Tess Philip

Tess Philip Former teacher turned homeschooling mama! Helping you raise kids who can and LOVE to read. Literacy expert and Orton Gillingham associate in training

🚨 GIVEAWAY ALERT: Deep Dive Strategy Session 🚨I’m opening up my calendar for one lucky winner to get a full, high-level ...
09/04/2026

🚨 GIVEAWAY ALERT: Deep Dive Strategy Session 🚨

I’m opening up my calendar for one lucky winner to get a full, high-level Diagnostic+ Strategy Session with me—completely free.

How to enter:
📨Head to my Substack www.tessphilip.substack.com or visit the link in my bio 🔗
💌Subscribe/Check out my latest post on Substack.
👏🏼Follow the simple instructions inside the giveaway article!

Deadline: Enter before April 14th.

Let’s get to work! 🚀

02/04/2026

Simple Phonemic Awareness Activity: Segmenting & Blending

Mastering segmenting and blending is a crucial milestone for early readers and writers! In this video, I’m sharing a simple, hands-on activity using just a rubber band to help your child hear and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in words.

This "Stretch & Clap" method provides a physical representation of how we pull words apart to spell and push them back together to read.

What you’ll learn:
1️⃣What is segmenting and blending?
2️⃣How to use a rubber band to visualize phonemes.
3️⃣Examples with CVC (cat) and CCVC (slip) words.

Try this at home this week and let me know how it goes in the comments!

SegmentingAndBlending TheReadingCompass

Segmenting and blending, phonemic awareness activities, how to teach reading, science of reading, literacy strategies, Orton-Gillingham activities, homeschooling reading tips, phonics for kids, Tess Philip, The Reading Compass.

26/03/2026

The "Secret Sauce" to Decoding: Pause, Segment, Blend

It is so important to have strong literacy foundations. So in this language lesson, we are learning about phonemes.

In this clip, I’m demonstrating one of the most effective ways to help a child move from "guessing" to "decoding" using The Very Last Castle.

We’re focusing on three essential steps:
1️⃣ The Pause: Giving the brain time to process.
2️⃣ Segmenting: Breaking the word into individual sounds (phonemes).
3️⃣ Blending: Sliding those sounds together to create the word.

Watch how we tackle words like "HISS" and "THUD" to build a rock-solid reading foundation.

Want a deeper dive into these techniques? I’ve put together a full "Decoding Activity Sheet" called the Word Practice Board over on The Reading Compass. Join our community of parents and educators to get the tools you need to help your child thrive!

🔗 www.tessphilip.substack.com (or check the link in my bio)

Join the conversation:
✅ Subscribe for more bite-sized literacy lessons.
👍 Like if you’re going to try the "Pause" technique today!
💬 Comment: What’s one word your little reader is currently working to blend?

Core: How to Blend Words, Segmenting for Beginners, Phonics Blending Technique, Science of Reading at Home, Decoding Strategies.
Specific: Pause Segment Blend, Reading Fluency Tips, Interactive Phonics Lesson.

25/03/2026

Why multi-syllable words feel "tricky" (and how to fix it!) 🧩

​Ever notice your child cruising through short words like "car" or "for," but then they hit a wall with "sister" or "forget"?

​The secret is spotting the R-controlled syllable. When an "r" follows a vowel, it changes the sound entirely—and in longer words, it’s easy for kids to lose track of where one syllable ends and the next begins.

​Here is the strategy I use:
1. Underline the vowels and mark them with a V
2. Identify all the consonants inbetween.
3. Noticed the VCCV pattern and split the word VC | CV
4. ​Spot the R: Look for those bossy combinations (ar, er, ir, or, ur). Label other syllable types.
5. ​Blend it together: Read each "chunk" before putting it all together.

​Teaching reading doesn't have to be a mystery.

It’s all about giving them the right tools to "crack the code!" 🔓

​Want more literacy tips for your home or classroom? 👇

Save this post and follow for more phonics breakdowns!

Some words to practice:
Market
Garden
Party
Target
Better
Sister
Silver
Thirty
Stirrup
Forget
Corner
Turtle
Burger

​ BossyR TheReadingCompass

23/03/2026

Welcome back! Today I’m taking you along for a realistic, busy, and slightly caffeinated day in our life.

As a mom of three with 20 years of teaching experience, I’ve learned that homeschooling isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being flexible. From "car-schooling" at music lessons to my secret turmeric coffee superpower, this is how we actually get it all done.

What’s in this video:
* Morning Rituals: Skincare, snuggles, and turmeric coffee (my anti-inflammatory secret!).
* The Bake: Homemade muffins to keep the kids fueled for learning.
* Car-Schooling: How we tackle Math and Nessy reading skills while waiting at music lessons.
* Deep Work: Essential English writing skills and History using The Story of the World.
* The Juggle: Balancing my own online classes and filming tutorials while the kids play.
* The Lifesaver: A Crockpot dinner that saved my 6:00 PM sanity.

Resources Mentioned:
* Nessy Learning (Reading/Spelling)
* The Story of the World (History)
* The Good and Beautiful Math (G1, G2, G4)

Let’s Connect:
Instagram:
YouTube:

Subscribe for more homeschool tips, literacy tutorials, and teacher-mom life!

literacytips morningroutine

Homeschool day in the life, DITL homeschool, homeschooling mom of 3, realistic homeschool routine, carschooling ideas, Nessy learning, homeschooling and working, turmeric coffee recipe, homeschooling writing skills, homeschool morning routine, large family homeschooling, homeschooling 20 years experience, teacher turned homeschool mom, crockpot meals for busy moms.

18/03/2026

Stop the "guessing game" when your child hits a big word! 🛑📖

Does your child breeze through short words but get stuck on longer ones like "cupcake" or "reptile"?

It’s time to add to the Rabbit and Candy patterns and introduce the Closed + Magic E division!

This simple 4-step process gives them a "road map" for decoding. No more guessing—just reading! 🗺️✨

Try these words at home today:

Sun | rise

In | hale

Mis | take

Pan | cake

Want to master all the syllable types?

I’ve broken them all down for you in a Substack article! It’s the ultimate cheat sheet for parents. 📝 + A bookmark reference for you and your learner.

Comment SYLLABLE and I'll send the link 🔗

Follow for more simple reading tips that actually work! 💡

ParentingHacks LearningToRead LiteracyTips

Stop retiring your picture books! 🛑📚I recently revisited The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman, and it gave me a m...
17/03/2026

Stop retiring your picture books! 🛑📚

I recently revisited The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman, and it gave me a much-needed renewed perspective.

As our kids get older and move into chapter books, it’s so tempting to "graduate" them out of picture books. But here is the truth: picture books like this one offer a level of linguistic richness that shouldn't be rushed out of the rotation.

Why this one stays on my shelf:
✨ The Rhythm: The "galloping" meter isn't just fun to read; it’s building your child’s ear for language and syllable stress.
✨ The Vocabulary: From "fussy" to "promptly," it’s a masterclass in Tier 2 words that expand a child’s world.
✨ The Literacy Lab: You can actually use these pages for phonemic awareness! (Check slide 2 for a quick "deletion" trick you can try tonight).

Marla Frazee’s illustrations are a literal feast for the eyes, reminding us that family life is beautifully messy, chaotic, and rhythmic.

Don't rush the magic.
Keep the rhyme.
Keep the picture books. 🤍

Tell me in the comments: What is one picture book your family will never outgrow?

OrtonGillingham ReadAloudRevival AnnArborHomeschool EarlyLiteracy HomeLibrary

15/03/2026

What's a new word you've learned recently??

Share it in the comments below 👇🏼👇🏼

Address

Ann Arbor

48103

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tess Philip posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Tess Philip:

Shortcuts

  • Want your school to be the top-listed School/college?

Share