Staple alphabet sound spelling cards to a wall so that children can refer to them when necessary. For older children, include the additional letter combinations as they learn them. Recite information from all of the cards daily, including each card's letter, the sound or sounds that the letter makes and the picture. This prepares students for phonics patterns that they encounter daily but have not yet learned in class.
Teach one sound spelling rule each week. Introduce the letter, sound and picture. Then ask students if they can think of other words that might have the same sound spelling pattern. Use this opportunity to teach that some letters share the same sound but follow a different pattern.
Create stories using words that follow the sound spelling rule of the week. Write each word on the board, and have the students come up with the storyline. This also can be done in groups, and the groups can share their stories with the rest of the class.
Lead the class in activities that reinforce each sound spelling card. Remind students of the relationship among the letter, the sound or sounds and the picture. Include activities such as making spelling lists with words that follow the same pattern. Students also could write words in shaving cream smeared on their desks.
Assess students at the end of each week. Test them by asking each student to identify the information on the week's sound spelling card or asking the students to read words that follow the pattern learned that week. They also can demonstrate mastery of the concept by completing a spelling test.
Review the cards. As you teach other sound spelling patterns, continue to remind students of the previous patterns they learned. Keep the cards on the wall so that students can refer to them after the lesson.