Tip 1
Reminder of Clipping and Suffixes
Today's tip is a reminder from 2 earlier tips. The students have had a break and upon returning many have forgotten to "clip" the sounds and to read words containing suffixes the correct way.
So......
#1. Please re-enforce the "clipping" of the letter sounds making sure they do not add a vowel sound at the end.
#2. Please make certain that when a student is reading words in isolation, a word containing a suffix should be read by saying the base word first and then repeating the word with the suffix. (example: hugs should be read: hug, hugs)
Tip 2
3 Weeks could mean 4 Weeks
Remember: If the manual has allotted 3 weeks in a unit, it does
not mean that you must go on to the next unit after 3 weeks!
If your students do not seem to have a secure grasp of the material, repeat a week. You should not proceed if you do not feel they are ready.
However.....if the intervention teacher who is working with your students is doing true "double dose" lessons, you should decide as a team if your classes will move on. Chances are, if one group is struggling with the new concepts, others will be also.
Please note that this is true of all units, not just the 3 week units. (That was just an example.)
Tip 3
The Overworked Letter E
A great question was raised a little while back, regarding how Fundations and the Wilson Program handles the letter e when it is used in a vowel - consonant - e syllable. "Is it called the silent e, magic e or some other special name?"
Wilson/Fundations doesn't refer to it by a name at all. (Which doesn't mean you can't, if you are!!) Here is the explanation that is used:
The letter e is "the busiest letter in the alphabet."
It constantly volunteers to help out and often"keeps its mouth closed" while it works.
E is overworked and underpaid, but it doesn't seem to mind.
The e in hope is silent. It jumps over the p to give o the long sound. O says it's name when it is long.
If you are working with students who have not yet been introduced to the vowel - consonant - e syllable in Fundations, you are welcome to use this explanation if you wish!