Games to Teach Blending Letter Sounds

Word Building

• Word building helps reinforce decoding and word recognition. The teacher writes a CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) word like "cat" on the board or on the overhead projector, says the sound for each letter slowly then a little faster until most students can hear the word. The teacher then erases the "c" in "cat" and replaces it with an "h." Students take turns saying the new word. Teachers can repeat with other letters like "r," "s" and "m."

Make A Word

• Children are more apt to remember procedures for blending letter sounds when they are actively engaged. Teachers can include all students in this sounding-out game. The teacher gives every child a letter written on an index card or piece of construction paper, then calls on three kids at a time to come to the front of the room and make a word by positioning themselves in the correct order. For example, the teacher calls the students who have the "e," "w" and "t" alphabet cards. The children have to figure out the correct order of the letters and stand accordingly so the rest of the class can blend these sounds into the word, "wet."

Say It Fast

• This game helps children blend sounds as well as improves listening skills. The teacher says three sounds slowly. The children then say the word they think the teacher is pronouncing. Teachers may have to repeat the sounds several times when she first introduces this activity. As children become more comfortable with the process, the teacher can progress from three- to four- and some five-letter words.

Writing Races

• Writing sounds helps children with spelling skills that are crucial throughout school. Instead of using pencil and paper, students can compete against each other in a writing game using sand or whipped cream. For example, two children come to the front of the room where the teacher has set up a table with two plates or small boards that contain whipped cream. The teacher says a word, then students write the word based on the sounds they hear, using their fingers to write the words in the whipped cream. The first student who writes the word correctly is the winner of that round.