Shownotes
Sometimes students are not struggling because something is wrong. Sometimes it’s how the material is being taught, or because a curriculum is moving too fast for where they actually are. This episode is an honest look at the most common mistakes teachers make when teaching letters and numbers, and how to fix them before they create bigger gaps down the road.
In this episode, I share:
- why moving to reading words and books before letters and sounds are solid is one of the fastest ways to make kids look like they are falling behind when they are really right on track
- how teaching letters too quickly or expecting mastery after one round of instruction sets kids up to struggle
- why hands-on learning matters more than worksheets, especially for students who are not picking up letters and sounds at the same pace as their peers
- why daily review, even just one to four minutes, is critical for helping all students hold onto what they have learned
- how focusing on math procedures and facts before kids understand what numbers actually mean creates gaps that follow them for years
- why concrete manipulatives need to come before visual or abstract math, and what it looks like to slow down for the kids who need it
- why coverage does not equal mastery, and why it is always okay to stay with a skill longer than the curriculum says to
Strong foundational skills save everyone time in the long run. Slowing down now is not falling behind, it is exactly what kindergartners need to move forward with confidence.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Alphabet Worksheet Bundle
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Worksheets-Bundle-Alphabet-Literacy-Centers-Letter-writing-sound-sort-11657590
