In this episode of The Education Connection, I’m sharing how I teach one, two, and three syllable words in first grade. You’ll hear a simple explanation of syllables and three easy, hands-on activities that help students hear the beats in words and build stronger phonics skills. If you are teaching first grade syllables and need practical ideas for introducing 1, 2, and 3 syllable words, this episode is for you.

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In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin shares an important update about the podcast schedule and a simple classroom strategy for supporting students who are close to reaching grade level.

Beginning next week, new episodes of the podcast will be released on Saturdays. Robin explains why this change will help her continue sharing thoughtful and helpful content for teachers each week.

Robin also discusses a group of students many teachers know well, the “bubble kids.” These are students who were once considered for retention but have made meaningful growth during the second half of the school year. With just a little extra support, they can continue moving forward with confidence.

In this episode, Robin explains how she uses independent reading time to call these students back daily to listen to them read, coach them through tricky words, and strengthen their fluency and comprehension. She also shares how she balances that time with students who still need deeper remediation.

If you are looking for a practical way to support struggling readers during the final months of the school year, this episode will give you a simple idea you can use right away.

Robin closes the episode with scripture and prayer to encourage teachers as they continue the important work of guiding their students each day.

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In this episode of The Education Connection, Robin Wilson explores one of the most powerful phonics patterns for early readers: Silent E. Some teachers call it Magic E, and in Secret Stories it’s known as Mommy E. No matter what you call it, this small letter has a big job because it makes the vowel say its name.

Robin shares a fun classroom approach where she dresses up as Mommy E and teaches students how this silent letter changes words like cap to cape and tap to tape. When phonics becomes memorable and engaging, students are much more likely to understand and retain the pattern.

You’ll also learn three simple small group activities teachers can use to help students practice reading and building Silent E words, including word building, word changing, and sorting activities that reinforce the difference between short and long vowel sounds.

Are you teaching suffix -ing in your classroom? In this episode, we break down what -ing really means, how it strengthens decoding and fluency, and three simple activities you can use right away. Plus, we connect -ing to glued sounds like ing, ang, ong, ung, ink, ank, onk, and unk to help students see patterns inside bigger words. Practical, structured literacy strategies you can use tomorrow.

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This week on The Education Connection, we are breaking down one tiny suffix that can cause big confusion in the classroom… -ed.

Did you know -ed makes three different sounds? It can say /t/, /d/, or /ed/. If your students are reading “jump-ed” or adding an extra syllable where it doesn’t belong, this episode is for you.

In this episode, I walk you through simple, practical ways to teach the three sounds of -ed so your students can hear it, feel it, and apply it confidently in both reading and writing. I share clear word examples, easy sorting activities, and a hands on strategy using the “throat check” trick to help students determine which sound -ed makes.

If you are teaching past tense verbs and want your instruction to stick, this episode will give you ready to use ideas you can implement immediately.

Let’s build strong readers together.

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This week, we are tackling three consonant blends like string, spring, strong, and shrimp — words that look simple but require serious brain work for young readers.

In this episode of The Education Connection, I break down:

• What three letter blends actually are

• Why students sometimes drop a sound when reading them • How to slow down instruction to build confidence

• Why we should build words before asking students to read them

• Four simple, no purchase at-home activities parents can use right away

You’ll learn how to help students tap each sound, isolate the blend, and slide into the full word without losing a consonant along the way.

Because when sounds stack up, we don’t rush. We build it before we read it.

I also share encouragement from Isaiah 61:3 about putting on a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness — because stretching into harder reading skills takes patience for both kids and adults.

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I’ve created a free “Three Consonant Blend Guide” practice worksheet to go along with this lesson.

You can grab your free copy here:

👉 Three Consonant Blend Guide

Use it in small groups, send it home for extra practice, or use it as an intervention support tool.

If you’re teaching blends this week or supporting a young reader at home, this episode will give you practical tools and encouragement to keep going.

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In this episode, Robin Wilson breaks down a common phonics mystery: why some students know their letter sounds but still struggle to blend words. Blending is not just one skill. There are different reasons a child might get stuck, and each one needs a different kind of support.

Robin explains three specific blending breakdowns teachers see in early readers: sound production, sound linking, and sound memory. You will learn how to recognize each one and, more importantly, what to do about it. This episode is packed with simple, hands-on classroom activities like mirror mouth work, sound trains, and sound buttons that help students physically connect sounds into words.

If you have students who freeze when reading, guess instead of blend, or get frustrated during decoding, this episode will give you practical tools and encouragement. Growth takes time, and you are planting seeds every day.

Scripture encouragement from Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary in doing good, because the harvest comes in its season.

Get Ready for next year with these ultimate resources.

Get Ready for Kindergarten

Get Ready for First Grade

Get Ready for Second Grade

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In this episode of The Education Connection, we’re talking about a simple phonics pattern first graders are learning to notice — two vowels together. I share how to teach EA, EE, OA, AI, UE, and UI using easy, no-prep classroom activities you can start this week. I also share a personal reflection after missing last week due to sickness and a reminder from Romans 8:26 that even when we don’t know what to do in our classrooms, the Spirit helps us. Practical teaching and encouragement for the heart.

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