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Teaching Tips January 1, 2009 |
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This is a method for drilling phonics skills in a way that is more fun and active. Make a drawing of a five-rung ladder, either on a chalk/white board or table-top visual. In the space between the rungs, write whatever phonics skill you want to practice: consonant sounds, vowels, vowel teams, consonant blends, sound phrases (letters grouped together that make a sound but don’t form a word), phonics words, or sight words. The point of the game is for the child to say whatever sound or word is written on the rung that you point to. Point to the rungs in a random order. This is the drill part. The game part comes as the child correctly answers the drill. Choose a sport that the child enjoys. Make a drawing of the corresponding playing field and a cut-out of a player. When the child gives the correct answer, move the player around the field. For instance on a baseball field, the player would move around the bases with each correct answer, scoring runs. On a football field, the player moves five or ten yards down the field until a touchdown is scored. Play the game for a specified time period – usually five to ten minutes. You may need more than one ladder, depending on how long you are playing and whether or not the sounds on the ladder are well-practiced or new sounds. Provide a reward based on the points earned. For more active children, you can recreate a mini field in your house, where the child runs to the base or numbered goal line on the floor. Laminated construction paper works well for this. If you have a child who does not care for sports, recreate a giant ladder on the floor or draw a ladder with chalk on the driveway (much like hopscotch). Stand next to one of the rungs and hold up a flash card that is large enough for the child to see (such as a sheet of paper or card stock that is 8 ½ by 11 inches). The child then jumps to that space if the correct sound or word is given. KEY WORDS: spelling, pattern, practice, problem, phonic |
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