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Starting Out Right: A Guide to Promoting Children’s Reading Success
Next explain that another word can be made by adding a new block in front of the “r.” This new block stands for “g,” so when “g” and “r” and “o” are put together, we get the word “grow.” Next, ask the children to add a block after the “o”; this new block stands for “n.” Help them to understand that the four blocks now represent the four phonemes in “groan.” Finally, have them remove the “n” block, leaving “grow” again.
After this introduction, tell children that you now want three blocks to stand for a different word, “lamb.” So now the first block is for the “l” part, the second block is for the “a” part, and the third block is for the “m” part. Now ask, “If I want to make the word “am,” should I take away one of the blocks or should I add another block? (Answer: take away the first block.) And if I want to make the word “lamb” again, what must I do? (Answer: put it back.) And if I want to make the word “lamp,” what should I do? (Answer: add a new block after the “m”.)
Repeat this exercise, sometimes first giving a word that requires removing a phoneme, and sometimes one that requires adding a new phoneme. Here are some words you can use:
