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Presentation: Structured Literacy & the Home Connection

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Presentation: Structured Literacy & the Home Connection

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Structured Literacy & the Home Connection.pdf

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Phonological Awareness: Stretch & Shorten

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Phonological Awareness: Stretch & Shorten

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You are welcome to print copies or republish materials for non-commercial use as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact info@readingrockets.org.

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Playing with Word Sounds: Stretch and Shorten

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Blending (combining sounds) and segmenting (separating sounds) are phonological awareness skills that are necessary for learning to read. Developing your child's phonological awareness is an important part of developing your child as a reader. Learn how working on phonological awareness can be fun and easy below.

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Words for Stretch and Shorten PA Activity.pdf

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View this video to hear and practice correct sound pronunciation.

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It's not an easy thing, learning to read and write. Discover what it takes to build important literacy skills, and how you can help your children grow as readers, writers, and thinkers!

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Can Scarborough’s Reading Rope Transform the Approach to Literacy Instruction?

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The Science of Reading uncovers the intricate ways that our brains learn to read. Scarborough’s Reading Rope is one of the most approachable ways to better understand the complex processes of what is happening in our brains as we are learning to read.

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Welcome to the University of Florida Literacy Institute's Parent Resource Hub! This collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students. We are adding to and refining these resources regularly, so check back often!

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Welcome to the University of Florida Literacy Institute's Parent Resource Hub! This collection of web-based language and literacy resources was compiled and curated by UFLI faculty and graduate students. We are adding to and refining these resources regularly, so check back often!

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Reading SOS: Should I correct my child when she reads aloud to me?

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Background Knowledge: PBS Virtual Field Trips

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Background Knowledge: PBS Virtual Field Trips

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Virtual Field Trips for Elementary | Classroom Resources Folder from PBS LearningMedia

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Inspire your students with thousands of free teaching resources including videos, lesson plans, and games aligned to state and national standards.

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Background Knowledge: Discovery Virtual Field Trips

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Background Knowledge: Discovery Virtual Field Trips

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Join us for our Virtual Field Trips or watch them on-demand after their premieres. Each no-cost Virtual Field Trip comes with a companion guide packed with standards-aligned, hands-on learning activities! Select one of the options below to register.

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Take students beyond the classroom and into some of the world's most iconic locations with virtual field trips. Learn more!

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Talking to and reading with your child are two terrific ways to help them hear and read new words. Conversations and questions about interesting words are easy, non-threatening ways to get new words into everyday talk. Here are some ideas to get you started.

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Understanding Vocabulary: Why It's Critical to Your Child's Reading

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Mad Libs Printables and Activities | Brightly

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Mad Libs provide a fun and engaging way to teach kids about parts of speech while reinforcing essential grammar, reading comprehension, and vocabulary skills.

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Whether on short trips to the store or long road trips, car games help make travel time more entertaining and distract your kids from the monotony of the drive. Even better is if those games help your kids learn. Here are some great car games for kids of different ages.

I Spy Bottles

Buy or make your own "Find It" or "I Spy" bottle. These contain small items that are mixed in with a lot of rice and glued shut. Kids shake the bottle to find the items.

Rubberneckers

In this card game, players must watch closely to find the items listed on the cards in order to score points.

What other games have kept your kiddos entertained while traveling?

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18 Great Learning Games for Car Trips | Brightly

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Car games help make travel time more entertaining and distract your kids from the monotony of the drive. It's even better if those games help your kids learn!

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School Jokes For Kids_ 31 Easy-To-Read Lunchbox Jokes.pdf

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Verbal Reasoning: Song Lyrics (Radio Edits)

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Verbal Reasoning: Song Lyrics (Radio Edits)

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Skip to content

GET STARTED

Last Updated September 2025
Anyone who's worked with me knows that I don't endorse a lot of restriction on what kids are allowed to sing. Children's love of a song often has nothing to do with how they relate to the lyrics and much to do with how a certain melodic hook, chord progression, or beat moves them. Exposure, of course, also plays a large role, so children gravitate toward what you play for them in the car and what their older siblings play in their room. But while I don't like dictating what kids have to sing, it's important to at least sometimes encourage them to sing lyrics that they can relate to so that they can get practice understanding the emotional crux of a song. It can be challenging to find pop songs like this, so today I'm giving you 10 child-appropriate pop songs for kids to sing.

1. Brave, by Sara Bareilles

"Brave" is about having the courage to speak up instead of bottling up all the hurt and anger. It's a wonderful, empowering message for all ages.

2. Beautiful, by Christina Aguilera

Since the official music video isn't as G rated as the song, I used the lyric video instead. Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful" is about maintaining your sense of self-worth even when others are trying to tear you down.

3. Breakaway, by Kelly Clarkson

"Breakaway" is perfect for every age. By preschool, we all enter a variety of situations where we begin to break away from the comfort of our home life and explore the world independently.

4. Mean, by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has several child-appropriate songs, but "Mean" is my favorite message. When a child is being bullied, it's very difficult to keep perspective and realize that this is a temporary phase. Singing along with "Mean" is both empowering and cathartic.

5. Firework, by Katy Perry

One of the quintessential child-appropriate pop songs, "Firework" is about feeling good about yourself and shining bright for the world.

6. Fight Song, by Rachel Platten

"Fight Song" deals with the theme of fighting through the times in your life you feel lost and small. It's very easy to relate to no matter how young or old you are.

7. Happy, by Pharrell Williams

I hope that "Happy" is a song you've all related to at some point and that you've felt like clapping along because happiness is the truth.

8. Count on Me, by Bruno Mars

While Bruno Mars may not have a huge selection of child-appropriate material, "Count on Me" is a pretty strong exception. It's explicitly about friendship and about counting on the people in your life you're closest to.

9. Fireflies, by Owl City

No empowerment theme, no overcoming obstacles or being there for your friends: "Fireflies" is just an all-around fun song full of dream-like images.

10. Who Says, by Selena Gomez

Another song for the empowerment list, "Who Says" discusses loving who you are, flaws and all.

Ready to Bring the Music to Life?

Start your child's superstar journey! Sign up for music lessons at one of our schools located in California, Texas, New York, or Florida. Whether they're strumming a guitar, tickling the ivories, or belting out their favorite tunes, our dedicated instructors are here to help them shine.

Find a music school near you and get started today!

Molly is the founder of Molly's Music. She is a dedicated singer and pianist whose musical journey spans 2.5 decades, with stops along the way to sing for the pope, pass Certificate of Merit at the highest level, study with Gwen Verdon and Ben Vereen, and record an original album.

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10 Child-Appropriate Pop Songs for Kids to Sing [2025] - The Inside Voice

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Sometimes it's hard finding music kids want to sing with age-appropriate lyrics. Here are some child-appropriate pop songs kids love singing.

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Engage Your Child With Informational Reading

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Find out how nonfiction texts combine your child’s real life interests and experiences with their world of reading.

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The Powerful Strategy to Help Your Child Understand What They Read

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Writing SOS: What are some everyday things I can do to help my child’s writing skills?

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RPS Reading at Home Bookmark - Preschool

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RPS Reading at Home Bookmark - Preschool

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RPS Reading at Home Bookmark - Preschool.pdf