Classroom Activities:

• Sorting Sounds - Students would sort picture cards by their corresponding beginning sound (e.g., /a/, /k/, etc.).

  • Differentiation: students can use objects such as counters or letter boxes for visual supports.

• Substituting phonemes - Change one sound in a word to completely change the word (e.g., dog --> log).

  • Differentiation: Use visuals (pictures) for students who need additional support.

    
    

At-Home Activities:

• "I Spy" Game - This game consists of finding items that begin with a certain letter and having the student identify these items.

  • This will build phonemic awareness without need to purchase materials (Lane, et al., 2025).

    
    

Website/Additional Resources: https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/phonological-and-phonemic-awareness/articles/abcs-phonemic-awareness

This resource outlines the ins and outs of phonemic awareness. It provides details on how to support your learner and their abilities (with and without exceptionalities) (Hein, 2024).

Classroom Activities:

• Using Letter Tiles to Construct Words - I use magnetic tiles to build words and then change a letter to change the word (e.g., rat --> mat). Student then decode and read the new word.

  • Differentiation: For advanced/gifted learners, students will create words beyond the CVC realm. For emerging readers, picture cards are given.

• Bingo - Students will mark out the words that are called and decoded.

  • Differentiation: Some students may require visuals or smaller boards.

At-Home Activities:

• Labeling - Use sticky notes and have your student read and/or label the items.

  • This allows your student to make connections with curriculum learned in the classroom and home (Hein, 2024).

    
    

Additional Resources:

https://www.starfall.com/h/

Starfall is a great option to develop literacy through engaging and adaptable games (Lane et al., 2025).

Classroom Activities:

• Read Aloud - Read a story to students and pause to explain the important and new vocabulary words. This allows students to hear the words using context.

  • Differentiation - For ELLs and students with language struggles/delays, provide visual aids such as vocabulary cards with photos.

• Word Maps - Students will explain the vocabulary word's definition in their own words, draw a corresponding picture, and use the word in a sentence (correctly).

  • Differentiation - Some students make require sentence stems.

    
    

At-Home Activities:

• Family word wall/fridge - write down and discuss words that might be unfamiliar or interesting.

  • This allows students to make connections with vocabulary words using context clues (Hein, 2024).

    
    

Additional Resources:

https://kids.wordsmyth.net/we/

This resource allows students to review new vocabulary words using child-friendly explanations with illustrations.

Classroom Activities:

• Repetitive Reading - A teacher will read a text using correct tone, accuracy, and speed. Students will repeat back using similar components.

  • Differentiation - The length of the passage/text will depend on reader ability.

• Reader's Theater - Students will be grouped together to study and decipher a text. They will then perform for the class by reading scripts (correctly) with fluency.

  • Differentiation - roles and length of script will depend on a student's fluency skills.

At-Home Activities:

• Read Aloud as a Family - Take turns reading as a family. Discuss and practice the differing components of fluency (e.g., tone, speed, accuracy, etc.). This builds upon the student's fluency skills without the pressure of the classroom environment (Lane et al., 2025).

Additional Resources:

https://www.getepic.com

This resource offers a plethora of leveled readers and different books to practice literacy/fluency skills.

Classroom Activities:

• Think-Pair-Share - Each group/table of students will be given a text. They will make predictions regarding the text based on the cover. They will then read and discuss the outcomes.

  • Differentiation - Sentence stems will be provided for students struggling with speech or writing skills.

• Map the Story - Students will work as a team to complete a graphic organizer that maps out their story (e.g., characters, setting, beginning, middle, and end).

  • Differentiation - Some students will be given sentence stems and visual pictures for cues.

At-Home Activities:

• Book Chats - Encourage your student read you their favorite book. Then ask the student questions about the text (e.g., characters, setting, problem, solution, etc.). Guiding them through their comprehension of the text will build upon their literacy skills (Hein, 2024).

Additional Resources:

https://www.ixl.com/ela/topics?partner=google&campaign=179162755&adGroup=8821323475&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=179162755&gbraid=0AAAAADrr3ApGD788TKtdZYORKZGqdEQNN&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzt_FBhCEARIsAJGFWVldJ88Cmb0qvCVCg3bXvamrpvUtGgVn2OQnOyh6-JFHVA0os7_XG9YaAjRFEALw_wcB

This resource provides practice on reading comprehension skills. It is interactive and engaging.