By Sara Gross
As students return to the classroom after summer break, teachers face both an exciting opportunity and a unique challenge. Fall is the season for new beginnings, but it’s also a time when students bring varied reading experiences from home; some have read consistently over the summer, while others may have read very little. For K–2 students, whose literacy skills are still developing, this transition period is critical.
At ReadBright, a structured literacy program for beginning readers, we believe the first months of the school year set the tone for everything that follows. With intentional planning, clear routines, and joyful literacy experiences, teachers can help students build confidence, strengthen skills, and rediscover the excitement of reading. Below are strategies to support your students as they begin their fall reading journey.
1. Begin with Review, Not Assumptions
It’s easy to assume students will pick up where they left off in the spring. In reality, most children experience some “summer slide,” especially in foundational skills like phonemic awareness, phonics, and high-frequency word recognition.
Start the year with short, daily review routines:
- Alphabet and sound drills using sound cards or an ABC song with motions.
- Blending practice with short, decodable words to re-establish fluency in connecting sounds to print.
- Quick checks of high-frequency words, particularly those introduced in the previous grade.
This isn’t just remediation; it’s confidence-building. Students feel empowered when they realize they can still read, even after the summer break.
2. Rebuild Classroom Routines Around Reading
Young learners thrive on consistency. Early in the year, establish predictable routines for reading instruction so students know what to expect each day. For example:
- Begin with a whole-group phonics warm-up.
- Transition into guided reading with decodable texts.
- Close with a shared read-aloud and comprehension discussion.
Clear routines allow students to focus on the work of reading instead of navigating uncertainty.
3. Surround Students with a Print-Rich Environment
Environment matters, especially for emerging readers. Create a classroom that “breathes reading” with:
- Decodable classroom libraries so students can independently choose texts that match their skill level.
- Sound walls with visuals of letters, keywords, and mouth formations to connect speech to print.
- Anchor charts that highlight phonics patterns or comprehension strategies.
These visual reminders give students tools to help themselves when they feel stuck.
4. Use the Power of Read-Alouds
Never underestimate the impact of a daily read-aloud. Listening to fluent reading builds comprehension, vocabulary, and a love for stories. It also shows students that reading is not just practice; it’s meaningful.
Tips for read-aloud time:
- Vary your genres: mix fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and informational texts.
- Think aloud as you read, modeling how good readers make predictions, visualize, and question the text.
- Invite interaction: stop and ask students to turn and talk, share predictions, or act out key moments.
5. Connect Decodable Practice with High-Frequency Words
Decodable readers are essential for helping students apply phonics in connected text. But because not every word in English follows standard phonics rules, children also need explicit practice with irregular high-frequency words (sometimes called “sight words”).
A strong routine might look like this:
- Introduce a new phonics pattern.
- Read a decodable passage that includes words with that pattern.
- Highlight and practice 1–2 high-frequency words that appear in the text but do not follow the pattern.
This balance ensures students gain both accuracy and automaticity in their reading.
6. Prioritize Fluency and Comprehension Every Day
Fluency and comprehension aren’t add-ons; they’re the purpose of reading. Build them into your daily schedule with:
- Choral or echo reading to support struggling readers.
- Partner reading to encourage peer practice.
- Quick comprehension questions (who, what, when, where, why, how) after each text.
- Retelling activities using sentence frames, drawings, or story maps.
Even brief five-minute comprehension discussions reinforce that reading is about making meaning, not just decoding.
7. Partner with Families for Home Reading
Children make the most progress when school and home work together. Communicate with families early in the year about how they can help:
- Send home simple decodable books or passages that match classroom instruction.
- Provide a list of high-frequency words to review together.
- Encourage parents to read aloud daily and talk about the story, even if the child cannot read it independently yet.
A home-school reading partnership multiplies the practice opportunities children receive.
8. Keep Joy at the Center
While routines, decodables, and structured practice are essential, don’t forget joy. Build excitement by:
- Hosting a “book picnic” where students browse new texts.
- Allowing students to create their own classroom book recommendations board.
- Celebrating reading milestones with simple acknowledgments: “Today we finished our first decodable reader as a class!”
When children see reading as enjoyable, they are more willing to persevere through challenges.
Autumn Can Set the Tone for a Year of A+ Reading
Fall is a season of fresh starts. With consistent routines, intentional review, joyful read-alouds, and meaningful home connections, K–2 teachers can help students grow as readers and thinkers. The habits established in these first months ripple forward into lasting reading success.
At ReadBright, our mission is to support teachers with tools and resources that align with the science of reading and bring joy into literacy instruction. Here’s to a wonderful fall filled with confident, engaged young readers!
Sara Gross, MSEd, is a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience in early literacy instruction. She is the founder of ReadBright, a highly effective structured literacy program for K–2 students that combines evidence-based phonics with joyful, decodable content. Sara is passionate about helping teachers bring reading success—and a love of reading—to every child.
