Videos

Grade Level

Series

Investigating graphemes in Grade 1

This video shows students in a public school in Kingston investigating graphemes of words in the context of word sums.

Writing SOS: My kindergartner still says "mouses." Should I correct her?

A parent wonders whether to correct her kindergartner when she says “mouses.”

Word Families

Tina Scholtes teaches first graders a handy spelling pattern that helps them recognize word clusters.

Reading SOS: How do I explain "ea"?

A parent asks about the best way to the “ea” vowel combination, or vowel team.

Writing SOS: With today's technology is handwriting instruction important?

Writing expert William Van Cleave explains that children need direct and explicit handwriting instruction in order to link letter names, the way letters look, and their sounds.

Parents Promote Writing

Reading experts explain why parents should create opportunities for their children to write.

Writing SOS: How can I get my third grader to use better words in his speaking and writing?

A parent asks what he might do to help his third grader use more interesting words when he is speaking and writing.

Invented Spelling

First-grade teacher Carol Spinello turns a spelling lesson into something of a game.

Writing SOS: Is there value to having my child learn prefixes and suffixes?

Writing expert William Van Cleave explains that prefixes and suffixes are useful to learn because they help children understand meaning, build vocabulary, and learn how to spell and decode.