BLAST Unit 1 - Homeschool Thursday

BLAST Unit 1 - Homeschool Thursday from Kimberly Chandler on Vimeo.

Key Words & Key Word Titles!

Here are the key words we use for the phonics wall in out classrooms.   In class, teachers introduce the key words as they are presented in the curriculum.  You can hang these on the study wall in your homeschool room or use them as (long, skinny) flash cards.  Either way they are great tools for review and introducing new graphemes/phonograms to your child.  Here are a few photos showing how they are displayed in class.  Click here  for the PDF of the Key Words.   Click here for the PDF of the Key Word Titles. 

Key Questions for Multisyllabic Words!

Hey Paideia Friends!

After yesterday's phonics meeting several parents asked for a few resources we use in the classroom.  Here are the Key Questions we use in class to figure out how to break down a multi-syllabic word.  We have found these questions to be really helpful for students.  We think they will be equally helpful for you at home.   Feel free to download them and hang them in your homeschool space or keep them with you homeschool reading supplies so they are on-hand when needed!

Happy Reading!

Click here for PDF version

Spell It!

Spell It! is a practice activity that asks students to finger stretch, identify the sounds, and write the letters that comprise a give word.  Watch the video, if you need more clarification on how to complete the Spell It!  activities at homes, please contact your child's teacher.  Happy Reading!

 

Phrases and Sentences to Read

Phrases to Read are designed to give students controlled practice on the word study concepts are currently being review in the RGR phonics program.  Phrases to Read are restricted to the current phoneme (sound chunks), grapheme (spelling chunks) or morpheme (meaning chunks...like prefixes and suffixes) the students have studied.  Sentences to read are uncontrolled texts that mimic what children read in "real life"  These sentences are characteristic of the types of words students would find while reading a picture book or easy chapter book.  Practice and efficient master of both types of reading is necessary in the development progress of a proficient reader.

 

Word Sort Blast

The Blast Word Sort is designed to help think students identify and apply the concept students are currently learning in the Really Great Reading program.    The Word Sort activities increase in difficulty over time.  But all steps should be easily completed by the time the students read them.  Watch the video below for more information on how to complete the Word Sort page in the workbook.  If you need more information on the different syllable types,  click HERE.  If you need a great review the concept of Open and Closed syllables, click HERE.

 

Detective Work - Blast Workbook

Hello Parents!

This is a quick little video that explains how to complete the Detective Workbook pages with the sections "Mark It!" and "Read It!"  We hope it helps!  If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact your child's teacher or me (at kchandler@paideiaknoxville.org)

The Phoneme Song

A phoneme is a small units of distinctive speech sounds  In simple terms a phoneme is a sound that floats in the air.  You can hear phonemes but not see them.  Being able to identify and manipulate phonemes in written words is a powerful indicator of decoding and encoding (spelling) success for learners in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades.

Thanks to Mrs. McKinney for showing us how to sing the phoneme song.

The Closed Syllable Song

As most of you know we have been reviewing concepts of a closed syllable in first and second grades.  In simple terms a closed syllable has the following characteristics:

1)  There is one vowel in the word    
2) The vowel is followed by a consonant (or two or three)
3)  The vowel will use its short sound

Here is the song the children have been learning in class.

Thanks for Mrs. Williams for crafting the words!  Thanks to Mrs. McKinney for lending your lovely singing skills to this video clip!

Open and Closed Syllables

First Grade is talking about open and closed syllables this week.  This is a great little activity to have on had to help your children remember the difference between an open and closed syllable.

Click here to download the PDF

The Logic of English: The Problem of English

Hey Parents and Teaches!
We are beginning a new book study in our professional development group.  The Logic of English. by Denise Eide.  If you want a clear and simple explanation of what is happening in the English phonics system, this is a great resource.  Here are our  note from the first session.   Stay tuned we will be posting our notes weekly.   Happy Tuesday!

The Schwa

The schwa is defined as...  

the neutral vowel sound typically occurring in unstressed syllables in English, however spelled(ie: a in alone and sofa, e in system, i in easily, o in gallop, u in circus)... which in short means the schwa occurs when a vowel is not making the sounds it is suppose to make.  It is acting a bit lazy and will say "uh" or "ih" in place of its expected vowel sound.  The chart below shows some common vowel endings (and middles) that are often flexed to a schwa sound.  

Syllable Types Posters

Hello!  Here are the syllable types posters we shared last night.  Please remember that the Really Great Reading program teaches only six syllable types, while seven syllable types are represented here.  Really Great Reading considers the diphthong vowels (oi, oy, ou, ow, au, and aw) to be the same as vowel teams (ie: ee, ea, ai, ay, etc.)

 Click the link here to access the PDF file 

Really Great Reading - Parent Meeting

Here is the slide show for the Really Great Reading presentation.  Thank you all for coming.  We are all so excited about the growth and learning our children will experience this year.  If you have questions please let us know.  You can email your child's teacher or Mrs. Chandler (kchandler@paideiaknoxville.org)

The Word Burger!

While doing some research this morning, I found this on the Reading Doctor website.  It perfectly explains the difference between phonemes, graphemes (phonograms), and letters!  Enjoy!