This week on The Education Connection, we’re moving forward on our phonics journey by exploring plurals — when to add s and when to add es to show “more than one.” We’ve already built strong foundations with letter sounds, CVC words, blends, and digraphs. Now, we’re helping our students apply those skills in real reading and writing.

In this episode, I share simple language to teach the rule, plus three easy activities you can use right away:

• “One or More?” oral practice game
• s/es sorting activity
• Plural Detective reading activity

These can be done whole group, small group, or in literacy centers.

We’ll wrap up with a scripture reminder that small steps matter and a prayer of encouragement for your week. Tune in — let’s grow confident readers together.

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In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson explores the power of word families—focusing on am, at, and an to strengthen early reading skills. Discover three engaging, low-prep activities that make decoding fun and meaningful for young learners. Plus, learn how to apply these same ideas across all the basic word families in first grade. Scripture and prayer close out this episode with encouragement for teachers guiding little readers each day.

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Today we’re learning the FLOSS rule — when to double the final letter in short words!

✅ Discover what the FLOSS rule is

✅ Hear easy examples like hill, miss, and buzz

✅ Try 3 fun activities: word sort, “Double It!” build game, and word hunt. End with Scripture and a simple prayer to remind us that learning brings wisdom.

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In this episode, we take the next step in our phonics journey by introducing silent e words—also known as Mommy E if you're using Secret Stories in your classroom. After reviewing letter sounds, CVC words, blends, and digraphs, it's time to help students understand how a silent “e” changes everything.

I’ll explain how I introduce this concept using a fun and meaningful story students love, and I’ll walk you through 3 engaging classroom activities that make the “magic e” stick:

✨ Magic E Wand Words

🔄 Flip & Match Word Cards

🧠 Silent E Sorting Mats

Whether you're teaching whole group, small group, or intervention, these simple ideas will help your students confidently decode long vowel CVCe words like make, Pete, poke, and rule.

🎧 Listen now and grab some fresh inspiration for your phonics block!

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In this episode, we continue our phonics journey by introducing consonant blends paired with short vowels. After reviewing CVC words and digraphs the last two weeks, we dive into how blends work, why they matter, and how to teach them effectively. You'll walk away with three engaging classroom activities—Blend & Match Cards, Scoot & Blend, and Blends Bingo—that make learning blends fun and memorable for your students.

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In this episode of The Education Connection, we continue our phonics journey by building on last week’s CVC word practice and diving into digraphs — ch, sh, th, wh, ph, and ck. You'll learn how to teach these essential sound chunks alongside short vowels using fun, simple activities that keep young readers engaged. Whether you’re introducing digraphs for the first time or reinforcing them with hands-on practice, you’ll walk away with practical strategies you can use in your classroom tomorrow.

🎒 Perfect for K–2 teachers 📚 Includes ready-to-use activity ideas ✏️ Builds confidence in early decoding.

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In this episode of The Education Connection, we’re diving into the first steps in teaching reading — from mastering letter sounds to blending CVC words. Whether you're teaching kindergarten, first grade, or supporting early readers in any setting, these foundational skills matter more than ever.

We’ll talk about:

• Why fluency with letters and short vowels is essential
• How to assess what your students truly know
• What CVC blending really looks like
• Practical, low-prep activities you can use tomorrow
• Encouragement for the journey — including a Scripture and prayer just for teachers

Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned pro, this episode will leave you feeling equipped and inspired to support your young readers in meaningful, effective ways.

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Are you getting ready to launch literacy centers in your classroom? In this episode of The Education Connection, I’m sharing exactly how I introduce literacy centers during the first weeks of school. I walk you through the four stations I will start with, how I model expectations, and what my students will experience during our very first day of rotating through centers—spoiler alert: we keep it short and sweet!

You’ll hear how I teach routines for Heggerty, decodable reading, computer time, and my teacher table (where I focus on word work, decoding, and fluency). I’m also sharing tips for easing into rotations, what I watch for, and how I set the stage for successful independent work all year long.

Whether you’re new to literacy centers or just want a fresh approach to launching them, this episode will give you the confidence to start strong—with grace, structure, and purpose.

Get Ready for next year with these ultimate resources.

Get Ready for Kindergarten

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