stress free valentines phonics & fun

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Valentine’s Day is such a heart-warming time in the classroom and at home, but for parents of struggling readers, "holiday fun" can sometimes feel like just another list of words that are hard to decode.

At Holmes Tutoring, we believe that every holiday is an opportunity to reinforce the Science of Reading through play. You don’t have to choose between a "cute" craft and a "productive" lesson! This year, I’ve found some incredible resources that align perfectly with our mission of explicit, systematic phonics—all wrapped up in a sweet Valentine’s theme.

fall in love with phonics

The key to helping K-5 students master literacy is consistency. When we take the "ambiguity" out of learning, children feel confident. I am currently loving the Valentine’s ABC and Phonics printables from Beth Ann Averill. These aren't just "busy work"—they focus on the foundational skills our students need:

Letter Recognition: Helping our youngest learners identify names and sounds amidst all the hearts and sparkles.
Initial Sound Practice: Perfect for those "All About the ABCs" skills we practice in our sessions.
Fine Motor Integration: Using cut-and-paste elements (just like our Holmes Tutoring worksheets!) to keep little hands busy while their brains work on phonemes.

Explore the Valentine’s Collection Here

Use the code kearaholmes at check out to get 10% off your order.

3 crafty ways to celebrate at home

If you’re looking for low-prep ways to celebrate with your student or child this week, try these "Sweet & Systematic" ideas:

"Heart-Mapped" Words: Instead of just writing Valentine’s cards, use Elkonin boxes shaped like hearts! Have your child push a candy heart into a box for every sound they hear in words like cupid (/k/ /u/ /p/ /i/ /d/) or hug (/h/ /u/ /g/).
Sound Matching Mailboxes: Create a small "mailbox" out of a cereal box. Have your child "mail" pictures of objects into the box, but only if they start with a specific target sound (like /v/ for Valentine!).
Sensory Salt Trays: Fill a tray with red or pink sand (or dyed salt). Have your child practice tracing their "tricky letters" or heart words while saying the sounds aloud.

The Holmes Tutoring Value

Whether it’s a holiday or a regular Tuesday, our goal remains the same: provide parents with research-based tools to close the reading gap. Using high-quality, high-contrast printables ensures that students with learning disabilities stay focused on the phoneme-grapheme connection rather than getting lost in cluttered designs.

Let’s Chat: What is your favorite Valentine’s tradition to do with your little learners? Tell me in the comments below!

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