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The Productive Teacher
I use the latest in brain science research to create lessons that are engaging for students and easy for teachers.
There are tons of activities, presentations, and reading passages to help teach (and learn) a variety of topics! Click the topics to learn more!
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3 min read
Decoding the Sounds of WH
The letters wh can make two different sounds. First, they can make the /w/ sound. Depending on your accent, you may hear a difference...
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3 min read
Decoding the Short E Sound
We have already learned that the letter e can make the short /e/ sound in closed syllables. The letters ea can also make the short /e/...
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3 min read
Decoding the Short A Sound
We have already learned that the letter a can make the short /a/ sound. The letters au can also make the short /a/ sound. This is not a...
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2 min read
Decoding the V Sound at the End of Words
Words in English do not end with the letter v. As a result, the /v/ sound is spelled ve at the end of words. Introducing the V Sound at...
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3 min read
Decoding the Short OO Sound
The letters oo can make the short /oo/ sound. Introducing the Short OO Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...
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4 min read
Decoding the Long OO Sound
We already know that the letter u can make the long /oo/ sound in an open syllable. Remember, the long /u/ sound makes the /yoo/ sound....
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4 min read
Sounds of S, SS, SE, and ES at the End of Words
The letters s, ss, se, and es can make different sounds at the end of words. The sound the letters make depends on the sounds that come...
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3 min read
The Long U Sound
There are two sounds considered the long /u/ sound. In this Learning to Read program, we consider the long /u/ sound /yoo/ with the /y/...
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4 min read
Decoding the Long I Sound
We already know that the letter i can make the long /i/ sound in open syllables. The letter i spells the long /i/ sound in about 37% of...
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3 min read
Decoding the ER Sound
The letters er are the most common way to make the /er/ sound. They account for about 77% of words with the /er/ sound. Introducing the...
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4 min read
Decoding the Long E Sound
We already know that the letter e makes the long /e/ sound at the end of open syllables. In around 40% of words with the long /e/ sound,...
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3 min read
Decoding the OR Sound
The letters or make the /or/ sound. This is the most common spelling of the /or/ sound. It is used in about 97% of words. Introducing the...
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3 min read
The Long O Sound
We already know that the letter o makes the long /o/ sound at the end of open syllables. In around 70% of words with the long /o/ sound,...
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3 min read
Decoding the AR Sound
The letters ar are the most common way to spell the /ar/ sound. Around 90% of words with the /ar/ sound have the ar spelling. Introducing...
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3 min read
Decoding the Long A Sound
We already know that the letter a makes the long /a/ sound at the end of open syllables. There are other letter combinations that also...
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3 min read
Decoding Consonant + LE Syllables
Consonant + LE syllables are a type of final stable syllable. We hear the sound of the consonant and the /l/ sound. The e is silent....
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3 min read
The /F/ Sound
We have already learned that the letter f can make the /f/ sound. There are other letters that also make the /f/ sound. Introduce the /F/...
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2 min read
Decoding Open Syllables
Open syllables end with a single vowel that says its name. The letter y can make the long /i/ sound in an open syllable. It can sometimes...
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3 min read
Decoding the Long U VCE Syllable
A VCE syllable has a vowel-consonant-silent e pattern. The vowel makes its long sound because of the silent e. All of the vowels have VCE...
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3 min read
Decoding the Long O VCE Syllable
A VCE syllable has a vowel-consonant-silent e pattern. The vowel makes its long sound because of the silent e. All of the vowels have VCE...
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