Joyful Pathways to Accelerated Literacy

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handwriting lessons for kindergarten

No Time for Isolated Kindergarten Handwriting Lessons

September 14, 2024

It is shocking to see kindergarteners’ growth! For example, they enter the classroom maybe knowing how to write a few letters and leave writing simple sentences. This means they are working hard on handwriting lessons throughout the entire year. However, there is simply no time for isolated kindergarten handwriting lessons. There are too many standards […]

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K-1 News Stories: Growing Young Writers

September 8, 2024

Are you always looking for ways to help your students become strong, independent writers? I’m sure all teachers are! Honestly, it takes a lot of creativity and engagement to motivate students to become writers. There is so much to learn, and it can all feel overwhelming. Thankfully, using K-1 News Stories: Growing Young Writers will […]

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Memorable Traditions in Kindergarten

10 Kindergarten Memorable Traditions That Build Community

August 30, 2024

When students enter the classroom, they become a family. They help each other learn, cheer each other up when sad, and share. Honestly, it is amazing to see the bonds that develop as students spend time together. However, kindergarten students may need some help since the classroom is new. Thankfully, you can begin your kindergarten […]

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Teaching Kindergarten Kindness

Teaching Kindergarten Kindness and Good Behavior

August 21, 2024

When students enter kindergarten, they enter a whole new environment. Instead of watching cartoons and being comfy all day, they learn, interact, and play. Doing this requires them to sit in chairs properly, share with classmates, and follow specific rules. Honestly, this is a lot for kindergarteners to take in! So, teachers need to focus […]

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Monthly Learning Calendars

Monthly Learning Calendar for Families

August 8, 2024

Students spend so much time at school each day. Unfortunately, this means they often only have a little time at home with families in the evening. During this time, they need to eat, shower, talk about their day, and relax. However, it is also important that families spend time learning together. This is when phones […]

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Classroom Managment ASL Signs

Sign Language for Classroom Management 

July 17, 2024

Teachers experience challenges every day! This includes everything from the copy machine breaking to the unexpected fire drill. However, one of the biggest challenges involves classroom management. Sadly, teachers lose a lot of valuable instructional time dealing with tough behaviors. So, they have to get creative in developing classroom management systems. Thankfully, learning and teaching […]

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teaching handwriting in kindergarten

Ten Tips for Teaching Handwriting Grip

July 2, 2024

When kindergarteners enter the classroom, they begin building the foundation for the rest of their lives. So, teachers often get started on a skill essential for all learning: handwriting! This includes teaching a good handwriting grip and name-writing. These skills take lots of practice, so getting started during the first weeks of school is key! […]

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Teach Writing-to-Read Heart Words: Sing, Sign, Spell, and Read!

June 24, 2024

Learn heart word songs and chants on Nellie Edge YouTube channel Songs and chants build oral language fluency Build circles of writing mastery Children memorize, recite, illustrate, and read their “I Can Read” Poetry Notebook pages YouTube instructional videos from Nellie Edge Online Seminar #3 Learn more about Writing-to-Read Heart Words Curriculum on TPT Download […]

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Did You Miss Any of These Nellie Edge End-of-School Year Blogs?

June 11, 2024

 We love to search Pinterest for the best kindergarten writing and early learning resources we can find to share with you our Nellie Edge seminar participants and online friends.

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Popular FREEBIES on Nellie Edge TPT

June 4, 2024

Kids in the Kitchen Sample Recipes: Use these simple, fully illustrated children’s recipes in your classroom for hands-on experiences in science, vocabulary learning, reading, and math. Send the recipes home: What a delightful way to learn! (From best-selling cookbook) Mother Goose Rhymes: Use these delightfully illustrated blackline masters of nursery rhymes to immerse children in […]

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Build Family Memories: Summer Homework? Summer Fun!

May 29, 2024

Keep your family learning projects joyful, active, meaningful, and real. Keep the love of learning alive during the summer. Make Homework Fun by Nellie Edge

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End-of-Year Family Fun and Picnic at the Park

May 22, 2024

Over the years, I have documented the work of accomplished public school kindergarten teachers. We share a vision of making school a celebrative place and involving families as partners in joyful, authentic teaching and learning.

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Great Summer k-1 Reading: Inspiring Free e-Books!

May 15, 2024

Download your favorite now! Happy reading!  1. How to Turn ALL Kindergartners into Motivated, Engaged Writers In this 41 page eBook you find a comprehensive kindergarten writing framework with 10 high-impact writing strategies that may be used in tandem with any writing workshop model to dramatically accelerate literacy and develop kindergarten writers and illustrators.  2. […]

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Kids in the Kitchen cookbook by Nellie Edg

Kindergartners LOVE to Cook! (Guest Blog)

May 6, 2024

The first fully illustrated kids’ cookbook-over 150,000 copies sold   Cooking with children-at home or in the classroom-is a messy, awkward, time-consuming venture…and worth EVERY minute of it!  Hi! My name is Cindy Ulshafer. I was flattered when Nellie asked me to be a guest blogger. We work together in her office and swap stories […]

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10 Favorite Kindergarten FREEBIES on TPT

April 29, 2024

These quality resources now include lessons, best practices, and authentic kindergarten writing and art samples—and there are more coming!

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