Take a behind-the-scenes look at one of ONlit’s most popular resources: embedded mnemonics. In this Camp ONlit 2026 recording, Dr. Una Malcolm and Ontario kindergarten educator Lindsay Nelan discussed how and why the mnemonics were created, practical ways to use them alongside Ontario’s Kindergarten curriculum, and new mnemonic resources in development.
These Five-Minute Focus slide decks were designed with busy staff meetings in mind. Each deck highlights an important literacy topic and follows a practical, easy-to-use structure: Complete with speaker notes to support presentation delivery, these short slide decks are an effective way to build educator knowledge, strengthen instructional capacity, and spark meaningful professional learning conversations….
Discover how embedded mnemonics can make letter-sound learning more memorable and engaging for students. This Five-Minute Focus slide deck provides practical strategies and classroom-ready examples to help educators strengthen early literacy instruction with ease. These Five-Minute Focus slide decks were designed with busy staff meetings in mind. Each deck highlights an important literacy topic and…
The Introduction to Grade 3 guide provides educators with a clear and comprehensive foundation for understanding the instructional priorities and literacy expectations of Grade 3. It outlines curriculum expectations and explains key components of literacy learning, including vocabulary development, increasingly complex comprehension strategies, consolidation of reading and writing skills, and the integration of media literacy….
The Introduction to Grade 1 guide is a comprehensive starting point for educators navigating the foundational year of literacy instruction. It clearly outlines the Grade 1 curriculum expectations, explains key components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing development, and highlights practical research-supported strategies educators can use in day-to-day instruction. The guide…
The Introduction to Grade 2 guide is a comprehensive foundation for educators as they navigate the instructional priorities and literacy expectations of Grade 2. It clearly outlines curriculum expectations and explains key components. The guide provides research-supported approaches and practical strategies educators can use in day-to-day instruction to strengthen students’ literacy skills and promote confident,…
ONlit’s Kindergarten Welcome Page provides educators and school leaders with a clear introduction to how early literacy is supported across the Kindergarten years. The page outlines the focus of literacy learning in Kindergarten, including oral communication, emergent reading and writing behaviours, and vocabulary development, and explains how these components are developed through everyday classroom experiences….
PD Slide Deck Phonemic awareness instructional programs are commonly used, but they may not always be fully aligned with research. These slides walk through several ways commercial products can be adapted, in both content and delivery, to provide the most effective phonemic awareness instruction.
This series of videos was developed by Dr. Robert Savage from York University. The video series unpacks elements of Strand B of the revised Language Curriculum, building educator knowledge. Stay tuned for more videos to come!
Keen to learn more about using assessment to drive structured literacy in your classroom? Catch up with our Next STEPS Summer Book Study. Resources related to this ONlit event series, hosted by Jordan Sloan, can be found here. Each session in the series tackles a foundational reading skill, unpacking what it is, why it’s necessary for…
Alphabetics (phonemic awareness and phonics) were key elements of effective, evidence-based reading instruction identified in the National Reading Panel. 20 years after the release of the report of the panel, Dr. Susan Brady summarized Panel findings, and highlighted key findings from research after its release. The View Resource button below opens the 2020 paper, and…
This book is an excellent, reader-friendly resource for kindergarten teachers and Early Childhood Educators. While infant and toddler development takes place before the Ontario curriculum kicks in, the authors are American. Their recommendations for preschoolers generally align with the age of our Year 1 kindergarten students. Much of the research and advice in the book…
