Ms. Schelzi's Blog

Have you ever felt the nudge that your child needed more support than they were getting at school?  Have you ever felt frustrated that...

“ Your name should be the neatest thing on the page!”    I heard the words come out of my mouth and when she looked at me puzzled I told...

The best job in the world didn’t exist…   So 5 years ago when everything else in life seemed to come to a screeching halt (circa March of...

Scope & Sequence Next Step follows A Kindergarten student said to me the other day…   "“Is" is a trick word."   And immediately I wanted...

Decodable Adventure You know the saying; “old habits die hard?”   The same is true for learning how to read.    When children develop...

You likely already know…That if you teach children 10 words, they can read 10 words….   BUT did you also know that more importantly…that...

1.  Consistency over time adds up & repetition is the key to success.   When building up a reading foundation, it’s going to take 2 main...

If you've joined us over in our Private Facebook Community, you may have already been hearing me share about a new book I dove into this...

Some kids will pick up reading quickly no matter what.    Like magic! Things just seemingly “click”!    But due to a variety of factors,...

It's more than neat letters on a page.    When your child has proper handwriting - it opens up their mental energy to develop other...

How do you teach kids to read?   And my answer, honestly, is simple. And it's the same answer I've given since the day Next Step...

He threw his arms around my waist and hugged me saying, “I wish I could come to learn to read with you every day!”   And he meant it with...

With consistency and explicit practice, it's waiting for you at Next Step this summer!    Last winter mom came to me with a goal:  *To...

Imagine if your child saw learning as a playground? Imagine if your child felt more confident in their reading abilities and more eager...

When mom came to Next Step she was looking for a way to help her son feel supported academically, to catch up to his peers, and to build...

I couldn't believe I said it… “He has homework for tonight!” I told mom as we finished our session today. I never do that. Not since...

Did you know that when we teach 10 words…children learn 10 words…BUT - When we teach 10 sounds….children learn HUNDREDS of new words!...

-Ms. Schelzi Have you ever emptied your child's backpack at the end of the day or on Friday afternoons (or let's be honest…Monday morning...

Did you know there is no specific reading center in the brain? Instead it takes a network of systems in the brain to work together. Do...

I couldn't believe I said it… “He has homework for tonight!” I told mom as we finished our session today. I never do that. Not since...