Sunshine Books Blog

The Why and What of Reading Assessment If we are to ensure that as many children as possible are reading proficiently by the time they

The value of read-alouds Over the summer holidays I read Read Alouds for All Learners: A Comprehensive Plan for Every Subject, Every Day, Grades PreK–8

Literacy Routines for the Beginning of the School Year In the first few weeks of the school year, establishing your classroom norms (aligned to your

Whole Class Reading in Upper Primary (Part 2 of 2) This blog post is Part 2 of a two-part series unpacking how whole class reading

Whole Class Reading in Upper Primary (Part 1 of 2) This blog post is Part 1 of a two-part series unpacking how whole class reading

The Importance of Teaching Handwriting The importance of teaching handwriting has been grossly underestimated in recent years, and teachers have been given the wrong messages

Reading Intervention Support using the Sunshine Phonics Decodables Series We have all come across those fortunate learners for whom learning to read comes easily —

The Knowledge-Rich Curriculum The aim of this blog is to spark curiosity and open dialogue around what a knowledge-rich curriculum is, and why educators may

Morphology What is morphology? Morphology is the study of the smallest units of meaning in a word. These parts or bases are called morphemes. English

AI in the Classroom The hype around the use of AI continues to build. AI is being used increasingly in classrooms, and it’s not just

Phonological Awareness What is phonological awareness? Phonological awareness is the umbrella term or concept which includes phonemic awareness of the individual speech sounds in words

Shared Reading in a Structured Literacy Classroom Shared reading is a powerful teaching technique which has a strong research base. It supports and improves students:

The Literacy Block in a Structured Literacy Classroom Juggling the demands of a busy classroom is not for the faint hearted, and ensuring that you

Reading Comprehension (Part 2 of 2) Practical classroom activities to help build reading comprehension This blog is Part 2 of a two-part blog on comprehension.

Reading Comprehension (Part 1 of 2) At some point in our teaching careers we have all come across those students who after reading a page

Let’s Talk: Strategies for Oral Language Success “Reading and writing float on a sea of talk.” – James Britton 1970 It is widely accepted by

From Misspelt to Mastered: Understanding Spelling Instruction The importance of teaching spelling has long been overlooked. If you trained as a teacher during the ‘balanced

Words Matter: Elevating Vocabulary Instruction in the Classroom David Geary, in his work on cognitive development, introduces the concept of Biological Primary Knowledge as a