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Helping Little Readers Grow, One Skill at a Time

Practical, research-informed literacy resources designed to help Kindergarten and first-grade teachers build confident readers—without spending hours creating materials from scratch.

Created by a classroom teacher and literacy specialist who understands the real-world needs of teachers and students.

Less prep. Meaningful practice. Stronger readers.

Shop on Teachers Pay TeachersHow to Teach Phonics
  • Magnetic Letters Template Mat coverMagnetic Letters

    Magnetic letter mats for word work, the board teachers use with UFLI lessons.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is an excellent resource for a classroom center. It effectively allows students to apply their phonemic awareness skills to practice word construction, reinforcing the concepts taught in the Kindergarten curriculum. – Bengy E.

    Get Magnetic Letters on TpT
  • CVC Bingo Game coverCVC Bingo

    Blend and read CVC words in a bingo game for up to 30 players.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My students beg me to play this BINGO game. They were blending the sounds and saying all the CVC words! – Meredith H.

    Get CVC Bingo on TpT
  • Bingo Game BUNDLE cover: alphabet, CVC words, sight words, CVCe and blends bingoBingo Game BUNDLE

    Alphabet (ABC), CVC, sight word, CVCe and blends bingo games for reading centers.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My students loved playing bingo today as our whole-group community builder. I liked the different skill levels that let me tailor the game to my resource classroom's needs. – Wendi G.

    Get Bingo Game BUNDLE on TpT
  • CVC Words Worksheets cut and paste coverCVC Words Worksheets

    No-prep cut and paste pages for blending and reading CVC words.

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great resource for 1st grade centers, the activities where simple and easy for students to complete independently if needed as well as nice supplemental activities to reinforce skills – Melanie L.

    Get CVC Words Worksheets on TpT

What teachers say

  • “I love how easy it is to print and laminate these sheets! The students have enjoyed working on them during center time. Thank you for creating a great resource that helps students practice their sounds.”

    LINDSEY L., on Magnetic Letters Template Mat

  • “This package has transformed center time during guided reading into a truly engaging and enjoyable experience for both myself and my students. Thank you!”

    Annamaria M., on CVC Bingo Game

  • “Loved this resource so much! Kids love bingo and its a great way to work on different skills, while still playing a fun and familiar game”

    Ms. Taina's Class, on Bingo Game BUNDLE

  • “This resource is engaging for my students. They love using the these worksheet in small groups. The visuals are perfect and most of my students love coloring, making this resource motivating for my students.”

    AIDA V., on CVC Words Cut and Paste Worksheets: Phonics Cut and Paste Set 1

Reviews from teachers on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Find me on Teachers Pay TeachersMrsGalvan CVC wordsLook for this photo on my TpT store

Teach reading step by step

Beginning readers build each skill on the one before it. New to teaching phonics? Start with my How to Teach Phonics guide, then pick the skill your students are working on.

  1. Step 1AlphabetLetter names and letter sounds
  2. Step 2Phonological AwarenessHearing the sounds in words
  3. Step 3Phonics and Sound BoxesConnecting sounds to letters
  4. Step 4Read with SupportFirst steps into reading
  5. Step 5CVC WordsReading three-letter words
  6. Step 6Sight WordsHigh-frequency and irregular words
  7. Step 7SentencesBuilding and reading sentences
  8. Step 8FluencyReading smoothly and with confidence
Martha Galvan holding a CVC matching mat with the words map, net, pig, mop and sun

Martha Galvan, M.Ed.

Martha Galvan taught Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade in Brownsville, Texas for 13 years. Mrs. Galvan has a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She uses her experience as a teacher and literacy specialist to create resources for highly effective teachers.

Hi, I’m Martha!

I’m a teacher, literacy specialist, and educational resource creator passionate about helping young readers build strong reading foundations—and helping busy teachers save time along the way!

For 13 years, I taught and worked as a literacy specialist in Brownsville ISD, where I participated in many of the Texas Reading Academies. Those experiences shaped the way I create resources today. From Elkonin boxes and sound-symbol mapping to phonemic awareness activities, graphic organizers, and differentiated instruction, every resource is designed with real classroom needs and the needs of individual learners in mind.

I’ve been sharing my teaching resources on Teachers Pay Teachers since 2009. In 2018, I stepped away from full-time teaching to focus on creating practical, engaging, and effective materials for educators. But I never really left the classroom! I still substitute in Brownsville schools because I love working with students and staying connected to the everyday joys and challenges of teaching. Those experiences continue to inspire my ideas and shape the resources I create.

My resources are designed primarily for Kindergarten and first-grade teachers, with additional materials for grades 2–4. Homeschooling families, reading specialists, and special education teachers will also find resources to support their learners.

My goal is simple: to make teaching a little easier and help every child take another step toward becoming a confident reader.

Thank you for stopping by! I’m so glad you’re here, and I hope you find something that makes your teaching journey a little brighter.

Get the free word listsMore about me