Presentation

  1. 1

    Choose three phonograms with different sounds (for example: sh, ee, ai).

  2. 2

    Trace the first phonogram as one shape with two fingers and say its sound: "/sh/."

  3. 3

    Period 1: "This is /sh/." Repeat for each phonogram. The child traces and says each sound.

  4. 4

    Period 2: "Show me /ee/." "Trace /ai/." Ask several times, mixing the order.

  5. 5

    Period 3: point to one phonogram and ask, "What is this?"

  6. 6

    Play I Spy with the new sound: "I spy something that begins with /sh/."

  7. 7

    Put away the phonograms and introduce new ones on later days.

Extensions, easiest to hardest

  1. Building phonogram words with the Moveable Alphabet (shop, feet, rain)
  2. Sorting objects by phonogram sound
  3. Phonograms with more than one spelling of the same sound (ai, ay, a_e)

Control of error

The texture of the sandpaper; the adult checks the sound.

Ready to move on when the child…

  • Says the sound for each introduced phonogram
  • Finds a phonogram when the adult says its sound
  • Uses phonograms when building words with the Moveable Alphabet

Try “pink tower”, “tummy”, “diaper”, “grace and courtesy”, or “October”.