Level 3: Sample Activity

Sequence of Sound: Connections to Print

Level 3 Activities focus on the sequence of sounds in a word. Attention is directed to specific positions of sounds within a word. This is the foundational base for segmenting sounds independently. When recognition of beginning, ending, and middle sounds is acquired, emergent readers are better equipped to isolate sounds and hear them separately.

Early Literacy Foundational Skills

• Sounds (Phonemes) Isolation

  • listen & detect individual sounds at the beginning of a word

  • listen & detect individual sounds at the ending of a word

  • listen & detect individual sounds in the middle of a word

Sample Activity

GOAL: sound (phoneme) isolation & matching sounds (phonemes) to letters

Materials:

• Alphabet Cards

Directions:

Have printed alphabet cards or an alphabet sheet for each child. Say the word book and ask children, Point to the letter that makes the sound you heard first. After the correct response, continue with other beginning sounds.

As the children progress, move to the ending sounds of words; Say book. Point to the letter that makes the sound you heard last. Repeat with others words having children randomly identify beginning or ending sounds.

Have more advanced learners identify the middle sounds of words; Say book. Point to the letter(s) that make the sound you heard in the middle. If using consonant digraphs (sh, th, ph) or vowel digraphs (ai, oa, ea) making sure these sounds are printed as well.

HELPFUL TIPS:

• Always model first until the child is comfortable with this activity.

• Caution if using words that begin or end with consonant digraphs (EX: ch, sh, th). IDEA: have cards with consonant digraphs written on.

• Caution if using words with vowel digraphs (EX: ai, ea, ee) IDEA: have cards with vowel digraphs written on.