formed)

🪞 Use mirrors so students can see what’s happening when they make the sound

🧠 Reinforce routines for sound-letter mapping

🧩 Make it interactive (you can have a lot of fun with this!)

💡 Let students *own* the learning

Ready to learn more about sound walls? ✨

Comment **wall** below and I’ll send the link to the blog post your way!

⛄✨ Ready to make winter learning hands-on and fun? This Build-a-Snowman Craft blends literacy and math skills into a playful January activity your learners will love!

📌 Students can build a snowman name craft or practice letters, numbers, and other phonics skills while building their own snowy friends.....perfect for centers, morning work, or to display in the hallway.

Make winter meaningful and creative — grab it now!

Comment "snowman" and I'll send you the link!

📚✨ Are you wondering what a teacher read aloud really is....and why it matters so much in the classroom?

Read alouds often look simple… but there’s so much intentional teaching happening beneath the surface.

In this video, I break down:
• why it’s foundational for literacy
• and how it supports listening, vocabulary, comprehension, and classroom community

If you’ve ever felt like read aloud time could be more ...or you want to be more purposeful with it .....this one’s for you.

👉 Watch the video on YouTube and let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite part of reading aloud to your students?

https://youtu.be/-69J9cYpAbU

❄️✨ It's cold outside! Keep little minds warm and thinking with this Winter Packet for kindergarten!

This set of literacy and math worksheets is perfect for snow days, winter centers, early finishers.... or anytime you want thematic and purposeful practice.

🧠 Builds essential skills
✏️ Perfect for print-and-go planning

Give your students meaningful practice that feels fun (even on chilly days)!

👉 Comment "winter" and I'll send you the link!

Place and manner of articulation matters.

Because if kids can’t feel the sound, they can’t map the word.

This is one of the biggest mindset shifts when moving from a word wall to a sound wall.....focusing on how sounds are actually made. 👄🧠

When students see and feel what their mouths are doing, it bridges the gap between speech and print - and that’s when the magic happens. ✨

If you’re curious about how sound walls work (and why they make so much more sense), I break it all down for you over on the blog!

👇 Comment "wall" and I’ll send you the link!

🎄 Merry Christmas! 🎄

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)

A great reminder of a gift that brings hope, love, and peace to our lives. 🎁✨

Wishing you and your loved ones a day filled with joy, laughter, and the warmth of the holiday season. ❤️

🦌📚 Bring nonfiction to life this December!

This reindeer unit helps students practice vocabulary, learn new facts, and build comprehension using kid-friendly nonfiction passages.

Seasonal + purposeful = a win.

Perfect for whole-group lessons, small-group work, or an easy December mini-unit that blends reading + science.

Tap to take a closer look ➡️ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reindeer-Activity-Nonfiction-Lesson-Plans-5028226

✂️🎄 Strong writers start with strong hands, and December is the perfect time to build those fine-motor muscles!

This Christmas Cutting Practice pack gives students fun, festive ways to strengthen scissor skills, hand-eye coordination, and pencil-grip readiness.

When little hands cut, trace, and manipulate paper, they’re developing the essential motor pathways that make writing easier and more confident.

Add these pages to your December centers or morning work and watch your writers grow ✍️✨

➡️ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Cutting-Practice-Holiday-Cutting-Practice-December-Scissor-Skills-4217537