Episode
119. Easy Small Group Ideas for Blending and Decoding Success
- Published
- Jan 29, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 717
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://kindergarten-cafe.captivate.fm
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Summary
Have students who know their letters and sounds… but freeze when it’s time to blend them into a word? This episode is for you. I’m walking you through exactly how I support early readers in small groups who need extra help with blending and decoding and it’s simpler than you think. In this episode I share: My go-to small group structure for decoding support Why a quick sound review still matters How nonsense words help build real skills A simple trick using decodable books for more independence Why Elkonin boxes are game changers Easy, hands-on activities to make blending stick Send Zeba a voice message Related Episodes: Kindergarten Small Groups for Teaching Letter Sounds ~ Ep. 106 Kindergarten Case Study: Supporting Kindergarteners With No Letter Knowledge ~ Ep. 105 Resources: Decodable Readers - and general recommendations CVC Words: Beginning, Middle, End Sounds Phonemic Awareness Games and Centers Connect with Zeba: Instagram - @kindergartencafe Facebook - @kindergartencafe Website - www.kindergartencafe.org Tik Tok - @kindergartencafe Mentioned in this episode: Kindergarten Essentials Grab the year-long, mega-bundle kindergarten activities here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Teacher-Essentials-Year-Long-Mega-Bundle-Kindergarten-Activities-8356704