Ready, Set, Spark!

_{Spark Reading Newsletter | November 2024}

Hello Spark teachers!

In this month's newsletter, award-winning teacher Andrea Van Hoof shares her favorite Spark Reading strategies for phonics. As winter break approaches, we also have tips for encouraging your students to read at home. Plus, we highlight books that pair perfectly with upcoming dates from our Special Days Calendar. Let's dive in!

Andrea Van Hoof's Go-To Tips for Teaching Phonics with Spark

Explore practical, time-saving strategies from award-winning teacher Andrea Van Hoof on how to use Spark Reading to enhance phonics instruction.

Andrea uses Spark to build phonemic awareness, teach phonics and vocabulary, and support struggling readers.

In this success story, she shares how she integrates Spark into her classroom and the positive impact it's having on her students.

Learn from Andrea

No-Fuss Ideas to Keep Students Reading Over Winter Break

Winter break will be here before we know it. Here are some fun ways to encourage students to keep reading at home

Daily Reading Challenge

Help students beat the "reading slump"! Challenge them to use Spark to read for 15 minutes a day, read a set number of books, or read all the books in a series.

Spark Some Creativity

Extend the learning with fun projects! Ask students to design new book covers, create alternate endings, or write character profiles.

Add a Fun Twist to Digital Read-Alouds

Students love listening to a good story in Spark. For extra fun, ask students to listen with a sibling, parent, or caregiver, or cozy up in a blanket fort with their favorite hot drink

Make a Reading Advent Calendar

Create a simple Reading Advent Calendar that students can start in class and finish at home. Consider offering a small prize to keep them motivated!

Here's some winter-inspired reading fun to help you get started:

● Read Into the Cold (Level W) or A Cold Place (Level B) with a warm cup of hot chocolate or a cozy blanket

● Read Help (Level H) and consider an act of kindness you could do over your winter break.

● Read a book about winter and jot down your favorite things about this chilly season.

Spark Reading + Special Days Calendar

Have you checked out Pearson's Special Days Calendar? It's packed with unique special awareness days you can use to get students thinking and talking. Each day includes curriculum-aligned activities that make adding something special to your lesson plans easy—and fun!

This month, we're sharing some of our favorite days and Spark Reading books that pair perfectly. Because who doesn't love finding a reason to celebrate—and read?

World Kindness Day – November 13