Write a simple message on chart paper to share with your pupils. You might want to begin with one sentence, and write longer messages as their reading skills progress. Cover up one word using an index card or sticky note. Read the message together with your pupils. Lead a discussion about what the covered word could be. Talk about words that make sense, and have pupils try them out in the sentence.
Uncover the first letter in the word. Discuss which previous guesses can be eliminated, and allow pupils to make new guesses. Continue revealing letters until the word becomes clear.
Provide pupils with letters of the alphabet. You can use magnetic letters, letters printed on paper, or letter tiles. Help pupils spell a simple three-letter word using their letters. It helps to display the word using larger letters that everyone can see to check their work.
Ask pupils to create a new three-letter word by exchanging the first letter for another one. For example, ask them to change "can" to "man." Continue this process, reinforcing letter-sound relationships. As an extension, ask pupils to change the last letter to create a new word.
Use cardstock to make two identical sets of cards containing high-frequency words. Begin with five to six words. Spread the cards out, face-down on a table.
Have two to three pupils take turns choosing two cards. If the cards match, players add them to their piles and take another turn. If the cards do not match, they flip them back over and let the next player go. Add new words to the game as they are introduced throughout the year.
Play this game using the classroom word wall or a similar display of vocabulary words. Ask pupils to study the words for a moment. Have them close their eyes as you remove one word from the display. Ask pupils to open their eyes and raise their hands if they can guess which word is missing. The pupil who guesses the correct word gets to be the leader and removes the next word. This game encourages pupils to use the word wall and it helps them find words quickly.