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!

Search

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

Decoding the Silent L

Like other letters in the English alphabet, the letter l can be silent. We have a specific lesson on silent l because the letter l is the...

3 min read

Decoding the W Sound

We already know that the letter w makes the /w/ sound. Introducing the W Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...

3 min read

The S Sound

We already know that the letter s makes the /s/ sound. Introducing the S Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...

3 min read

Decoding the L Sound

There are three different ways to make the /l/ sound. L – The letter l is the most common way to make the /l/ sound. LL – The letters ll...

3 min read

The EER Sound

There are three ways to make the /eer/ sound. EAR – The letters ear can make the /eer/ sound. Remember, we learned earlier that the...

2 min read

The T Sound

We already know the letter t can make the /t/ sound. Introducing the T Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...

3 min read

The AIR Sound

The letters air can make the /air/ sound. Introducing the AIR Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters making the...

3 min read

Decoding the R Sound

We already know the letter r can make the /r/ sound. Introducing the R Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters...

3 min read

The Schwa Sound

The schwa sound is the most common vowel sound in English. Sometimes we call it the lazy schwa because we put no effort into making the...

3 min read

The K Sound

We already know the letter k makes the /k/ sound. Other letter combinations can also make the /k/ sound. Introducing the K Sound Look at...

3 min read

Decoding the OW Sound

The /ow/ sound is another diphthong. A diphthong is made up of two sounds unlike vowel teams that combine to form one sound. The letters...

3 min read

Decoding the M Sound

We already know the letter m makes the /m/ sound. Introducing the M Sound Look at the pictures below. Pay attention to the letters making...

3 min read

The AW Sound

The /aw/ sound is one of those sounds that may sound different to you based on your accent. I hear the /aw/ sound as almost identical to...

3 min read

Decoding the N Sound

We already learned that the letter n can make the /n/ sound. Other letter combinations can also make the /n/ sound. Introducing the N...

3 min read