From FreeReading
| Activity Type: Build Accuracy |
| Activity Form: Standard |
| Grade: K |
| Group Size: Small Group, Whole Class |
| Length: 10 minutes |
| Materials: - |
| Goal: Given multiple letter sounds, the student can blend them into a word ( /a/ + /b/ + /c/ -> "abc" ) |
| Items: am, if, it, mad, me, run, sad, Sam, Sid, sit |
What to do
- I’m going to pretend to be an alien from planet Paz. On Paz, people speak in a strange way—like we speak, but much more slowly. So instead of saying the word Sam, they say, Sssaaammm, and they touch their arm like this when they talk. Touch your shoulder as you make the first sound; your elbow as you make the second; and your hand as you make the third. Repeat, Sssaaammm. Hold each letter sound for about a second and don't pause between sounds.
- Now you pretend you’re from the planet Paz too. Say the word with me slowly, the way people on Paz say it; then say it fast. Ready? I’ll say the word first: Select a word from the list of items above and say it slowly. You say it the same way. (Students repeat the segmented word.) Now say it fast. What's the word? (Students blend the word.)
- Continue with the other words, each time saying the word slowly (i.e., segmented) first, and then having the students say it fast (i.e., blended). When selecting words, make sure you vary the beginning, middle, and end sounds—if you choose Sam, mad, and am, students may start to think that all blended words have /a/ in the middle.
- If a student leaves off a sound or says the wrong sound, model the correct sounds and then ask the student to do the same. Remind the student to touch his arm. Then, return to the start of the word list with that student until he can blend all the words. Praise him or her strongly. If the student continues to have trouble, make a note in an Activity Log.
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