Oral Segmentation Accuracy, What's the Secret?

Activity Type: Build Accuracy

Activity Form: Game

Grade: K

Group Size: Whole Class

Length: 5 minutes

Materials: groups of three words that have one element in common

Goal: Given three words, the student can identify the common phoneme ("ship" "shark" "shoe" -> /sh/).

Items: 1 syllable words

What to do

Before introducing the game, come up with groups of three words that have one element in common. For example, the words ship, shark, and shoe have the /sh/ sound in common.
Listen closely. I am going to say three words. You must be a sound detective, and tell me what sound my three words have in common. Do you think you can do that? Let’s try.
“Ship". "Shark". "Shoe". What sound do they have in common? Call on one of the students who has raised their hand. Very good. My words have “/sh/” in common.
Continue with other word groups. Make sure the target sound is always in the same position in all the words (i.e. beginning, middle, or end). As students get better, progress to vowel sounds.
Observe students play the game. For students who struggle, give them help and make a note in an Activity Log.