Welcome back to Read Not Guess. Today is a review day. We’ll play the Sound Addition game and then have your kids read a “decodable” book using some of the letter sounds we’ve practiced so far.
Let’s get started.
Sound Addition
It’s important for kids to hear how words change when you add, subtract, or change a letter. It helps them hear the individual sounds in words and understand that different sounds convey a different meaning.
Read your child the questions and see if they can come up with the answers:
Question: What word do you get when you add the “p” and the “et” sounds?
Answer: p + et = pet
Question: What word do you get when you add the “s” and the “et” sounds?
Answer: s + et = set
Question: What word do you get when you add the “cuh” and the “up” sounds?
Answer: cuh + up = cup
(For ones like these, are they still saying "cuh-uh-puh?" If yes, have them keep blending the sounds until they're saying it cleanly as "cup" with no extra sounds in the middle or at the end.)
Let's do a couple more:
Question: What word do you make when you add the “p” and the “up” sounds?
Answer: p + up = pup
Question: What word do you make when you add the “p” and the “op” sounds?
Answer: p + op = pop
Question: What word do you make when you add the “huh” and the “op” sounds?
Answer: h + op = hop
Question: What word do you make when you add the “mmm” and the “op” sounds?
Answer: m + op = mop
If your child struggled with any of the words, go back and have them do it again. Repeated practice is good for kids.
For a harder challenge, swap roles. Have your child give you a word to guess based on a combination of sounds. Made-up words are fine! What's important here is for your child to hear the individual sounds and practice combining them together.
Note that this is a game you can play anywhere. Try it at the dinner table, in the car, or anytime you’re waiting around.
Word Practice
Now let's work on “blending” some of the letter sounds we've been working on. Your child can start slowly by saying each sound individually, but each time, they should try to say it just a bit faster:
w ax
wax
And:
f ed
fed
And:
d ig
dig
And a couple harder ones:
f r om
from
And:
d r ip
dr ip
drip
"Decodable" Story
If you think your child is ready, see if they can read the story below. It was written and illustrated by my 10-year-old daughter.
Mat, hat, and a fat cat
Mat sat on a fat cat.
A fat cat sat on Mat.
A fat cat had a hat as it sat on Mat.
A fat cat sat on Mat and a hat.
Mat is mad at a fat cat.
A hat sat on Mat.
End.
That’s it for today. We’ll see you next time!
P.S. If you think your child is ready for more stories like these, look for the Bob Books at your local library or search for other "decodable books." I'd particularly recommend the free stories "I Sit, I Tap" or "Sid and Dad" from the University of Florida Literacy Institute.