After your child learns to read the whole alphabet, the next step is to get them on the bandwagon of reading CVC (Consonant Vowel Consonant) words like cat, map, bag etc.
So how do you help your little children to learn this skill? I have 5 simple ideas that you can try to make reading fun. Don't start out with worksheets as you don't want budding readers to feel stressed. You want them to first understand the concept of blending. By doing hands on activities children will enjoy the whole process without feeling pressured.
1) Letters on a slide!
This is an interesting way to teach blending to young children. Take a flannel board and bring out the letters of the words you want them to read. Tell children that the letters want to play on a slide today. Show them the slide(flannel board). Choose a word to read and place all the letters of that word on top of the slide. Lets take the word 'cap'. Tell children that letter p (the ending sound) loves to go down the slide and can't wait. Hold the letter p and take out its sound as it goes down the slide. Let it wait at the bottom of the slide. Now very dramatically, tell the children that letter a, the vowel is very scared to go alone. He requests his friend c (beginning sound) to hold his hand. Ask children to name the sound that they will hear if both the letters hold hands. /c/ and /a/ together will say /ca/. Now lets take /ca/ down and remind /p/ to catch them. Slowly take letters c and a down taking out the /ca/ sound and say /ca/-/p/ when they reach down.
2) Hop On!
If your child likes to move around, then this fun activity is a must try. Take out three hula hoops or anything that is circular. Put them on the floor and place magnetic letters in them. Let your child hop besides each hula hoop and encourage him/her to say the sound of the letter. When he/she hops after the third hula hoop, he/she should say the whole word. See the video for an example.
3) Going On A Car Ride!
Car lovers will love reading words with this activity. Place magnetic letters on paper and draw a road beneath them. Slowly move the car towards each letter and say its sound. When they cross all three letters, encourage them to say the word.
4) Stir the Word Soup!
Little chefs will love making and stirring the word soup. Put letters in a bowl of water and stir them. We say this fun chant while we stir,
Stirring and stirring my word soup,
Which letters should I choose?
Encourage them to take out two letters of their choice. Let them use one for beginning sound and one for the ending sound. Place a vowel in the middle for beginning readers. Let them read the word. Allow them to make silly words as your goal is teach them how to blend.
5) Magic Spoon
Bring out a spoon, write a letter on it and call it a magical spoon! Ha!, yes it work
s, honestly. The novelty of magic will get children excited about this activity. Tell them the magic spoon changes the words that they will read. Write the word family ( -at,-in,-ug ) you are working on or mix it up like in the picture. Say a magic chant and let the magic spoon start its magic. Place it in front of one word family and blend the letters to say the word. Move it down and say the next word. Keep going till you reach the end of the list.
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