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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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Spelling the /er/ Sound with the Letters er
The letters er are the most common way to spell the /er/ sound. They make the /er/ sound about 40% of the time. Unfortunately, there is...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Continents
Building background knowledge is a huge part of reading comprehension. Students need to know the basic vocabulary and ideas on a topic...
3 min read
How to Teach Your Child How to Read Without Buying Anything
Want a printable version of this post? Get it below. If you are reading this post, you either have a child struggling to learn how to...
15 min read
Reading and Writing Superlative Adjectives
I started thinking about superlative adjectives as a part of a morphology routine. In Texas, second graders need to be able to write...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Mario Molina
Why learn about Mario Molina? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Isaac Newton
Why learn about Isaac Newton? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Mae Jemison
Why learn about Mae Jemison? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Ynes Mexia
Why learn about Ynes Mexia? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Katherine Johnson
Why learn about Katherine Johnson? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Sally Ride
Why learn about Sally Ride? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in...
2 min read
Expanding Reading and Spelling Using Word Families: Word Maker Short A
How We Learn to Read Our brains learn to read using a consistent process. The speed at which people learn how to read may differ, but the...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Ernest Just
Why learn about Ernest Just? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in...
3 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Alexander Graham Bell
Why learn about Alexander Graham Bell? New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific...
2 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Jane Goodall
New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in various fields. Another change...
3 min read
Building Background Knowledge: Marie Maynard Daly
New science TEKS are coming to Texas! One change is that students will learn about specific scientists in various fields. Another change...
5 min read
Teaching Adding Details to Writing Freebie
Are you tired of telling your students to add details to their writing only to be met with blank stares? Writing is such a complex...
3 min read
Decoding the ZH Sound
The /zh/ sound is very similar to the /sh/ sound. The difference is that the /zh/ sound is a voiced sound, and the /sh/ sound is an...
3 min read
Decoding the Z Sound
We already know the letter z makes the /z/ sound. Introducing the Z Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters making...
3 min read
Decoding the SH Sound
We already know the letters sh can make the /sh/ sound. Introducing the SH Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...
3 min read
Decoding the CH Sound
We already know the letters ch can make the /ch/ sound. Introducing the CH Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...
3 min read
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