First, we learn the spaces using f-a-c-e and numbers. i found that numbers help remind the kids that we begin from the bottom of the music staff and work our way up. the kids try to remember that if the letter is spelled in the word face-it's on a space!
Once they are familiar with the space, we move on to lines. We count the lines first-then i write the names of the lines on the board: E-G-B-D-F. I ask my students if we are able to make a word using these letters. Once they realize we cannot, I give them a sentence to help them remember the names of the lines. Now, I didn't learn to read the music staff until i was in freshman theory in college. For the lines, I was taught: E-very, Good, B-oy, D-oes, F-ine.
After my first year of teaching, I realized that some of my students had difficulty remember D and F. I brainstormed with my fellow elementary music teachers and decided to come up with a "silly sentence". I now use: E-very, G-ood, B-oy, D-eserves, F-ajitas. (We live in south texas, so my students know and love fajitas!) After making this adjustment, my students never struggle to recall the lines of the music staff.