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Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

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Choosing the best reading curriculum for elementary can feel overwhelming. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.

But I am here to make your choice a little easier with a breakdown of some of the most popular and effective programs.

I have compared them by learning style, pros and considerations, and grade levels so that you can make the best choice for your reader whatever level they are at. You can see them at the bottom of this post.

Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

Reading is the foundation for all of your child’s future learning and reading fluency and comprehension directly affect every other subject- from math word problems to science instructions.

And for fun but also to help them stay on track we are going to make a reading pointer craft so that they can follow along with simple readers or chapter books.

Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.

HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS

First, look at some reasons why it’s important to choose a reading program that fits your family.

5 REASONS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE THE BEST READING CURRICULUM FOR ELEMENTARY

1.Strong reading programs teach more than just decoding—they develop vocabulary, grammar, inference skills, and critical thinking. These tools help your child to analyze, question, and articulate their ideas more effectively.

2. A well-designed reading curriculum can spark a lifelong love of books. When children enjoy what they read and feel successful doing it, they’re more motivated to learn independently.

3.The right curriculum accommodates how your child learns best—whether they need multisensory support, phonics-heavy instruction, or literature-rich engagement. This personal fit makes learning smoother and more enjoyable.

4. Reading difficulties, if left unaddressed, can snowball into academic frustration and low self-esteem. A good curriculum gives you tools to spot issues early and reinforce weak areas.

5, Reading is a great way to expose children to new ideas, cultures, and experiences. Even those in fantasy worlds. It gives them language to express their own thoughts. It also strengthens writing skills and oral communication.

Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

Next, look at this fun reading pointer craft for young children.

HOW TO MAKE A READING POINTER

You will need:

  • Jumbo craft sticks
  • Craft paint/paint pens
  • Craft pom poms
  • Googly eyes
  • Permanent marker
  • Tacky or hot glue
  • Optional- Buttons, small toys, LEGO
Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

You can let your child create their reading pointer using paint, fun little toys like LEGO, buttons, or anything else they wish. I wanted to give you a quick tutorial for this Bookwork Pointer.

Start by gluing small green pom poms onto the majority of the length of your craft stick, near the end add a larger green pom pom.

Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

Take a black permanent marker or paint pen and outline the outer edges of a large pair of googly eyes to create glasses.

Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

Glue the eyes to the large pompom.

Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

Here are some of the other cute and simple reading pointers we made.

Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft

MORE READING CURRICULUM TIPS

Finally, look at my list of best reading curriculum for elementary.

6 Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary

A strong foundation in reading during elementary school boosts academic achievement but also fosters a lifelong love of learning.

Why Is Geronimo Stilton So Popular Among Young Readers

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Why is Geronimo Stilton so popular among young readers? Also, look at my page Geronimo Stilton Books for more great activities.

Geronimo Stilton was created by Italian author Elisabetta Dami. But the books are presented like they are written by Geronimo himself.

The first Geronimo Stilton book was published in Italy in 2000 and then later translated into English and other languages.

Why Is Geronimo Stilton So Popular Among Young Readers

And if you’ve seen a brightly colored book with a mouse in a suit dashing across the cover it is none other than Geronimo Stilton.

But why is Geronimo Stilton so popular among young readers?

When we read our first one, we laughed almost the whole way through the fun read.

GERONIMO STILTON BOOK SERIES

First, look at some of the titles of the fun books.

Geronimo Stilton Books 1 - 20

It is not necessary to go in order, each book is its own stand-alone story, and the main characters are properly reintroduced each time.  So, you can choose the books based on your child's current interest, the season, or a unit study topic.

Now, look at some of the fun reasons both parents and children love the series.

WHY IS GERONIMO STILTON SO POPULAR

Look at these facts about the book series.

  • The books have a visual flair both with text and pictures. For example, some text is larger than the other and color coded. It brings attention to certain words to help young readers understand the tone. Basically, the words are different colors, fonts, and sizes.
  • Also, Geronimo Stilton is a mouse and the editor and publisher of the fictional newspaper The Rodent’s Gazette in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. However, he is very human to children.
  • Geronimo is always going on an adventure and is a scaredy mouse. He is curious, funny, and cautious. Because he is not very brave, children of all ages love his charming personality.
  • Many of the books explore geographical areas and historical events, ancient civilizations, and time travel. It’s a fun blend of stepping back in time, adventure and education. Children read about history and geography in a natural and fun way much like a living book.
  • And of course being a mouse, he loves his cheese. He especially loves Mozarella and Swiss. We did a charcuterie board one time as we were reading.
  • Because there is educational information packed into the stories, they pair nicely with our geography and history unit studies.
  • I wouldn’t really call Geronimo a superhero. He is thoughtful and kind. Because he is cowardly but overcomes his fear and helps others, his character can make a great model for kids. He models perseverance and curiosity.
  • Too, it appeals to many cultures because of the universal theme of friendship and courage.

Why Is Geronimo Stilton So Popular Among Young Readers

Finally, look at these activities that we have done to pair with the adventures in some of his books.

MORE GERONIMO STILTON ACTIVITIES

You should try one or two.

Because of the fast-pace, and visual design and adventurous plot the series really appeals to the reluctant reader.

In a world full of digital distractions your young readers will keep coming back from.

How To Go From Phonics To Reading With 20 CVC Wheels

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Helping a child to transition from phonics to reading is a natural flow for a budding reader. Also, look at my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum for more fun ideas and activities.

First, you teach a child letter sounds not necessarily letter names.

A strong foundation in phonics can be taught through natural conversations, games, hand play, music and storytelling.

How To Go From Phonics To Reading With 20 CVC Wheels

Too, it’s not necessary that a child masters all the sounds as he will continue to learn them and reinforce them with the use of a CVC wheel.

Next children need to put sounds together to form words. That is how we learn to read.

Sure, teaching sounds in isolation is important but then again children are smart and want a reason to use them.

Learning CVC words is the next step. Consonant-vowel-consonant words gives your budding reader immediate satisfaction. They are now seeing how the sounds come together to form words.

EASY BOOKS FOR BEGINNER READERS

Also, strengthen their reading skill level by these beginning books.

12 Books For Beginner Readers

Also, look at how rhyming and learning cvc words form a strong foundation for reading.

HOW TO STRENGTHEN CVC SKILLS BY RHYMING

For instance, rhyming is not just a fun child’s game. When a child rhymes he can hear shared sounds.

And recognizing those sounds helps a child to learn to group word families together.

Blending is what a child does when he puts the letters sounds he learned together.

And when a child learns one rhyming pattern he increases his vocabulary with more similar words

Hands on is the best way to teach reading.

HOW TO USE CVC WHEELS TO TEACH READING

For example, one of the tools I love to use are cvc wheels.

It takes just a few minutes to put therm together.

But once they’re together and fastened a child can read and review the cvc words repeatedly.

How To Go From Phonics To Reading With 20 CVC Wheels

And once you put the cvc word wheels together you can use them for your next reader.

Using the cvc wheels in conjunction with a reader nurtures your child’s desire to read.

MORE READING ACTIVITIES

How To Go From Phonics To Reading With 20 CVC Wheels

Additionally, look at the word wheels included in this .pdf download.

  • -at family
  • -ab family
  • -ag family
  • -am family
  • –an family
  • -ap family
  • -ar family
  • -ed family
  • -en family
  • -ig family
  • -in family
  • -ip family
  • -ot family
  • –ob family
  • -og family
  • -op family
  • –it family
  • -ug family
  • -un family
  • -ut family

HOW TO GET THE 20 CVC WORD WHEELS

You can get it now!

TOS
Important: READ THIS FIRST.

Before you email me asking where your download link is or tell me that it is not working, read this to ensure that you get your pretties timely and that you don’t pay for something and not get it.
• All my products are digital. You will not receive a physical product for anything in my store. A digital physical year calendar does not mean a physical product or calendar.
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Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

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Today, I’m sharing free printable kindergarten worksheets and a fun winter alphabet scavenger hunt. Also, look at my page Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum for more fun ideas and activities.

Although I’m a huge advocate of hands-on but beginning penmanship skills need to be reinforced too.

So a worksheet or two should be another tool we have to boost alphabet and phonics recognition.

Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

One way of doing that is by themed worksheets.

By focusing on a theme or unit study children are engaged with a topic while learning about the alphabet.

Then, another way to nurture penmanship skills is to play a game.

For example, with my printable winter themed alphabet scavenger hunt kids are doing both.

They’re enlarging their vocabulary with winter themed words and practice writing skills by noting things they find in the scavenger hunt.

BEST PHONICS FOR KINDERGARTEN

Next, along with learning the alphabet it’s important first to teach kids sounds that letters represent.

Through games and books, it makes teaching phonics easy.

11 Best Phonics for Homeschool Kindergarten

Teaching kids how to read doesn't have to be hard, you just have to have the right tools.

You'll love these phonics resources.

Additionally, you need a variety of ways to teach the alphabet not just worksheets.

I’ve uses games, songs, art and even dance.

8 WAYS TO TEACH PHONICS OF THE ALPHABET

Look at this list of easy ways to teach the alphabet for your kindergarten size kids.

  1. Play a is for apple and d is for dog as you spend time throughout the day.
  2. Kids love sensory trays. It promotes tactile learning. So use a sensory tray to dig for the letters of the alphabet or to find items to match a letter. Even place items for 2 different letters in the tray. Have your child match the item to the correct letter sound.
  3. Scavenger hunts encourage moving which is a natural part of learning at this age. Don’t fight the need to wiggle. Use the need to move while locating things around the house or better yet outside to fit the letter sound you’re focused on.
  4. Along with the printable kindergarten worksheets, read story books like Chicka Chicka Boom and Dr. Seuss’s ABC.
  5. Songs and dance also allows kids to move and learn.
  6. Some kids love to color letter worksheets.
  7. Too tracing letters is another way to engage senses. Kids can do this with their finger.
  8. Use edible peanut butter dough to form letter. Doesn’t hurt if your kids take a taste or two as long as they have no allergies.

Also, look at these free printable kindergarten worksheets.

FREE PRINTABLE KINDERGARTEN WORKSHEETS

Free Printable Kindergarten Worksheets | Awesome Winter-Themed Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Finally, look at how to grab the free winter themed scavenger hunt for kindergarten.

HOW TO GET THE FREE WINTER THEMED SCAVENGER HUNT

Now, how to grab the freebie. It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

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Create a simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO to commemorate your child’s love of the mouse. Also, look at my page Geronimo Stilton Books for more great activities.

Too, this activity encourages the skills of creativity, fine motor skills, and following directions.

Do you have a mouse loving kid?

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

And by mouse, of course, I mean the adventure loving, time traveling mouse -Geronimo Stilton.

If you do, I have a really fun 2D Portrait Geronimo Stilton LEGO tutorial for them.

In addition, I have a roundup of other unique crafts and ideas to go along with many of the books in the series.

Geronimo Stilton Books for Kids

Geronimo Stilton Books 1 - 20

It is not necessary to go in order, each book is its own stand-alone story, and the main characters are properly reintroduced each time.  So, you can choose the books based on your child's current interest, the season, or a unit study topic.

What I love about the books besides the fact that they are intriguing to kids and build reading fluency and vocabulary skills is that they have great illustrations.

They show actual artifacts, clothing, and people throughout history as well as current places to naturally build geography skills through familiarity.

The series is humorous and contains lots of great facts presented in an entertaining way, he definitely has earned a portrait of his own.

The majority of the bricks needed for this craft, or a very close substitute can be found in the LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box.

More Geronimo Stilton Book Series Activities

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial

The cone we used for the nose is not in the basic brick boxes, but you may have it in your stash, if not there are other tapered bricks that can give you a similar look.

I highly recommend that even if your child has a lot of LEGO bricks already that you purchase one or two of these and keep them separate from all other bricks to use for builds like this.

They are also really fun for challenges and can be used during reading aloud to keep hands busy.

You will need:

  • 2 LEGO Eyes
  • 1 single brown round stud
  • 2 Pink 1×2 LEGO Bricks
  • 9 Tan 2×2 LEGO Bricks
  • 6 Tan 1×2 LEGO Bricks
  • 2 Tan Studs (single)
  • 3 Red 2×2 LEGO Bricks
  • 6 White 1×2 LEGO Bricks
  • 10 Green 2×2 LEGO Bricks
  • 2 Green 1×2 LEGO Slope Bricks
  • Small baseplate

First, place your 9 tan 2×2 LEGO bricks in the center of a small baseplate to form a square, any plate 16×16 and larger will work great.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Place your 3 red 2×2 bricks right down the center right to the bottom edge.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Now put the white 1×2’s down either side of the red to form his shirt and tie.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Place three 2×2 green bricks down either side and then 2 of the 2×2 green bricks outside of that, topping them with a sloped brick to create the appearance of shoulders/arms.

If you don’t have those sloped pieces, no worries, just use another couple 2×2 bricks.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Starting at each of the top corners of the head make ears by placing your 3 tan 1×2 bricks and the single 1×1 tan brick in a “circle”

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Fill in with a pink 1×2 brick.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

Finally place a brown round single stud on top of a cone or other sloped piece and press in the center of the face and add your eyes.

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids

What a handsome mouse he is!

A Simple Geronimo Stilton LEGO Tutorial For Mouse Loving Kids