7 Fun & Creative Ways to Teach Phonics

How to Make Practicing Phonics Fun!

Today, we're here to talk about phonics - fundamental skills that bridge the gap between reading and understanding. Phonics helps your students decode words, improve their spelling, boost their reading speed, and much more.

No More Phonics Worksheets!

But, let's be honest, phonics practice can sometimes be a bit dull. Never fear! We have seven fun methods up our sleeves to liven up your phonics lessons and keep your students engaged. Let's dive in!

1. Nursery Rhymes: Nursery rhymes introduce kids to the rhythm of language, making the learning of sounds, syllables, and pronunciations a fun and memorable experience. By incorporating nursery rhymes into repeated readings and a reader's notebook, you're fostering an interactive learning environment that cultivates an early love for reading.

2. Phonics Bingo: Children love games, and Bingo can be a fun and exciting way to teach phonics. Create a series of Bingo cards with different phonics sounds instead of numbers. As students hear the sounds, they cover the corresponding square. Students also love Shake-A-Word phonics game.

3. Sound Matching: Gather a variety of objects and ask students to match them with the correct phonics sound. This hands-on approach will help children visualize the connection between sounds and objects, enhancing their learning experience.

4. Phonics Relay Race: Divide the class into teams and set up a relay race where each child has to find an object starting with a specific phonics sound or write a word on the board. This not only practices phonics but is also a great way to burn off some energy! Rhyme Time is another fun alternative.

5. Phonics Song and Dance: Are your students music lovers? Incorporate songs and dances into your lessons to help them remember phonics sounds creatively. Plus, it's a great excuse to have a mini dance party!

6. Phonics Hopscotch: Use sidewalk chalk to create a hopscotch grid outdoors with different phonics sounds in each square. Kids hop and say each sound as they land on it. This game is perfect for sunny days when students need an outdoor break.

7. Storytelling with Phonics: Encourage students to write and narrate their own stories using words with specific phonics sounds. This activity not only helps with phonics but also enhances storytelling and creative writing skills.

Here are my favorite engaging phonics activities:

Poetry Notebook - Nursery Rhymes Kit #1

Interactive Notebook with Nursery Rhymes - Kit #2

Blending Trains for Sounds & Word Reading

Shake-A-Word for Practicing Word Families

Google Drive - 3 Word Scramble

Sound Box Games

 Build a Strong Phonics Foundation

Remember, the ultimate goal is to make learning enjoyable and interactive. With these fun and engaging techniques, your students will look forward to their phonics lessons and the opportunities to explore these games and activities. Here's to happy reading and building a strong phonics foundation in your classroom!

Jennifer :)