Having fun with your learners will advance them quickly. This article will take a look at some of the many games teachers love to use in the classroom.
Apologies for some repetition between my “Top Tips for Teaching CVC Words” article. (Also available on this website >>>here<<<)
"Play is our brain's favourite way of learning."
Diane Ackerman.
Word Sort
Display a number of word cards on the board using magnets. Draw a table on the board with the headings being the different chosen sounds to sort the words into, for example a/eigh/ay/ey/a_e/ai/ea. Ask the learners to sort the word cards accordingly.
You could also ask the learners to draw a table on their mini whiteboards, and write the words in their own tables first before completing the task together as a class.
Match the Words & Pics
This is great fun. I usually write five or six words with the week’s sounds in in a random list (underlining the focus sounds). Then I draw corresponding pictures in jumbled-up order on the board. Simply ask the learners to draw lines connecting the words and pictures. Ask them to read and repeat the words as much as possible.
You can test their understanding of the new words learnt by asking them to draw pictures of the words on their mini whiteboards. Perhaps as part of your warm-up routine or as a gap filler at some point in the week.
Word Scramble/Unjumble!
After your learners are more familiar with a particular group of words and sounds, this is a good game to play. Simply scramble the words and ask learners to unjumble the words and write them on the board or on their mini whiteboards.
Hangman
This old favourite is also a great game when learners are more familiar with a group of words or sounds. It encourages learners to voice sounds and words in their minds. They use their imaginations to create variations of words that will fit. The game will also help learners to remember the shape and spellings of words.
Words BINGO!
Practise recognition with BINGO! Use a free online BINGO card creator (e.g. www.myfreebingocards.com), then have them dab the words you say and repeat them back to you. You can even have learners draw the words from a hat and read them.
As an added level of difficulty, you can ask the learners to create their own bingo cards. For example, if you are teaching S-Blends, ask them to write 8 or 24 S-Blend words on their laminated BINGO cards or whiteboards. Then, play BINGO!
Sounds BINGO!
A great alternative to Words BINGO, and a great way to test learners’ spellings. The squares on a BINGO card, or on a mini whiteboard drawn table, can be headed as different spellings of the chosen sound. For example, for the Long /a/ sound we can use these 8 diphthongs on a card ai/ay/eigh/a_e/ a/ea/ey/ei. You can prep the cards, or have the learners arrange their own squares.
Read the chosen words including these sounds, and learners write them in the correct box. The first learner to get a full row, column or diagonal gets BINGO!
Complete the Sentences/Fill in the Gaps
Write a story, or a few sentences on the board, with each sentence missing your chosen words. Include those chosen words in a list displayed on the board for the learners to choose from.
Complete the Words/Fill in the Gaps
Write a story, or a few sentences on the board, or perhaps just a list of words, with some words missing your chosen consonants, vowels, digraphs or trigraphs. Ask the learners to read the sentence (if this is your chosen method), then elicit the missing part of the words. They can do this on the board or on their mini whiteboards. Whiteboards are great as you can assist learners quickly on the spot if you see they are struggling.
An extension can be to draw pictures representing the words they create. The learners can do this whilst you help any that are struggling.
Match Words with Pictures
You could display the new words on one side of the board, and pictures on the other. Then ask the learners to segment and blend the words, before matching them with their picture and placing the cards together.
Matching Pic/Word Puzzles
Print-off some CVC word pictures, for example cat/mat/bat, then write the words in two parts, for example “c” on the left-hand side of the cat and “at” on the right-hand side. Cut the pictures in half down the middle, to make matching cards. Mix them up and display them on the board, then ask the learners to match them up and say the words as they go. If your learners are higher level, you can perhaps cut the picture/word card into four pieces for an extra challenge!
CVC Charades/Pictionary
These are great fun. Act-out or draw the chosen word, e.g. cat/mat/bat, then elicit the word and the spelling. Use word/picture cards and have a learner choose one at random to try. When a learner guesses the word correctly, they can write the word on the board before all the learners read it together.
Recognition Bong/Slap/Swat/Shooting Games
Teaching recognition can be great fun. Use giant soft hammers or fly swats, darts or beanbags, sucker dart guns or even just hands to splat, bong or swat the chosen word card after reading it to the competitors. First to get there and say the word wins!
Ask the learners to create a sentence with the word for bonus points!
Find the Missing Sound
Use magnetic letters or write words on the board with a letter missing, perhaps focus on the vowels to start with e.g. b _ t. The learners can then write the word with the missing letter on their mini white boards and hold them up, or complete the words with the correct magnetic letter, before segmenting and blending. You might display a pictures card next to the words to assist learners if you think they need them.
Change the Letter – Change the Sound – Change the Word
Have magnetic letters on the board and teach the children that by changing one letter, either the first, middle or end letter, we can create new sounds and a new word. Often it is this realisation and understanding that is the blending penny-drop moment for many learners.
You can have one word displayed using magnetic letters, and a picture card of a different word you want the learners to create alongside. Ask the learner(s) to change one letter, i.e. one sound, to create the new word.
You can vary this a little by asking learners to write words on their mini whiteboards, then asking them to change one letter to create the desired word. Initially you can tell them which letter to change and check they have done it correctly.
Initial Sound Make New Word Game
Show two words picture cards on the board. Ask your learners what the words are, and then ask them for the beginning sound of each word. Write the letters on the board, elicit a vowel from your learners and create new CVC words together. Elicit more vowels and/or consonants to create longer words. Ask the learners what the new words mean?! It’s like a code-breaking activity and great fun for the children.
Phonics Word Hunts
There are two phonics “word hunts” that I do with my classes on occasion, when they are well-behaved! The first is a word card hunt in the classroom or in the playground. I hide phonics word cards around the place, then set the learners loose to find them and write them in a list in their books. Early finishers can create sentences or practise reading the new words.
The second method, is asking them to find that week’s phonics sound words in dictionaries or a selection of reading books on their tables. They make a list of the words they find, and I circuit the room, ensuring they are selecting words with the correct sounds, correcting as I go.
Treasure Hunt
Another hunt is the treasure hunt, where realia items are placed around a classroom or playground (e.g. cat, net, pig, dog, cup), and learners are given a list of the items to find. Whilst searching you will hear the learners reading the words, and the excitement when they find them and tick them off their lists.
Have Fun!
I hope these ideas worked for you or inspired other great ideas! Any suggestions or other activities to add, let me know and I’ll share them with everyone. Cheers!
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