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Friday, April 13, 2012

Making Words

I have had a few emails on my making words lessons, and have sold a few on on TpT, but when my son came home with this:

from Kindergarten, and I asked him how he liked his activity--I knew I had found a winner! :)  I had given a set of my CVC Making Words activities  to his Kindergarten teacher.  He really enjoyed it (even though I think he was supposed to write an for number 5, but whatevs).  Sooo...What is making words?  Making words is a hands-on approach using letter manipulatives so students can see how words are formed and spelled.

I know with some making word activities, they give you a set of letters.  You build 2 letter words, 3 letter words, and so forth.  My Making Words block is more detailed.
For example, I would give them a sheet of letters with a place to record (practicing handwriting as well), something like the picture below.


Instead of having them build words (which I've done that with classes previously), I have them build the first word.  Then one student records it on our board, while I'm monitoring the other students.  (They LOVE writing on the board, and my rule is---they have to be trying the words with their letters--or they can't go up.)  Then we all record the word on our paper before moving to the next word.  My second set of directions would be to add a letter to _____________, take away a letter __________, rearrange the letters, etc.  We continue this pattern all the way through our words.  (I have been trying to work my making words lessons around the spelling words in Treasures), but here is an example of the directions sheet---it goes with the list of words in the picture above.


I really do enjoy doing the activities with my students this way. They love them too---they know we have a crazy schedule and we at least do this activity once a week--usually on Wednesday.  When I say take our your pencils and scissors, they immediately say YES! I love doing this!  (No joke--I have even asked my principal during my evaluation year to observe one of these lessons, as I had a class say the same thing EVERY time). It reinforces our phonics pattern for the week, and they have fun doing it. 

You can click HERE to download the s blends page I've posted in the pictures. 

I have also made a few at my store.  Check them out! :)
 


11 comments:

  1. This is so neat! Thank you for sharing!
    -Megan

    First Grade Magic

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  2. Looks awesome! I'm going to check out your TPT store right now! I JUST went to a Phonics Dance training and I'm in love! I can't wait to use it next year. I've already taught them a few little songs already and they can't get enough! *PS- I'm your newest follower!

    Rowdy in First Grade

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    1. Thanks for the follow!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Phonics Dance. I really believe it helps!!

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  3. We use Words Their Way for phonics/spelling/word work. I never thought of blending it with making words- thank you for the inspiration! I'm now motivated to create some to go with our program for next year. In the meantime, I'm headed over to check out YOUR TPT :)
    -Michele

    New Adventures in First Grade

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    Replies
    1. You won't regret it---AND it will make things come easier with your kiddos when they are seeing it in several places! :)

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  4. Is the Phonics Dance a comprehensive phonics program or just to supplement what you are already doing? I'm really bummed out, there was a workshop here in OKC at the beginning of the month, but the school didn't have the money to pay for it. I'm going to be watching for another one.

    Your Making Words looks like something I could use. : )

    Kelly

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    1. Kelly, The Phonics Dance is just to supplement. It's a way of teaching sounds and hunks/chunks (vowel combinations/digraphs/diphthongs). You can probably find some more information on it on YOU TUBE. IF you get a chance to go to one, you won't regret it! :)

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  5. Fabulous! My kiddos will love it! This is similar to a book called Sequential Phonics They Use (At least, I think that's what it's called. It is in my classroom and I can't check.) But I love that the children just cut out the letters they need. Do you know how long it takes a kinder to find all the letters needed for an activity like this with their letter cards!?

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    1. I could imagine, because I know how long it took my first graders! :) I have noticed that some people use velcro and letters inside a file folder and they just pull down the letters they need. It's kind of like Wilson's Fundations that way. It would save on copying that way, but I do like my students to practice their handwriting too.

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  6. Hey DeAnne! Your post fit so perfectly with a little DIY I had planned so I linked your blog in my post. Wa-hoo! Thanks for sharing.
    April
    from A Modern Teacher
    You can check out the post here: http://www.amodernteacher.com/2012/04/diy-making-words-and-word-families.html

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