Demonstrates difficulty with blending/segmenting

Strategies and Accommodations:

1. Have the child count the number of syllables in a word while the teacher says the word slowly. The child can also tap the syllables and accent as he/she hears them. Tokens or chips can be used to show how many sounds are heard. Vocabulary familiar to the child should be used.
2. Have the child listen to the word while being pronounced in parts such as, “pa-per, cray-on, bas-ket-ball, “ etc. Then have the child point to the objects in the room and say the name as it is usually pronounced. He/she may also point to pictures.
3. Use kinesthetic letters (sandpaper, velour, pipe-cleaner), and have the child trace the letters as he sounds them. Cursive script which is connected would be more appropriate than manuscript for the blending principle.
4. The teacher begins by repeating a riddle such as one of these indicated below. The student listens to each riddle, give the answer word, and spell the word. If the student is capable, he/she may compose similar riddles on his/her own. For example, “I am thinking of an animal. It is a short-i word. It begins with “p”. It ends with “g”. What is the word? (pig)
5. Plastic letters or cutout letters can be pushed together as the child is blending the sounds orally.
6. A strong sight word vocabulary should be developed.
7. Language Master cards may be used in the remedial exercises.
8. A word wheel can also be used showing blends and phonograms. The child would rotate the inner circle and read the words as they appear.
9. New Zoo is a game like approach to auditory synthesis which young children enjoy. The names of two familiar animals are blended to make a new word. For example, turtle and turkey could become a turkle, a lion and a goose could become a gion. The child can then draw a picture of the new animal. The exercise offers an opportunity for the student to use sounds in different way.
10. Have the student draw a word card from a group of cards all representing words containing blends. Ask the student to say the word selected and give another word that begins with the same blend.