learning to read – Library of Learning Resources

In part 1 of this series, I stated a pretty obvious fact…That children must be able to recognize individual letters as the first part of learning to read. However, you also learned that while teaching children letter names, you can (and should) introduce them to the sound each letter makes.

Here, in part 2, I’ll discuss progressing forward to CVC words.

What are CVC words?

It’s important to emphasize the significance of CVC words in early reading education. These three-letter words, comprised of a consonant, a vowel, and another consonant, are pivotal in introducing blending sounds and decoding words to young learners. Mastery of CVC words is essential for the development of phonemic awareness, a fundamental skill for achieving reading success.

Remember, as you taught children to recognize letters, you also taught them to recognize the sound each letter makes. Once they know the letters and sounds, progressing to CVC words is the next step!

To practice blending CVC words effectively, it’s essential to model the process by pointing to each letter and articulating its sound. For example, for the word “cat”. First, say the word. Then, simply start with “c” and make the sound. Next, add the “a” sound followed by the “t” sound. Point to each letter in the word as you make the sound. Once you make each sound separately, say them (blending together) as you once again say the word.

One effective technique that some love to use when teaching CVC words…Placing dots underneath each letter to provide a tactile reference for students. Begin by repeating the process 2-3 times, gradually increasing the pace and seamlessly blending the sounds together until the word is formed.

Following this, encourage students to participate alongside you and eventually attempt the exercise independently. As a beneficial warm-up, start with oral blending before progressing to using actual words on a blending line. With consistent modeling and ample practice, students will develop the ability to independently blend CVC words.

My Teaching Library has a comprehensive bundle designed just for students who are ready to begin learning and practicing CVC words…

LEARN TO READ | CVC BUNDLE

This fun, engaging BUNDLE includes all three CVC workbooks, (short a | short e and i | short o and u), plus a BONUS end of study assessment!

Watch preview videos of each workbook that is included:
– Short A
– Short E and I
– Short O and U

Using this CVC BUNDLE, students will color, trace, write, cut, and glue as they learn and read CVC words!

How to Progress from Letters to CVC Words

Moving from learning individual letters to blending CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words is a pivotal milestone in a child’s reading journey. It signifies their transition from recognizing basic phonemes to forming and pronouncing simple words. This phase can be enriched by integrating various engaging activities, interactive games, and providing access to straightforward reading materials. Through a harmonious blend of these approaches, educators and parents can effectively steer young learners towards achieving reading success. Furthermore, cultivating patience, offering consistent encouragement, and fostering a sense of joy in the learning process will lay a sturdy foundation for their future literacy endeavors!

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Reading is a crucial skill that begins by mastering the alphabet. However, as students progress, they encounter another milestone in their journey – the transition from recognizing individual letters to seamlessly blending consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words. This is an essential step that helps them decode and read more complex words. In this series, I will share a step-by-step guide on how you can help your students make this transition effectively.

In this blog post, part 1, I’m addressing the skill of mastering letter recognition.

Learning to Recognize Letters

Students must be able to recognize individual letters before introducing them to mixing CVC words and thus beginning to read.

Students should be able to recognize both capital and lowercase letters in order to be proficient in letter recognition.
Identify the various print fonts (consider the numerous ways to write an or g).
Have rapid and accurate sight letter recognition.

Some practice ideas if a student isn’t recognizing at least half of the alphabet’s letters…Reinforce letter recognition with fun activities including worksheets, flashcards, and alphabet games.

Need resources to help teach letter recognition? My Teaching Library has a great variety…

Go to: ABCS TRACE AND COLOR
Free to All-Access Members
Non-Members will find listed price on product page

Go to: LETTER LAPBOOKS | A-Z
Free to All-Access Members
Non-Members will find listed price on product page

Go to: LETTER LEARNING A-Z CAPITAL LETTERS | INTERACTIVE COLOR, CUT AND PASTE
Free to All-Access Members
Non-Members will find listed price on product page

Go to: MORNING WORK FOR KINDERGARTEN | 1ST SEMESTER
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Non-Members will find listed price on product page

Go to: MORNING WORK FOR KINDERGARTEN | 2ND SEMESTER
Free to All-Access Members
Non-Members will find listed price on product page

It’s crucial to understand that letter recognition is just one component of the process of enabling students to blend. Acknowledging the need for students to recognize a minimum of 50% of the alphabet’s letters before progressing is essential. This criterion is vital because students could potentially advance to blending at a faster pace than anticipated. Once students grasp letters and their respective sounds (for example, m, a, p, s, t), they are ready to begin blending!

As you practice letter recognition, it’s important to introduce the sounds associated with each letter. As students learn each letter, say when they are completing a lapbook for each letter or working on a letter page, you can you can say, “The letter b makes the /b/ sound heard at the beginning of ball or big.”

Encourage the students to repeat after you or complete the sentence, such as, “this is the letter __ ‘b!‘ It makes the __ ‘/b/’ sound”. This brief daily exercise will help your students learn both the letter names and sounds simultaneously!

It is also always helpful to use multisensory approaches, such as associating sounds with gestures or using tactile materials, to enhance understanding!