Joyful Pathways to Accelerated Literacy

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Kids and Parents LOVE Heart Word Celebrations

Kindergartners and Their Parents LOVE Heart Words

October 25, 2022

What Are Nellie Edge Writing-to-Read Heart Words? Sentence Writing Mastery • Motivated Writers • Memory Space for Encoding! Build the first circle of writing mastery! Early in the year, the first 16 pink “heart words” allow kindergartners to write the heart-connecting sentence “I love you.” With this power, students perceive themselves as writers and bring […]

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K-1 News Stories: Writing Tips and FREE Resources

October 18, 2022

How News Stories Build Writing Independence, Motivation, and Stamina All Year Long News stories give students choice of writing topics. They find their voice and create stories about what is most important in their lives. There are few things more satisfying for a young writer than creating something that reflects their feelings and experiences. What […]

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heart words in kindergarten teacher resources

10 Reasons to Teach Fingerspelling in Kindergarten

October 6, 2022

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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How Authentic Family Involvement Can Support Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

September 18, 2022

Discover Poems, Songs, and Rhymes with QR Codes that Support SEL Goals: Emotional Intelligence, Friendship, and “I can do it!” Growth Mindset, and a Love of Language (K-2)

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Nellie Edge Freebies on TpT

10 Most Popular Nellie Edge FREEBIES on TpT

September 13, 2022

Click a thumbnail to access the freebie on TpT.

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7 Best Tips to Grow Young Writers

September 7, 2022

Parents: Where Do You Think Your Child Is Right Now as a Writer? 1. Share kindergarten writing samples and rubrics with parents: Where do you think your child is as a writer right now? Help parents notice and appreciate how their child will grow as a writer in kindergarten. (See September 23, 2020 blog for […]

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Nellie Edge Family Learning Calendar

Teachers Love This Family-Friendly Learning Calendar

August 29, 2022

Give Families Actionable Resources to Support Kindergarten Success: This Family-Friendly Learning Calendars Build 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” Learn self-help skills Our work in establishing and […]

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teaching pencil grip

7 Kindergarten Name Writing Tips with Family Practice Book

August 22, 2022

Helping you involve parents with learning I am remembering again how challenging and important it is to teach good name writing from the first days of school. Why not ask “parents to be partners” at spring registration? Our FREE resources may help you! Kindergarten-age students, in classrooms or at home, represent a 4-year developmental span […]

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Back-to-School Sale

August 16, 2022

Celebrating Nellie Edge Kindergarten TpT Store with a 2-Day Bundle Party: 50% off!

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Kindergarten lessons: Teaching “Thank You” and Developing an Attitude of Gratitude

The Simplest Way to Build a Happy Classroom: Teach Gratitude!

August 8, 2022

Learning to Express Gratitude Is a Year-Long Theme: We Sing, Sign, Spell, Express and Write “Thank You.”

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back to school in kindergarten classroom

How to Have the Best Kindergarten Back-to-School Night Ever: Family Scavenger Hunt Step-by-Step

August 1, 2022

Families’ first visit to kindergarten is organized, purposeful, and inviting “Sunflower Children” and warm-hearted Katie Nelson welcome each family as they arrive. The environment is carefully prepared to introduce literacy routines and involve Parents as Partners. Children sign in on their first “Name Ticket” with guided help from Mom or Dad. They put their finished […]

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e Nellie Edge Writing-to Read “Heart Words

What Are Nellie Edge Writing-to Read “Heart Words?”

July 25, 2022

Two things young writers know for sure: 1) If I practice writing “heart word” sentences every day, my writing is going to get really good! 2) If I practice phonetic spelling, I will be able to fearlessly tackle any unknown word!

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30 Essential Handwriting Lessons

No Time for Isolated Handwriting Lessons?

July 20, 2022

30 Essential Kindergarten Handwriting Lessons Build Stamina and Fluency for Writing Workshop! (Copy this handbook for family distance learning) Why Is Good Handwriting Important? So we can write better and faster So our finger muscles won’t get tired So everyone can read our writing So we can build our reading and writing brain “These lessons […]

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

June 9, 2022

 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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Tips for Making Class Books: What We Have Learned

May 31, 2022

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

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