Joyful Pathways to Accelerated Literacy

Nellie Edge Blog

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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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Publish Children’s Books and Celebrate Young Authors

April 22, 2024

Publish Children’s Books and Celebrate Young Authors: This is one of the best things we can do to build an “I can do it” mindset!

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How Do Master Kindergarten Teachers Close the Reading Achievement Gap over the Summer?

April 16, 2024

Updated April 2024 10 Tips for Success: Kindergarten Book Lovers Keep Reading All Summer Long! Resources for summer learning! Photos used with permission from parents and educators Powerful kindergarten literacy gains can easily be lost over the summer, especially by our emerging readers and writers who are still building foundational literacy skills.  Wise kindergarten teachers […]

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Glimpses from Joyful Kindergartens

Building End-of-Year Memories

April 10, 2024

Updated April 2024 Delightful K-1 Celebrations to End Your Year We are responsible for the memories of childhood! Photos used with permission of parents and educators Children come to school with diverse background experiences. It is the stories we tell, the songs we sing, and the traditions we build that bind the children together emotionally […]

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April Poetry and Weather Connections

March 25, 2024

“Poetry is a rhythmical piece of writing that leaves the reader feeling that life is a little richer than before, a little more full of wonder, beauty, or just plain delight.” – Eileen Fisher The Earth Is Wet: Celebrate Every Season with Poetry FREE SONG DOWNLOAD HERE! The Earth Is Wet The earth is wet. […]

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Bring Planning and Passion to Kindergarten Round-Up

March 19, 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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Kindergarten Writing Workshop and Independent Writing Centers All Year Long

7 Best Practices in Early Writing (K-1) and FREE eBook

March 13, 2024

Fingerspelling helps the brain remember letters and sounds: It becomes the memory hook to ABC/Phonics mastery. Fingerspelling will enhance the effectiveness of any ABC/Phonics program.

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Family Learning Calendar and FREEBIE

March 4, 2024

Give Families Actionable Resources to Support Literacy Let your monthly calendar be a gentle reminder for families to sing, talk, dance, and read with their children every day. Tell stories Explore nature Memorize and recite rhymes Talk about “kindergarten kindness” Develop social emotional and self-help skills Our work in establishing and supporting meaningful family learning […]

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e Nellie Edge Writing-to Read “Heart Words

What Are Nellie Edge Writing-to-Read “Heart Words?”: How Does Kindergarten Writing Support Phonics Instruction?

February 26, 2024

Updated February 2024 Three things young writers know for sure: If I practice writing “heart word” sentences with good handwriting every day, my writing is going to get really good! The more I practice phonics-based spelling, the better I get! If I keep listening for sounds and stretching through words, soon I will be able […]

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 Cooking with Kids in the Classroom and at Home: A Fun, Multisensory Learning Adventure

February 19, 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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The Power of Signing Songs and Videos

February 12, 2024

Discover the Power of Signing Songs for Accelerated Teaching and Learning (PreK-2)
Enhance All Children’s Language and Literacy!

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Discover Easy, Authentic Ways to Build Opinion Writing in Kindergarten: Teach the Word “Because”

February 5, 2024

Kindergarten friends, we want to learn the word “because” so we can write big compound sentences that answer the question “Why?”: I love my dog because he plays with me.

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Write-a-Message Center empowers children to use writing for real world purposes.

Students Love Write-a-Message Centers: For Valentine’s Day and all year long!

January 29, 2024

Settling-In Time Sets the Emotional Tone for the Day: Developing Friendship, Responsibility, Self-Motivation, and Collaboration Skills

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