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| ISSUE 70 | MAY 2026 |
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As you wait for the final bell of the 2025–26 school year, we know you’re eager for a relaxing summer break. Before you head off, check out this issue of The Superkids Bulletin for ideas to help you get a head start on the next one! You’ll find tips for refreshing classroom routines, inspiration for classroom decor that serves a purpose, and information about summer learning packets to help your students stay sharp while school’s out.
We hope you have a super end to the school year and a well-deserved, amazing break. You’ve earned it!
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Your classroom displays can do so much more than brighten your walls! Superkids teachers are finding creative ways to make visual spaces work harder—supporting instruction, reinforcing skills, and helping students take ownership of their learning. If a classroom display refresh is on your summer to-do list, this might be the perfect place to start! Here are a few ideas for decorating with a purpose shared by teachers like you.
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Super Sound Walls
Teachers have been trading traditional word walls for sound walls—and for good reason! Sound walls organize words by phonemes rather than by initial letters, giving students a clearer understanding of how sounds connect to spelling.
When using The Superkids Reading Program, teachers often add Sound-Spelling Cards to their sound wall as each new phoneme is introduced. Then, as the unit progresses, they post words with the new spelling pattern under the cards. It’s a great way to make phonics instruction visual, interactive, and meaningful.
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Fabulously Focused
Focus walls aren’t just classroom decoration—they’re powerful teaching tools! Superkids teachers often use program materials to create and update their focus walls, keeping literacy goals front and center. Depending on your grade level and edition, here are some resources you might include:
- Alphabet Cards
- Sound-Spelling Cards
- Memory Word Cards
- Big Topic Cards
- Words to Know Cards
- Printable Spelling List
Bonus Tip: Add these Six Syllable Type Cards when a syllable type is a part of your weekly focus.
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A Special Reading Spot
Some Superkids teachers create inviting spaces for reading instruction and reinforcement activities. A cozy reading spot can make students feel right at home while they practice new skills.
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Daily Routines/Daily Warm-Ups are such an important part of each school day. They help students settle in to learning, review key skills, and start the reading block with confidence. If your Daily Routine could use a little pick-me-up, here are five practical tips from Superkids teachers to consider before the next school year begins.
⏱ Keep it short and sweet.
Set a timer to help your Daily Routine stay within the suggested 10–15 minutes. This will keep students focused and ensure you have plenty of time for the whole Superkids lesson.
✏️ Assign independent work.
If keeping routines under 15 minutes feels challenging, consider having students complete the handwriting portion independently. It’s an easy adjustment that helps keep routines moving.
📋 Stay organized.
Designate a clipboard or special folder for your Daily Routine notes. This Daily Routine Data Catcher makes it easy to view trends and guide your grouping or skill focus for differentiated instruction.
📝 Simplify your observation process.
Documenting student progress may feel overwhelming when you have a full class. Try dividing your students into four or five groups and focus on documenting observations for one group each day. By the end of the week, you’ll have progress information for everyone.
📕 Keep student work together.
Keep student work organized and meaningful with Daily Routine Recording Sheets. Print the cover and pages for your grade, then bind them together to create a special booklet for each student—a great way to keep student work papers neat, track growth over time, and celebrate progress!
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Managing independent work time effectively can make a big difference in the success of your small-group instruction. As you head into summer, it’s a great time to reflect on what worked well this year and what could be improved. Many Superkids teachers use the break to rethink their management systems—from how groups are organized to how students transition between tasks. A few thoughtful tweaks over the summer can set you up for focused small-group instruction when the new school year begins!
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Picture-Perfect Grouping
Use student photos to display the members of each small group. This visual system makes it easy for you, classroom volunteers, substitute teachers, and students to quickly see who’s in each group.
A bonus—it’s perfect for flexible grouping! As students’ needs change, you can easily move photos to form new groups.
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Pocket Chart Power
A simple pocket chart is a tried-and-true tool for managing independent work time. List the daily activities for each group using cards or labels. At the end of the day, a quick card swap updates the chart for tomorrow’s tasks—simple, visual, and efficient!
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Spin into the Next Task
Keep station transitions smooth and predictable with a Station Wheel. Station Wheels can be created from paper or digitally. Assign each section of the wheel to a group—you might use group names, colors, or picture clues to keep groupings clear. In the outer part of each section, list the group’s task. When it’s time to switch activities, spin the wheel one turn to show where groups should move.
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Build Independence, One Box at a Time
If you prefer a more flexible approach to independent work time, checklists might be your best fit. Students can complete assigned tasks in any order they choose. For younger learners, create a short daily checklist of tasks to complete. For older students, provide a longer list that can be completed in any order during the week—perfect for building responsibility and time-management skills.
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Work First, Play Next
A Must Do–May Do system combines structure and choice. Students begin by completing the activities they must do in any order, then move on to the free-choice tasks they may do on their own. If you notice that work quality slips in activities that students must do, try adding a “Redo” step before free-choice time. Students will check a folder for any tasks they need to revisit, then improve any incomplete or rushed work before moving on—a simple tweak that reinforces expectations and accountability.
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Help your students stay engaged and confident this summer by sending them home with Superkids Summer Packets! Each grade-level packet is designed for students exiting the grade indicated and includes a variety of practice pages, games, and reading activities that help make learning fun all summer long. If you are using the © 2026 edition of Superkids, the skills will align with where your students are at the end of the school year. They just may spot a few new friends in the stories.
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Ready, Set, Read! Join us for the 2026 Superkids Schools Conference, a virtual, live learning event for K–2 teachers and leaders, on June 23. This one-day conference provides an opportunity for educators to learn and share effective teaching practices that will help you start the upcoming school year strong with the new edition of The Superkids Reading Program.
While this year’s conference content focuses on the new edition, users of Superkids © 2017 will also find plenty of inspiration and ideas! All Superkids users are welcome to attend all sessions and all parts of the day.
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