The back-to-school season is full of excitement, fresh supplies (I can already smell those new crayons!), and a little bit (or a lot 🙂 of stress. As you set up your classroom for a new group of readers, one of the best things you can do now is plan ahead for how you’ll implement Science of Reading (SoR) best practices.
The way you organize your space, your materials, and your routines can either make SoR instruction feel manageable—or overwhelming. But with a few intentional choices, you can create a classroom environment that supports structured literacy right from the start. Let’s walk through some simple but impactful tips to help you get set up for a successful year of reading instruction.
1. Organize for Explicit Instruction
Explicit instruction is at the heart of SoR. That means you’ll want routines in place for:
- Phonemic awareness practice (quick, daily routines!)
- Phonics lessons with direct teaching of sound-spelling patterns
- High-frequency word instruction (based on orthographic mapping, not memorization)
- Decodable reading practice
- Comprehension development through rich, vocabulary-focused conversations
Make space in your day—and in your classroom for Science of Reading—for these routines. If it’s helpful, you can post a visual schedule so students know what to expect, and prep your materials ahead of time so you can stay consistent.
I do all of these components in both whole group and small group (more about small groups in a bit!) We have many great resources to use in my district such as Heggerty for Phonemic awareness, Phonics First from Brainspring for Phonics, and decodable text that I created for Decodable Reading practice.
I also use many different picture books, poems, and nonfiction text to work on comprehension development. I plan lessons with my kinder team. If you are flying solo or have any questions about any of these components or resources, please let me know! I would love to help you with your instruction. (darlingideas1@gmail.com)
I use my carpet for most of my whole group instruction! We have SMART boards, where a lot of my whole group instruction but I have set a goal of using this a little less this year and doing even more hands-on learning.
2. Create a Sound Wall
Unlike a traditional word wall, a sound wall is organized by phonemes rather than beginning letters. It reflects how words are spoken—which aligns beautifully with the Science of Reading approach.
Setting up a sound wall early in the year helps students connect the sounds they hear with the graphemes (letters or letter combinations) that represent them.
Tips for making your sound wall useful:
- Introduce sounds systematically as you teach them
- Use mouth visuals to help students see articulation
- Refer to the sound wall often during whole group and small group lessons
This is a hard one to incorporate for some teachers, myself included, but I am amazed at how much my kindergartens can and do use it when I take the time to teach them how!
If you would like to grab the sound wall I use in my classroom for FREE, just click here!
3. Think about your center spaces
I do not start centers as soon as school starts, but I do like to have my spaces for centers designated. If you do not have a lot of space to set up designated center spaces, there are a few things you can do to make them work in a small space!
- Center tubs that students can grab and take to their seats or a carpet area
- A center table or counter space with many activities for students to choose from
- Get creative with your space! One of my students’ favorite center spots is under our classroom counters. Its a cozy little cubby hole that is just their size, and in clear view of my small group table so I can easily see them at all times!
- Special cushions or pillows that students can use to move center activies around the room
4. Design a Space for Small Group Instruction
Small group time is where the magic happens. You’ll want a dedicated space that’s free from distractions and easy to manage.
Here are a few things to include:
- A small table or desk for you and a few students
- Bins or drawers with decodable readers, whiteboards, dry-erase markers, and manipulatives
- A caddy with tools like sound boxes, magnetic letters, and phoneme cards
- Printed lesson plans or quick guides you can grab and go
Like centers, I do not begin small groups at the very beginning of school. I start them as soon as possible, though, and find it super helpful to have the space already planned for.
5. Prep Your Decodable Texts and Phonics Materials
A Classroom designed for the Science of Reading emphasizes explicit, systematic phonics instruction. That means your materials should support the skills you’re teaching in a clear, intentional order.
Start the year with decodable texts that match your phonics scope and sequence. Avoid leveled books that encourage guessing and instead focus on texts that give students real opportunities to apply what they’ve learned.
➡️ Need a ready-to-use option? My Science of Reading Decodable Readers & Passages for Small Groups include decodable books and passages aligned to specific phonics patterns, complete with comprehension questions and vocabulary support. They’re perfect for your small group instruction—and they save you valuable prep time.
6. Build in Flexibility for Differentiation
Even with a great plan, every group of students is different. Setting up your classroom with flexibility in mind will help you adjust your instruction as needed.
If this is your first year shifting your instruction to better match SOR, it’s okay to start small and increase as you get comfortable.
It’s also okay to change up your plan or instruction when your students need something different what you expected. Some lessons take two or three days rather than just the one you planned. Your students may zoom through others that you alloted several days for.
One More Tool to Make It Easier…
If you’re looking for a practical, teacher-tested resource to get your reading groups up and running smoothly, take a closer look at the
➡️ Science of Reading Decodable Readers & Passages for Small Groups.
These ready-to-use decodable texts are designed for K–2 small groups and come with:
- Phonics-aligned readers and passages
- Built-in comprehension questions
- Vocabulary support
- Print and digital formats
- Low-prep organization for busy teachers
Here’s what other teachers are saying:
“I finally feel like I’m teaching reading in a way that makes sense—and my kids are thriving. This is one of my most-used resources.”
“Everything I need is in one place. No more searching for just-right decodables every week!”
Grab the resource here:
đź”— Science of Reading Decodable Readers & Passages
Free Bonus to Help You Get Started
Want a head start on small group planning?
đź“Ą [Grab this free Small Group Lesson Planning Template]
It’s the perfect tool to keep your groups focused and your instruction aligned with SoR best practices.
Your Classroom is Going to be AMAZING!
Setting up your classroom for the Science of Reading doesn’t mean starting from scratch or throwing out everything you’ve done before. It means being intentional—choosing materials that support structured literacy, designing routines that foster explicit instruction, and creating a learning environment where every student can grow as a reader.
You’ve got this. And I’m here to help make it easier. 💛
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