I’m Excited to Share Something New

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wow, it’s been a while since there’s been a post here,” you’re right — it has.

Life, teaching, and everything in between have a way of shifting priorities, and this little space sat quietly in the background longer than I ever planned. I never stopped thinking about instruction or creating resources, but I did step away from writing here for a while.

Until now.

Because every once in a while, you create something that feels too important not to share.

Why I Felt Compelled to Write Again

As I worked on this new resource, I kept thinking about how useful it would be during phonics instruction — the kind of practice that supports decoding, reinforces skills, and keeps students engaged without sacrificing instructional integrity.

That thought stayed with me throughout the entire process.

This wasn’t about making something “cute” or quick. It was about creating meaningful phonics practice that truly supports how students learn to read.

A Different Kind of Color-by-Code Resource

Let’s be honest — color-by-code activities can be fun, but they don’t always support strong instruction.

Too often, they:

encourage guessing
allow students to color without reading
focus more on the picture than the learning

I wanted this resource to be different.

Every worksheet was intentionally designed so instruction comes first.

Students must:

read each sentence
identify and write the target phonics word
and then apply their learning through color-by-code

This structure ensures that students are decoding and thinking, not just coloring.

This resource is designed to grow with students, from early phonics skills to more complex word patterns, all within a consistent, student-friendly format.

Thoughtfully Aligned to the Science of Reading

Each sentence in this resource was carefully written to include:

the target phonics skill
age-appropriate sight words
and only phonics patterns that have already been taught

Students are never asked to decode unfamiliar patterns. Instead, previously taught skills are revisited intentionally, allowing for spiral review and stronger retention.

This approach aligns with the Science of Reading and structured literacy principles, supporting explicit, systematic phonics instruction.

Here is a list of all the phonics skills included:

Who This Resource is For

This resource was created with first-grade students in mind, but it is also highly effective for:

Advanced Kindergarten students who are ready for more challenging phonics practice

Any student who needs review, intervention, or reinforcement of foundational phonics skills

Two Options, Same Instructional Philosophy

Because classrooms and needs vary, this resource is available in two formats, both following the same phonics progression.

Color-by-Code Phonics Practice Pack

This option includes 51 worksheets and provides meaningful practice for each phonics skill with fewer pages per pattern. It’s a great fit for teachers looking for high-quality phonics practice in a streamlined format.

👉 (Link to the Practice Pack)

Color-by-Code Yearlong Phonics Resource

This option includes 102 phonics worksheets, more practice per skill, and 4 bonus rhyming review pages. It’s designed for extended instruction and consistent spiral review across the year.

👉 (Link to the Yearlong Phonics Resource)

Tested with Real Students

These worksheets weren’t created in isolation. They were used with students, adjusted based on what worked, and refined with classroom realities in mind.

They’re:

kid-tested
teacher-approved
low-prep
and designed with non-seasonal images so they can be used any time of year

Why Choose This Resource

ü Covers a full year of phonics instruction

ü Systematic progression of skills

ü Includes multiple worksheets per skill

ü Uses explicit, decodable sentences, allowing students to focus on decoding rather than guessing from pictures

ü Avoids phonics patterns that have not been taught yet

ü Provides built-in spiral review

ü Consistent and predictable routine builds independence

ü Supports Science of Reading / Structured Literacy practices

ü Keeps students engaged without sacrificing instructional quality

Why This Felt Worth Sharing

Coming back to blogging after a long break wasn’t something I planned — but this resource made it feel worthwhile.

When instruction is intentional, thoughtfully designed, and engaging for students, it deserves to be shared.

If you’ve been looking for phonics practice that supports real decoding, reinforces skills, and keeps students motivated, I’m proud of what this resource offers.

Thanks for being here — If you’re reading this, I’d love for you to say hello. It’s been a long time since I last posted here, and it would be wonderful to know this space is still reaching teachers.