In our house, reading time often includes classical music, mismatched teacups from Goodwill, and a few sticky fingers reaching for pretend sugar cubes.
It’s our version of calm: a cozy tea time that also happens to double as reading practice.
No worries if a cup breaks — we thrift them just for this.
Recently, I introduced a new addition to our tea time routine:
🫖 Tea-Themed Decodable Readers I created for early readers.
The verdict?
They loved them.
They read them.
They asked to read them again.
And for anyone teaching reading to Kinders or First Graders, that’s a tiny miracle.
Why I Created Tea Decodable Readers
Like many of you, I’ve been deep in the world of The Science of Reading — decoding, phonemic awareness, structured literacy… you name it.
But I noticed something:
Most decodable texts just aren’t that engaging.
They’re necessary — absolutely.
But kids deserve a little joy in the process too.
That’s why I created these sweet, simple readers.
They’re:
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Focused on CVC words and digraphs
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Short, printable, and easy to assemble
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Designed for fun, confidence-building fluency
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Just the right kind of silly (without going overboard)
We made tea. We read. We colored. We giggled.
And it didn’t feel like phonics practice — but it totally was.
What’s Included in the Tea Decodable Pack:
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5 printable decodable readers with strong phonics structure
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A simple teacup craft to go with your tea time
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Blackline versions for coloring
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Easy-to-fold mini books perfect for guided reading, centers, or home practice
Available now: Tea Decodable Readers on TPT
How We Do Tea Time Learning
Here’s our real-life routine (feel free to copy it!):
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Play light classical music in the background
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Lay out some dollar-store doilies and thrifted teacups
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Read one decodable reader together
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Let the kids color their own mini book
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Add a real or pretend snack (mini muffins = top tier)
Sometimes we even pair this with a read-aloud or a picture book.
It’s become one of our favorite parts of the day.
And no — it’s not fancy. But it’s fun. And that’s what they’ll remember.
Love This Style of Learning?
If you’re into literacy that’s fun, play-based, and brain-friendly, check out more of what I’m creating over at RuthAnnLane.com. I’ve got free downloads, fresh blog posts, and a lot of love for teachers and homeschoolers just trying to make magic happen.
Here are a few more resources that pair well with tea time learning:
Farm Emergent Reader – For extra skill-building
Project-Based Learning Planner – When you’re ready to bring it all together in a meaningful way
Final Sip
Teaching reading doesn’t have to be loud, flashy, or high-tech.
Sometimes it’s best served warm, with music in the background and a teacup in hand.
And if your kids want to wear bowties or fairy wings to tea time?
That’s just extra sparkle on a strong phonics foundation.