Little Minds at Work https://littlemindsatwork.org/ Fri, 23 May 2025 06:03:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://littlemindsatwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-favicon3-32x32.png Little Minds at Work https://littlemindsatwork.org/ 32 32 119236674 5 Free Vowel Variants Activities to Support Phonics and Build Stronger Readers https://littlemindsatwork.org/5-free-vowel-variants-activities/ Mon, 12 May 2025 04:27:59 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27459 Hello, passionate educators and literacy leaders! As you know, phonics instruction is a journey filled with building blocks that help students become fluent, confident readers. Today, we’re focusing on vowel variants—those tricky patterns that can challenge even strong decoders. These free resources are rooted in the Science of Reading approach, designed to support students as...

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]]> 27459 5 Free CVCC and R-Controlled Resources to Strengthen Reading and Phonics Skills https://littlemindsatwork.org/5-free-cvcc-and-r-controlled-downloads/ Mon, 12 May 2025 03:56:28 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27436 Welcome, dedicated educators and champions of literacy! In the ever-evolving landscape of phonics instruction, having the right tools makes all the difference. Today, we’re spotlighting resources grounded in the Science of Reading—a research-backed approach proven to build strong, confident readers. This time, our focus shifts to CVCC and r-controlled words. But before we explore the...

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]]> 27436 Transform Your Centers with Thematic Phonics & Math Fun! https://littlemindsatwork.org/thematic-math-and-phonics-centers/ Sat, 22 Feb 2025 22:51:05 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27213 If you’re a kindergarten teacher who dreams of thematic centers that are BOTH engaging and purposeful — all while being easy to prep — you’re going to love what I have in store for you today! Imagine this: your students happily working at centers that align with the Science of Reading and math best practices,...

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]]> 27213 5 Free CVCE Resources to Enhance Reading and Phonics Skills https://littlemindsatwork.org/5-cvce-free-downloads/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 06:55:50 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27186 Welcome, fellow educators and literacy supporters! In the constantly changing world of phonics instruction, finding effective teaching strategies is key. Today, we’re focusing on resources that align with the Science of Reading—a proven approach to helping students unlock the mysteries of language. Our focus? CVCE words. But before we jump into the free CVCE word...

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]]> 27186 The Power of Encoding: Free Resources to Strengthen Phonics Instruction https://littlemindsatwork.org/five-encoding-free-downloads/ Thu, 23 Jan 2025 06:43:27 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27104 If you’re ready to take your phonics instruction to the next level, this blog post is for you. Today, I’m diving into the essential role of encoding in the Science of Reading. You’ll walk away with practical, research-based strategies for your classroom and five free downloads that you can start using immediately. These resources are...

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]]> 27104 Build Knowledge and Boost Comprehension with the Science of Reading ‘In a Click’ Slides! https://littlemindsatwork.org/knowledge-in-a-click/ Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:51:36 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27063 As educators, we all strive to provide our students with the best foundation in literacy. But with packed schedules and a never-ending list of responsibilities, finding ready-to-use, effective resources can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That’s where my Science of Reading Slides: Kindergarten Knowledge & Vocabulary – In a Click resource...

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]]> 27063 Ready to Transform Your Phonics Small Groups? Meet the Go-To Cart! https://littlemindsatwork.org/phonics-small-group-cart/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 07:24:52 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=27019 This phonics post is part of our Community Member Guest Series and was written by Kristen Shawley. Enjoy! This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. My name is Kristen.  I’m a first grade teacher in Maryland and I have been using Guided...

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]]> 27019 8 Free Fluency Free Downloads to Enhance Reading and Phonics Mastery https://littlemindsatwork.org/8-fluency-free-downloads/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:51:00 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=26931 Welcome, dedicated teachers and literacy champions! Today, we’re diving into the essential role of fluency in the Science of Reading—a research-based framework that helps us understand how students develop as confident, proficient readers. Fluency is more than just speed; it’s the bridge between decoding and comprehension, ensuring that reading feels smooth, expressive, and meaningful. To...

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]]> 26931 December’s Delightful Freebies for Kindergarten Learning and Fun! https://littlemindsatwork.org/25-december-free-downloads/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:33:29 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=26859 With December here and routines well-established, I’m excited to share some amazing resources for the holiday season! This post features 25 free, December-themed downloads that will keep your kindergarten students engaged all month long. From whole-class activities to small group sessions using decodable books, engaging printables, independent learning math centers, themed phonics centers, and crafts...

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]]> 26859 November’s Must-Have Free Downloads for Kindergarten Fun and Learning! https://littlemindsatwork.org/25-november-free-downloads/ Sun, 03 Nov 2024 07:24:09 +0000 https://littlemindsatwork.org/?p=26792 With a new month underway and routines settling in, I have some fantastic resources to share with you! This post highlights 25 free November-themed downloads that are ideal for engaging your kindergarten students throughout the month. Whether you’re planning whole-class activities, small groups with decodable books, printables, or independent learning centers, these interactive resources are...

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