As Ontario is now rolling out mandatory screening for K-2 many teachers around me are learning about the screener. In my new classroom these posters are on my board for staff to see and to spark a conversation about structured literacy and supporting all students. ONlit.org

Today I suggested a peer listen to Sold a Story . I wonder if they will and if this might encourage some folks to rethink reading levels and reconsider the idea of "just right books."

Rereading this gem while on the train. This book has great information and written in an easily digestible way. I'm hoping to help other teachers understand some key points in here. Lindsay Kemeny

It was the first day of school for us and my little Jk/Sk students. I am lucky to have a lovely class. I already know that a couple of SKs need my help in literacy and I know exactly what I will be doing to help them in the next couple of weeks. They still played a lot too!

Dear ONlit.org , I am spatially challenged, particularly during a very busy kindergarten day. I printed the mnemonic posters wrong. Please tell me how to flip the pages. P.S. They are amazing and I can't wait to use them with the videos.

Teaching kindergarten means calming tears, helping kids learn to play, taking part in their storytelling, and singing a lot. But I am also looking to see who needs immediate support in literacy and math. We need to intervene early!

It's Friday of the first week of school and I am exhausted. Jk/Sk kiddos are cute but when they are all tired at once...oh boy! I managed to figure out that 2 students are ready to read SyllaSense

I'm being that annoying squeaky wheel right now and posting this in various places. onlit.org/resource/recon…

open.spotify.com/episode/6VBNNc… There is a whole lot of great stuff in this episode. On the topic of kindergarten math I use the ENOT assessment which has similar skills as mentioned here. I find it takes awhile though. Kinders can do a lot more than we think. Kate Winn .

PLEASE PLEASE kindergarten teachers in On take note of this. I know the new K program isn’t out yet but the foundations K-4 demonstrate the knowledge our young learners require including explicit and systemically following a scope and sequence. Literacy needs to be taught.

Is there a standard letter for parents going out about the Ontario screening? I just saw our board one and it is very wordy!! ONlit.org

In response to posting about "Reconsideirng Reading Levels" I got this: -- This is not true. There is decades of research that does support running records and the three cueing system. There is quite a bit of misinformation here. I would question who these “researchers”are. -

I have different types of decodables in my classroom -- at my expense. My students are already getting exposure to these texts but they are also enjoying read alouds and exploring their own book choices. (K) I need these decodable books at my fingertips to help my students.

Ahh the joys of being a kindergarten teacher -- I chase runners, catch climbers, and intervene when fists fly. And then I help a struggling child learn his letters. All in a day's work as a kindergarten teacher!

As a parent and a teacher I am both excited for the new assessments and frustrated at the lack of assistance for teachers and students. This conversation was very welcome. cbc.ca/listen/live-ra…

Melanie Brethour He will grow out of it Let’s just wait and see Give him the gift of time He will read when he is ready Every teacher who has uttered these words thought they were doing the right thing. But they were … uh hmm … sold a story.

My students are enthralled with bugs right now so I have compiled a list of books to read, songs to sing, and information to teach about insects. These kiddos are age 3-5 and LOVE this learning! Explicit teaching and outdoor learning together!

I was happy to hear from a friend that the Literacy Specialists in our board received Next Steps in Literacy Instruction, 7 Mighty Moves, and registration in The Basics of Decoding and Spelling. I also own these books and they sit prominently on my school shelf, ready to share.

Just spent some time with a Gr. 4/5 teacher discussing how to do ORF with her class then discussing next steps. This is all new for her but I hope she tries it. Every step forward is a step in the right direction.

It was Meet the Teacher night so I made several sets of these for kindergarten parents. I use these regularly in class to help the Ss learn letter sounds. ONlit.org