“Starlit, come out and play!”

In our first-grade classrooms at Keys, our vibrant “Star of the Day” literacy routine comes alive! Led by our beloved classroom puppet, Starlit, this interactive language arts activity turns foundational reading skills into a daily celebration.

Each day, Starlit selects a special student to take center stage for a fun interview. Together, classmates dive into a high-energy phonics lesson using the star student’s name—clapping out syllables and chanting letters—before collaborating on a shared writing interview on chart paper.

These student-created articles are hung proudly around the room, serving as familiar texts that children read throughout the week to build immense reading confidence. This routine blends rigorous phonetic goals with interactive fun, building a supportive classroom community where every child feels valued and genuinely excited to learn!