Tell your child the word and have your child break down the sounds he/she hears in the word. Your child will make the "sounds heard" not spell the word. We use our hands in class to show the movement of the word and the sounds that we hear as we segment the word. Practicing this skill will help your child become a better speller also, because beginning spellers focus on the sounds heard. This is a great skill to practice before your child comes back to school after the Christmas Vacation. It's easy to play in the car when you are driving or while your child is helping you make dinner in the evening. Have fun!
1. at /a/ /t/ 2. in /i/ /n/
3. see /s/ /E/ 4. go /g/ /O/
5. odd /o/ /d/ 6. cow /c/ /ow/
7. am /a/ /m/ 8. itch /i/ /ch/
9. ham /h/ /a/ /m/ 10. jet /j/ /e/ /t/
11. big /b/ /i/ /g/ 12. rod /r/ /o/ /d/ 13. puff /p/ /u/ /f/ 14. sky /s/ /k/ /I/ 15. rake /r/ /A/ /k/ 16. sack /s/ /a/ /k/ 17. key /k/ /E/ 18. free /f/ /r/ /E/ 19. like /l/ /I/ /k/ 20. joke /j/ /O/ /k/
First graders should also be able to read "nonsense words" to show their understanding of phonics.
Have your child practice sounding out the following nonsense words to see how well your child is applying the learned phonics skills. Have your child sound at the words and if possible read the nonsense word as a complete word. We often times in the classroom call these Dr. Seuss words.
lib fiz jav len loj
jav paj sif zet bek
len pok cos tuk suj
loj zet ib mo bon
mitr weml nif vor qim
Make up your own "nonsense words" and have your child figure them out! Being able to read nonsense words helps a child become a better reading.