Mini Skoolers

2       Routines

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Each Mini sKoolers session follows a consistent, predictable routine to help children feel safe and focused:

• Arrival & Warm-Up Centers — literacy-themed exploration stations (e.g., letter trays, rhyming jars)

• Circle Time — calendar, weather, phonological awareness games, sound-of-the-day intro

• Mini Lesson — direct, multisensory teaching of a key phonics or literacy skill (e.g. blending, initial sounds, syllables)

• Small Group Activity — hands-on reading or writing games in pairs or small teams

• Snack & Storybook — shared snack while listening to a themed story tied to the day’s lesson

• Literacy Stations — guided rotation (e.g. sound sorting, letter scavenger hunt, writing tray, rhyming match)

• Wrap-Up Game — cooperative quiz or review to consolidate the day’s learning

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[Example Activities]

Some of the structured yet engaging activities your child may enjoy in Mini sKoolers include:

• Rhyming mystery box — children take turns guessing items that rhyme

• Letter sound hopscotch — jumping to the right letter tiles based on sound cues

• “I Spy” with beginning sounds — visual scan games using real-world objects

• Build-a-word challenge — using magnetic letters to form CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words

• Syllable stomp — clapping, stomping, or jumping for each syllable in a word

• Tracing & writing centers — rainbow writing, sandpaper letters, finger tracing

• Phonics bingo and team games — reinforcing decoding in peer-supported settings

• Group storytelling — each child contributes a sentence or idea tied to the week’s theme

 

All activities are designed to embed structured learning within joyful, peer-rich experiences — not worksheets, but active engagement.

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🎯 Is This the Right Group for Your Child?

 

Q: My child is 4 years old and doesn’t know letters yet — is this group too advanced?

A: Not at all. Mini sKoolers is perfect for young children who are just beginning to build awareness of how sounds work in words. Our 4-year-old participants often start with simple skills like clapping syllables, identifying first sounds, or exploring rhyming — all in fun, non-pressured ways.

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Q: My child is 5 or 6 but still struggles with reading and classroom activities — will this group help?

A: Yes — especially for children who need a slower, more engaging path to literacy. If your child finds school literacy lessons confusing or stressful, Mini sKoolers offers a gentler, multisensory alternative that still builds the same core skills. We support learning through movement, visuals, peer interaction, and games.

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Q: What kind of child does well in this group?

A: This group is ideal for children who:

• Are between 4 and 6 years old

• Show interest in books, sounds, or writing

• Need extra practice in phonological awareness and early decoding

• Learn best through touch, play, and visual cues

• May feel overwhelmed in traditional classroom settings

• Are ready to participate in structured peer learning, even if they still need support with focus or transitions

 

 

Q: How is this different from tutoring or preschool?

A: Mini sKoolers is not 1:1 tutoring or academic prep. It’s a group-based literacy learning environment where children practice foundational reading skills together, through games and multisensory activities. We emphasize confidence, curiosity, and joyful participation — not performance or memorization.