I have always been of the mindset that it’s important to use formal names for things with children. They’re capable of learning them and it can continue to strengthen their vocabulary skills in other ways. In most aspects of my day, I stay true to this philosophy. I use “schema” with my students; I explicitly teach comprehension strategies and expect students to use their formal names. I teach content vocabulary and expect students to use them correctly.
The one time I diverge from this way of thinking is with phonics. It’s so incredibly difficult for kids to learn the different phonetic combinations thrown at them in texts and in isolation. Not to mention, English is incredibly complicated and has several different sounds for the same combination of letters, and rules about rules not working. It’s incredibly difficult for students to master them all, not to mention their formal names. Plus, how many adults know the difference between a digraph or a diphthong? I can tell you from my experience only teachers and other educational roles know these terms, and even then, there are many, many who do not know them or confuse them. While there are some things I continue to teach my students explicitly (open and closed syllables for example), I focus my time and energy on students learning the letter-sound combinations and applying them independently in both reading and writing.
One of the ways I try and help students master letter-sound combinations are through catchy word chunks terms that help them learn and remember them. I learned these when I was student teaching in first grade and have used them ever since (currently 13 years later!), though I’ve changed a few of them a bit over the years. I’ve used these word chunks terms more intentionally with my intervention students who need something else to hold on to in learning phonics. But, I’ve also used these word chunks terms during my whole class phonics instruction in both first and second grades. For many of these we box the chunk and draw something to help us remember it. You can download the phonics reference sheet by clicking on the image below.
37 Comments
Hi Tessa,
Thanks for ideas and resources.
Cheers,
Jessie Eatts
Naturally, I'm already following your blog!
Jen
hellomrssykes(at)gmail(dot)com
Hello Mrs Sykes
I'm following your Pinterest boards! 🙂
Jen
hellomrssykes(at)gmail(dot)com
Hello Mrs Sykes
I am your newest follower
~Lorraine
Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies
rainee2011@gmail.com
Following you on facebook -Sara
I pinned your give away on my Contest & Giveaway board. Hope you a lot of traffic from it! 🙂
~Lorraine
Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies
Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies on Pinterest
rainee2011@gmail.com
Following you on pinterest as sadkins
also following your blog
I am also following you on Facebook.
🙂
Following you on Facebook and your blog as well.
Thanks 🙂
I am a new follower!!
Ali
alischepis(at)gmail.com
I am a new follower of your blog!!
Kelsey
kmg258@gmail.com
I "like" your Facebook page!!
Kelsey
kmg258@gmail.com
I follow you on pinterest!!
Kelsey
kmg258@gmail.com
I am a new follower of your blog
Teach~Play~Smile
I liked your FB page
Teach~Play~Smile
I am following you on Pinterest
kerikelly@hotmail.ca
Teach~Play~Smile
I am a new follower of your blog. meredith.mitchell@nhcs.net
I follow you on Facebook.
I'm "liking" your Facebook page! 😉
Jen
hellomrssykes(at)gmail(dot)com
Hello Mrs Sykes
Following you on pinterest. Thanks for making a collaborative board.
I liked you on Facebook. Great posts.
I am following your blog – just found you and love what I see so far.
zputty@gmail.com
I am following you on Pinterest – especially your centers board.
zputty@gmail.com
I follow your blog.
crhdouglas@gmail.com
I "Like" you on FB.
crhdouglas@gmail.com
I follow you on Pinterest.
crhdouglas@gmail.com
I think I will follow you on Pinterest. I did just "Like" you on facebook. Thanks for the Chunks info.
whitera16@gmail.com
I love your "Chunks" page. Thank you so much for the freebie. I think there might be a little mistake on it though. I think you meant "hear" instead of "here."
Oh my goodness! I always notice that sort of thing and completely missed it. Thanks so much for letting me know (and letting me know nicely!) It should be fixed now!
I follow your blog.
lraines78@gmail.com
I liked you on FB.
lraines78@gmail.com
I am following you on Pinterest.
lraines78@gmail.com
I am following you on Pinterest.
Username: mrsrm
arodriguez-martinez@iteach.org
🙂
Arlette
I am following your blog.
arodriguez-martinez@iteach.org
I am following you on facebook:
Arlette Rodriguez-Martinez
facebook email: feenixgate@gmail.com
teaching email: arodriguez-martinez@iteach.org
What an great 'fact' sheet! It will definely be useful AND used in my new classroom this coming year: a gr. 2/3 classroom in Canada:)
…following you on Pinterest:
rcharron3@cogeco.ca