Search Results for: road

Lowercase Letter Tracing Roads

Lowercase Letter Tracing Roads

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, homeschooling parent or hands-on family member, our newest freebie is a must-try.  A follow up to our incredibly popular uppercase letter tracing book, this letter tracing sheets set makes learning how to write lowercase letters super motivating and fun. We hope you love it as much as we do. On your…

Is Your Curriculum Science of Reading Aligned? Watch Out for These Signs!

Is Your Curriculum Science of Reading Aligned? Watch Out for These Signs!

Are you curious if your curriculum is science of reading aligned so you can ensure your students are receiving the best reading instruction possible? If so, this list is for you. The Science of Reading is a research-based approach that continues gaining traction because of its effectiveness in teaching children to read. It emphasizes phonemic…

Playdough to Plato

Excellence-driven Pre-K, Kindergarten, & First Grade Teachers Your search for ALL the training & tools for playful Science of Reading instruction stops here. Ready to fill your teacher bag with everything you need to help EVERY student learn to read? HAVE YOU BEEN… Left to fend for yourself? And border-line panicking over the growing complexity…

About Playdough to Plato

You don’t need to be a reading specialist to be an exceptional reading teacher. All you need are the scientifically proven tools & training that make learning to read inevitable for every child. If you’re a pre-K, kindergarten, or first grade teacher who wants to finally feel confident about your reading instruction, you’ve come to…

Home

Hey teachers! Save time, stay inspired, and get bigger teaching results. Hello, I’m Malia Hollowell. I am a National Board Certified Teacher, Playdough to Plato founder, and lover of Starbucks drinks & bright red nail polish. I’m so glad that you’re here! My obsession is giving you the tools, strategies and support you need to…

Thinking About Teaching First Grade? Here’s What You Should Know.

Thinking About Teaching First Grade? Here’s What You Should Know.

So you’re interested in teaching first grade? Good for you! It’s a crucial time to help students build a strong foundation that will help prepare them for their future academic and career endeavors. Beyond a strong dedication to each student’s success, here are some soft skills and practical matters that you’ll need to consider. For…

For Schools

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Magic E Pop It Center

Magic E Pop It Center

Did you know that the magic E has SEVEN different jobs? Yep, it’s true! And learning them makes it SO MUCH easier to help students read because you can finally explain the rules behind spelling patterns. See the seven different silent E rules below and then snag a copy of a playful magic E pop…

Beginning Sounds Center

Beginning Sounds Center

It’s crazy but true! If you teach a student 10 sight words, they can read 10 words… BUT, if you teach that same child 10 letter sounds, they can read THOUSANDS of words. That’s the power of phonics! And these beginning sound cards a playful, hands-on way to help kids practice just that. Snag your set below and…

Phonemic Awareness Pop Its

Phonemic Awareness Pop Its

Do you have any students who know ALL of the letter sounds but, when it comes time to blend those sounds together to read a word, they STILL struggle? This will help! A lot of times readers just need to practice something called phonemic awareness. Luckily, this playful pop it center is a super fun…

ABC Art Book

ABC Art Book

Making an ABC book is a fun, hands-on way to introduce children to letters and help them understand how those letters are used to make words. This free printable ABC book takes all of that learning one step further by introducing kids to art techniques including apple printing, car painting and (my personal favorite!) elbow stamping!!…

Free Ice Cream Blend Puzzles

Free Ice Cream Blend Puzzles

If you’re looking for a motivating, visual way to teach kids how to read and write blends like BL-, FR- and SM-, you’ll love these free ice cream puzzles. They’re great to use as literacy centers, guided reading activities or homeschool practice. You’ll love the low prep set up and kids will love the sweet theme:…

Free Compound Word Puzzles

Free Compound Word Puzzles

Looking for a fun way to teach kids about compound words?! These picture-only compound word puzzles are a memorable way to show how two words can be combined to make a brand new word. They’re great to use as a whole class lesson, guided reading activity, literacy center or homeschool game. Snag your set below…

Ice Cream in a Bag

Ice Cream in a Bag

What’s better than ice cream on a hot summer’s day?!  Ice cream with a little kids’ science sprinkled on top, that’s what!  This deliciously fun ice cream in a bag is so simple. It’s one of our favorite treats to make while camping. With a few common ingredients and a little muscle, you too can enjoy…

Magic E Wand

Magic E Wand

This DIY magic E wand is one of my favorite ways to teach kids what happens when a silent E is added to the end of a consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) word. It’s a memorable, hands-on activity that helps kids magically transform short vowels into long vowels. Just. Like. That. Snag your set below and then request an…

How to Teach -ED

How to Teach -ED

Have you ever noticed that when -ED is added to the end of a word, it can sound like /ed/, /d/ or even /t/? When we teach -ED, it’s important that we introduce students to all three sounds (and explain the difference!) so they always know how to read and spell them. Learn how to…

Vowel Sound Sticks

Vowel Sound Sticks

For many kids, the hardest letter sounds to learn are those tricky vowels: A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y. Every word in English has at least one, so tackling them is uber important but, MASTERING them…. well, that can be a long road for some.  This vowel activity is here to help! These…

Reading Bingo

Reading Bingo

If you need a simple way to motivate your students to read at home, this reading BINGO sheet is a must-grab! Kids will have so much fun trying to cross off all of the challenges that they won’t even realize that they’re reading! (I love sneaky learning, don’t you?!) Snag your copy below and then…

Free Reading Assessment

Free Reading Assessment

An important first step in teaching kids how to read is figuring out what they already know. This simple reading assessment makes it easy to see the letter names, sounds and sight words students have mastered so that you can determine what to teach next. It’s the perfect jumpstart to our 4 week teacher training…

Two Kinds of Readers

Two Kinds of Readers

Did you know that there are two kinds of readers sitting in your classroom right now? It’s true! And if you’ve ever felt unsure about how to help a struggling reader, than you’ll want to stick around, because knowing how to spot each type will help you get bigger, faster teaching results. This is just…

How to Teach Reading

How to Teach Reading

If you’re wondering how to teach reading, you’re in the right spot! This step-by-step guide covers everything from pre-reading skills to phonics, sight words and reading comprehension so that you can take kids from NON-readers to STRONG readers. Check out the step-by-step below and then request an invite to my 4 week course, The Reading…

Word Family Egg Game

Word Family Egg Game

When Easter is over, what do you do with those extra plastic eggs?  Instead of tucking them back into storage, keep them out for this hands-on word family game! See the surprisingly simple step-by-step below and then request an invite to our 4 week course, The Reading Roadmap, so you can get the proven, ready-to-deploy…

Self Care Checklist

Self Care Checklist

I’ve tried to write this self care checklist blog post a hundred different times, but my nerves always got the best of me. Because showing up and being vulnerable is hard. But I believe that I have a responsibility to be 100% real with you, so I’m finally taking a deep breath and hitting publish… If you’re like me,…

Sticky Ice Science Experiment

Sticky Ice Science Experiment

Quick, easy and a little magical – this kid’s science experiment with ice is simply too cool not to do.  The classic activity challenges little magicians scientists to lift an ice cube using only a string and salt.  With serious wow factor, this science experiment is a simple, fun way to learn about salts’ effects on…

50 Fun ABC Games for Kids

50 Fun ABC Games for Kids

ABC games are a fun, hands-on way to teach kids the names and sounds of letters. This roundup of 50 ABC games includes favorite finds from across the web. Whether you’re looking for a super-active game or you’d like an easy download you can print and play, this list has you covered. Then, hop over to become a…

St. Patrick’s Day Puzzles

St. Patrick’s Day Puzzles

Whether you need a low-prep preschool math game or screen-free busy bag, these free St. Patrick’s Day puzzles are a fun, hands-on way to practice ABC and 123 order. When you’re done, snag our Number Formation Pack in our shop! Getting Ready I printed a copy of the St. Patrick’s Day puzzles HERE on cardstock…

30 Must-Have Kids’ Craft Supplies

30 Must-Have Kids’ Craft Supplies

Need a ready-for-anything kids’ craft supplies box? Throw these 30 must-have supplies in a large plastic tub and you’ll have everything you need in one spot. And, for a little project inspiration, check out some of my favorite kids’ craft finds from across the internet. Enjoy! This post contains Amazon affiliate links.   Pipe Cleaners – Wondering how…

23 Alphabet Centers

23 Alphabet Centers

Get ready to add a huge dose of fun to your alphabet centers! These 23 fun, motivating alphabet games teach kids critical skills including letter names, letter sounds, ABC sequencing, letter formation and uppercase-lowercase pairing. Use them as literacy centers, small group activities, morning work or homeschool activities. There are so many possibilities! Grab your…

Syllable Cookie Jar Sort

Syllable Cookie Jar Sort

When kids learn how to break words into syllables, they take a big step toward reading.  Your kids are sure to love learning syllables with these cookie jar syllable sorts! Snag your set below and then request an invite to our 4 week course, The Reading Roadmap, so you can get the proven, ready-to-deploy system for…

Our Instagram Reel

Our Instagram Reel

Welcome Instagram friends! This is the place to find all of our latest posts in one spot. Simply scroll down and click on the activity you’re searching for – our newest posts are on top. Spring STEM Challenges in our shop // on Teachers Pay Teachers 3D Shape Puzzles Sticky Ice Rainbow Digraph Puzzles Egg…

The Stages of Block Play

The Stages of Block Play

Block play is a huge deal at my house. My kids adore building with blocks and I love their enthusiasm because blocks are so open-ended and grow with children, not to mention they are an excellent toy that encourages fine motor development. Scroll below to find the different stages of block play, and then hop…

Number Recognition I Spy

Number Recognition I Spy

I was so impressed when my four year old hopped into the car after preschool and counted from 1 to 100 completely by himself. I may have even patted myself on the back for a minute…. until I realized that he could recite his numbers but he most definitely could not recognize his numbers {past…

4 Must-Try Dice Games

4 Must-Try Dice Games

Dice games are a quick, screen free way to entertain kids when you’re at home or on the go. These four must-try dice games are my family’s favorites. They’re easy to learn, fun to play, and {as a HUGE bonus} teach kids important math skills too. Gotta’ love that! For more fun math activities, grab our…

Airport Scavenger Hunt

Airport Scavenger Hunt

Traveling with young kids can be stressful but we’re here to help. Print this free airport scavenger hunt before you go and enjoy some fun, screen-free entertainment while you wait to board. (You could find most of the items on the scavenger hunt when you’re cooped up on the airplane too!) Grab the printable below…

20 ABC Games for Boys

20 ABC Games for Boys

ABC games are a great way to teach kids the names and sounds of letters. What makes this roundup of 20 ABC games a little different is that it’s filled with boy-tested and strongly approved activities that are about the things boys love most. No worksheets allowed. So roll up your sleeves, pull on your fireman hat and get ready to…

100+ Preschool Activities

100+ Preschool Activities

I love finding preschool activities that make learning fun for my kids – science projects, math games, ABC games… you name it, I’m a fan. That’s why I was excited to pull together a list of more than 100 of my favorite hands-on preschool activities from across the web so that I could find tons of fun, educational ways to fill…

The Reading Wand

The Reading Wand

Whenever I asked my kindergarten or second grade students to name their favorite part of the day, “recess” always seemed to be #1 on their list.  They loved playing, talking and moving with their friends.  So it’s no surprise that their favorite reading activity was usually “Read Around the Room”- an activity your family will…