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PHONEMIC AWARENESS
PHONEMIC AWARENESS
Phonemic Awareness is the ability to hear and distinguish sounds in words. This includes: recognizing sounds in words, adding sounds to words, breaking words down into sounds, and moving sounds in words.
Phonemic Awareness is the ability to hear and distinguish sounds in words. This includes: recognizing sounds in words, adding sounds to words, breaking words down into sounds, and moving sounds in words.
Silly Name Game
Replace the first letter of each family member's name with a different letter. For example, for "Bob" you could say "Tob", for "Matt" you could say "Watt", etc. You could even make up a song to go with the game!
Listen For The Sound
You will need pictures of things that begin or end with a particular letter that you choose. If you chose the letter b you would have pictures that begin with the letter b and others that have the letter b at the end of the word. Make a two column chart on a piece of paper, label the columns beginning and end. Using only one letter sound at a time, say to your child, “We’re going to listen for where we hear the /b/ sound in this word*. If we hear it at the beginning, we’re going to sort the picture under beginning. If we hear it at the end, we’re going to put it under end.” Show your child how to do it with one card, then help him or her name each picture one at a time.
*Make sure to say the letter sound NOT the letter name.
“Where’s That Sound?” Clip Cards
You can print a free sound clip cards from this site. Have your child identify the sound of the featured letter in the gold circle. Tell your child to say the name of the picture slowly, listening for the featured sound. Have your child point to or clip the word “beginning,” “middle,” or end” to show where the sound occurs within the word.
Sound Boxes
Use these sound boxes to help your child segment sounds in words. Simply print or draw your own. Place one game chip (you can use pennies, cheerios, or bingo chips) under each box. Have your child say the name of each picture and then push up a chip for each sound in that word.
Count the Sounds
Give your child a word with 1-5 sounds and have him or her move an object (penny, cheerio, bingo chip etc.) into a box for each sound. Make sure your child is moving from left to right, just as if he or she was reading a word.
Jump for Sounds
Say a word and have your child jump for each sound he or she hear in the word. Have your child say each sound while he or she jumps.
Guessing Game
Use guessing games to give your child practice in matching letters, sounds, and words. A good example is the game, "I am thinking of something that starts with /t/."
Writing Letters Different Ways
Making writing fun! Use different materials such as flour, colored sand, shaving cream and pipe cleaners to practice writing the different letter sounds as you talk about them with your child.
Smash Them!
Have your child put two parts of a word together. Demonstrate by saying the first part of the word (hold up one hand), pause, then say the second part of the word (hold up other hand). Smash both of your hands together while saying the two parts together (example: "buck" and "et" make "bucket"). Continue the game by giving your child words in two parts that he or she can blend together.
Silly Putty
This is the same concept as the Smash Them! activity above, only this time you will use silly putty to stretch the sounds in words. Using the silly putty helps your child to visualize words that have a few sounds, as well as, words that have many sounds. Your child may become really excited when he or she discovers a word with many sounds because it will cause the silly putty to break apart! You can also do this activity without silly putty and have your child just use his or her hands!
Rhyming the Night Away!
A natural and spontaneous way of providing your child with exposure to phonemes is to focus on literature that deals playfully with speech sounds through rhymes.
In There's a Wocket in My Pocket (Seuss, 1974), initial sounds of everyday objects are substituted as a child talks about the strange creatures around the house, such as the "zamp in the lamp." Have your child make up his or her own strange creatures in the your home such as the "zuk in my book."
Rhyme Time Why and Why Not Game
Aloud tell your child pairs of words (some should rhyme and others should not). Then ask "Do ____ and ____ rhyme? Why? or Why not?" (example: "Do pan and man rhyme? Why?" or "Do pat and boy rhyme? Why not?")
Give Me a Rhyme!
Ask your child to produce rhymes. Ask, "Can you tell me a word that rhymes with ______?" (examples: cake, dog, feet, etc.)
Tapping Syllables
Using different items such as hand clappers, drums, or tennis rackets you can have your child determine the number of syllables in a given word. For example, you would tap a drum two times for the word "sister" because it has two syllables. For increased difficulty, tap the drum (any number of times) and have your child think of a word that contains that same number of syllables.
Home Syllable Search
Help your child find items in different rooms in your home. Sort them by syllables asking "how many syllables do you hear in the word ______?" Write words (or draw pictures) for each object.
Our Syllable Tally
Write the names of members of your family. Have your child color a smiley face for each syllable in a given name and make a tally mark for each syllable.
PHONICS
PHONICS
Phonics is the ability to understand the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent.
Phonics is the ability to understand the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent.
Phonics is an approach to the teaching of reading and spelling that emphasizes symbol-sound relationships, especially in early reading instruction.
Phonics is an approach to the teaching of reading and spelling that emphasizes symbol-sound relationships, especially in early reading instruction.
Alphabet Arc
For this activity you will need letters of the alphabet and a sheet of paper. You could use blocks, puzzle letters or magnets from the Dollar Store. Draw an arc on a sheet of paper (or use the template attached). Have your child begin by matching the chosen letter to the shape of the letter on the arc. Begin with just a few letters, such as A, M, N, and Z. Gradually teach the rest of the letters. Each time your child places the letter on the arc, he or she should say its name. Then have your child touch each letter in order, saying its name. Finally, as your child cleans up, he or she can say the name of each letter as it is placed in the container.
Familiar Parts
When your child starts reading longer words, have him/her notice the parts of the word that he already knows. For example, in a word such as “presenting”, your child may already know the prefix pre-, the word “sent,” and the word ending -ing. You can even break up words as you are playing their favorite game together!
Touch and Say
Take turns with your child as you touch and say letter sounds. You can use an alphabet puzzle, a printed alphabet (see attached), or even a handwritten alphabet. Say to your child, "We are going to play a game where we take turns. When I touch under the letter, you say the sound. Keep saying the sound as long as I touch the letter." Then begin taking turns, say, "My turn” (point to letter, pause 1-2 seconds, then say sound) “/ffff/” (remove finger and then repeat).
Letter Combinations
Work with your child on different letter combinations that he or she will encounter when reading. Write the word on a piece of paper, point to the word, then say, "This word is rain. What word?" Have your child touch the word and say, "Rain". Then you teach the letter combination as you underline the letters in the combination. Say, "The underlined letter are pronounced /āāā/. What sound?" Have your child touch the underlined letter combination and say, " /āāā/". Correct any errors right away and move on to another word. Different letter combinations that could be taught to your child are listed to the right.
Hunting for words
Choose a blend and have your child hunt for five items beginning with that sound. As each object is found, help your child write the word on a list. For example, if the target sound is "bl", the child might find and write blanket, blood, blue, blizzard, blast. Some common blends are: bl, br, cl, cr, dr, fr, tr, fl, gl, gr, pr, pl, sl, sm, sn, sp, st, sc
Chunks
Practice chunks, which are spelling patterns with your child. Point out these chunks as your child reads and writes at home. If the chunk is “ack”, your child might write “back”, “Jack”, “crack”, “snack”, and “black”. Below is a list of common chunks are as follows: ack, ain, ake, ale, all, ame, an, ank, ap, ash, at, ate, aw, ay, eat, ell, est, ice, ick, ide, ight, ill, in, ine, ink, ip, ir, ock, oke, op, or, ore, uck, ug, ump, unk
What’s in the Bag?
Write letters on pieces of paper and put them in a paper bag. Let your child reach into the bag and take out letters. Have him or her say the sounds that match the letters.
Guessing Game
Use alphabet books and guessing games to give your child practice in matching letters and sounds. A good example is the game, "I am thinking of something that starts with /t/."
Which Hand?
Take a letter and hide it in your hand. Let your child guess in which hand you hold the letter. Then show the letter and have your child say the letter name and make the sound (for example, the letter m matches the /m/ sound as in man).
Wacky Alphabet
Practice saying (not singing) the alphabet, varying the practice (accent every other letter, you say one letter and your child says the next, one letter is said softly and the next one loudly). You can even have fun in front of the mirror while playing this game.
Letter Racing
This game requires a magnetic board, magnetic letters, and a lot of space! Set up the magnetic board on one side of the room, and place the magnetic letters in a basket or bowl on the other side. Call out a sound, or a word starting or ending in a particular sound. Then ask your child (with a ready, set, go!) to pick out the correct magnetic letters and run over as fast as they can to stick it on the board.
Phonics Carnival
Using a thick marker, write one of the following beginning blends on the inside lip of each paper cup: BL-TW-QU-CH-SH. Next, tape the cups to the floor so they are touching, and visible when viewed from a standing position by you and your child.
Time to toss! To start the game, take turns with your child tossing a chip into the cup of your choice. When the chip lands in a cup, the player must come up with a word that starts with its beginning blend. For example, if your child's chip lands in the BL- cup, he or she needs to dream up a word with that beginning, such as “blue” or “black”. (www.education.com)
Say It Move It
To begin, use moveable letters. Take out the letters s, t, and a. First, say the word slowly. “The word is ssssaaaat. What word? Yes, sat.” Then continue talking to your child, “Find the first sound, /sssss/. The letter s represents /s/.” Have your child put the letter s on the line. Now talk about the next sound, “the next sound is /aaaa/. What letter represents /a/? Yes, a.” Have your child put the letter a it on the line. Have your child predict the last letter, say, “listen, sat. What is the last sound? Yes, /t/ is the last sound in sat. What letter represents /t/? Yes, the letter t represents /t/.” Have your child put the letter t on the line then read the word slowly while pointing under the letters as you sound out the word. Say”ssssaaaat. Now, let’s push the letters closer and read again: ssaat. And one more time, pushing the letters even closer together. Read it fast:sat. Yes, s – a – t spells sat.” Change the game a little by choosing another word with the ending letters a and t. Keep the letters a and t on the line. Take out some additional letters: m, p, and r. Follow the same routine using the words mat, pat, and rat.
Phonics Hopskotch
This game will help your child develop his or her ability to match letters to sounds. All you need for this fun phonics activity is a piece of chalk and the ground. Simply draw hopscotch markings on the ground (how many squares and in what shape they are arranged is up to you). In each square draw a letter of the alphabet (you may want to draw both the upper and lower case letters in each). There are many ways you can play this game – you can call out a letter or combination of letters and ask your child to jump on those letters and sound each letter out as they jump. Or you can ask your child to jump on the letters in alphabetical order, sounding them out as they go along. You can also roll dice and ask your child to jump to the square that matches the number rolled, counting the squares as they jump and sounding the letter out at the end.
VOCABULARY
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary is your child's knowledge of and memory for word meanings. The range of your child's vocabulary influences what he or she can comprehend.
Vocabulary is your child's knowledge of and memory for word meanings. The range of your child's vocabulary influences what he or she can comprehend.
Read Aloud
Even if your child is able to read independently it is still important that you read aloud to him or her. Choose books to read aloud that are above your child's reading level because they are likely to contain different vocabulary words than what he or she reads independently. By doing this you are actually teaching him or her new words and how they are used in context.
Positional Words
With your child discuss positional words such as beside, below, under, over, etc. Use these words to make a game at dinner by asking your child to place his or her fork in different places. For example, "Please put your fork above your plate."
Categorizing Words
On sticky notes or small pieces of paper write a few easy decodable words, such as cat, dog, hop, and run. Have your child read the words and then sort the words into two different categories. Have your child label the categories (e.g., animals and actions) and then list additional words to fit each group.
Trips
Trips to everyday places build vocabulary. Discuss what you are going to see as you go to the store or the gas station. For example, "At the gas station I can fill the car up with gas and wash the windshield." Then ask your child a question, "Can we do anything else at the gas station?"
Label the Category
Use a piece of paper to write a list of decodable words that belong to one category. Have your child read the words and label the category. Encourage your child to tell why each word fits into the group.
What Doesn't Fit?
Say four different words (e.g., ladybug, fire engine, broccoli, strawberry). Ask your child to explain which word does not fit with the others (broccoli) and why (it is green, and others are red). Finally, ask them to name something that does fit with the word that didn't fit (e.g., grasshopper).
Web of Ideas
Give your child a broad category name (e.g., Food). Then, discuss the idea of subcategories, generating examples together (e.g., Vegetables, Fruits, Grains). Finally, have students suggest examples of words that might fall within each subcategory (e.g., broccoli, peas, carrots). Display these words in a word web, using picture cues as needed.
Cut It Out
Introduce a new adjective* and the meaning (e.g., shiny) to your child. Get out a couple of old magazines and look with your child to find pictures that represent the adjective (e.g., a ring, crystal bowl) . Ask your child to describe why each picture represents the word. Glue the pictures onto a piece of paper with the word and meaning written in the middle.
*Adjectives are describing words that tell what something looks like, feels like, sounds like, tastes like, or smells like. Your child will build his or her vocabulary as he or she determines the meanings of unfamiliar adjectives and begin to use the new words independently.
Describe It!
Pick an object from around the house. Help your child come up with adjectives to describe the object. After brainstorming words that describe the object, pick one of the adjectives and have your child go around the house and find another object that could also be described using that same adjective(s).
Similar and Different
Show your child pictures or objects that can all be described with one adjective (e.g., big, fuzzy, heavy) and talk about similarities between the objects or pictures. Then, mix in one object or picture that cannot be described by this adjective. Ask your child to explain why this object does not fit.
Read, Listen, and Learn with Books Online
Read, Listen, and Learn with Books Online
It’s not that easy finding children’s books around the house or buying new books every day. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of free kids’ books and articles online you can read to them or share with them to read on a computer, phone or tablet.
It’s not that easy finding children’s books around the house or buying new books every day. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of free kids’ books and articles online you can read to them or share with them to read on a computer, phone or tablet.
Thanks to the Portage District Library, our students also have access to Tumblebooks via the Digital Library page. Read and listen to some fun digital stories.
For as long as schools are closed, audible is open for students. Kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.
Some PPS teachers have EPIC set up as an option for students. Epic is a platform that gives students instant, unlimited access to more than 35,000, high-quality and popular children’s books, learning videos, teacher-created quizzes, and more.
Woodland and Amberly Virtual Library
Mr. Butts, Media Specialist at Amberly and Woodland, has provided some great resources for our students to use for reading while at home.
Listen to the Screen Actors Guild read some favorite picture books!
Listen to some favorite stories being read by astronauts while in space at the International Space Station.
Virtual Story Time
Many actors are also doing “Storytime” for kids. For example, “Frozen” actor Josh Gad is reading books to kids on Twitter each day. Check out #GadBookClub on twitter.
Practice Reading and Writing Skills
Practice Reading and Writing Skills
A good foundation in reading and writing is essential for all learning. Thankfully there are numerous resources to practice these skills in fun and engaging ways.
A good foundation in reading and writing is essential for all learning. Thankfully there are numerous resources to practice these skills in fun and engaging ways.
You are the Primary Source of the Future!
We are living in unprecedented times. You can document this moment in history. Create your own Primary Source. Use whatever you have at home to tell your daily story. Create a diary, using either words or drawings. Make phone calls, interview family members you can not visit to see what things are like in other places. Make note of the top news story of the day or document changes in government rules, regulations, and recommendations. If you have access to your Chromebook, create a Google Slide presentation telling your story. Turn your story into a video or graphic novel. The options are limited only to your imagination.
Writing Ideas for Littles: Journaling and Story Writing
Writing Ideas for Littles: Journaling and Story Writing
Even our youngest learners can practice journaling and writing. Have them use pictures to “write” about their day or to tell a story. Then have them tell you about each picture. You can write down what they tell you below the picture. When you are done, read their journal entry or story together.
Writing Ideas for Littles: Word Hunt
Writing Ideas for Littles: Word Hunt
Another fun activity is to have your child go on a word hunt. Have them take a notebook and pencil and pretend to be a detective “hunting” for words around the house. When they find a word they write it in their notebook. At the end of the activity, have them share their list with you and you can read each word to the child. Feel free to ask them what letters they can identify in the words.
(PreK-5)
ReadingIQ is the complete digital library with thousands of books to choose from that your child can access at any time. ReadingIQ has an Accessibility Program that evaluates and audits their digital products and is supported by a diverse team of accessibility professionals, including users of assistive technologies.
To get started, go to https://www.readingiq.com/redeem/ and enter the PPS School Code: SCHOOL4638
(PreK-2)
ABC Mouse is a comprehensive online learning resource for children ages 2–8+. ABC Mouse is available on computers, tablets, and smartphones, ABCmouse is helping children everywhere build a strong foundation for academic success.
To get started, go to http://www.abcmouse.com/redeem
PPS School Code: SCHOOL4638
Printable packets for students in preschool through 5th grade to practice English, math, phonics, reading, science, social studies, writing and more.
Khan Academy Kids is a free, fun, educational app with thousands of activities and books that will inspire a lifetime of learning and discovery for young children ages 2-7. Download the app on the Apple, Google Play or Amazon app stores, open the app to sign up with a parent email address, and then head to the Home screen to let the joyful learning begin!
We want to partner with families as you help prepare your student for the future. If you are looking for simple games, strategies, and videos that you can use at home to make a positive impact on phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, or vocabulary check out the Read-At-Home site!
Family Reading Night!
Family Reading Night!
Read various texts, like books, poems, letters, news articles, and Internet pages together as a family.
Fiction: Have your student retell what happened, tell their favorite part, and make a connection to the text
Non-Fiction: Have your student tell what they learned, tell the main idea, and tell about the key details they learned.
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