Knowing the sounds of a language, especially English which has a deep orthography (spelling and sounds greatly differ), is important in understanding and producing sounds. This helps in learning how to correctly pronounce new words in order to create meaning.

Understanding that sounds are also organized into patterns is essential in building vocabulary. Words can be changed into new words by changing one sound in the word, building new words, and expanding vocabulary. For example, paint, faint, and saint.

Differentiation:

1. Model for beginners using visuals and easy decodable words such as CVC words

2. Move to more complex words that have blends and digraphs (shut, fish, clap)

3. To challenge students, use words that have clusters and more than one syllable (spring, string, teacher)

Differentiation:

1. Use CVC words that are familiar for beginners and younger students. Have students right down each sound they hear (provide sound boxes)

2. Use more complex words, take away sound boxes, and encourage the use of blending and segmenting words for advanced and older students

Differentiation:

1. Start with objects that have very easily identifiable sounds. Students will say the sound of the object out loud

2. Move towards more complex sounds such as blends, digraphs, and clusters. Students will identify the sound and write the word

3. Challenge students with more complex sounds such as silent letters and final sound spelling rules (-tch,

   -ch, -ck)

Differentiation:

1. Begin with common sounds and have students have Bingo cards with only pictures

2. Introduce more complex sounds such as blends, digraphs, and vowel teams

3. Challenge students who are ready with complex skills such as minimal pairs, words with different meanings that have all the same sounds except for one (examples: pin and bin, light and right, sip and ship)

Virginia Literacy Partnerships: offers a family resource page with examples of how parents can support their children's language development

At Home Activity: Nursery rhymes and songs

1. Using nursery rhymes and songs encourages students to focus on both the sounds and rhythms of the words. Parents can have their children clap out the number of words or syllables, identify rhymes, or sing the songs to improve fluency based on their level

Differentiation:

1. Begin with familiar morphemes and root words. Include pictures to help support creating new words. Use prefixes such as -un and -re, roots such as happy, write, and play, and suffixes such as -ing and -ed

2. Continue to add additional affixes as students are ready

3. Challenge students to use the words they created in sentences

Differentiation:

1. Use as a small group activity to reinforce skills such as roots and affixes

2. As students become more proficient, allow the activity to be completed individually

Differentiation:

1. Begin with familiar root words-students can also illustrate a picture to create meaning

2. Incorporate more challenging words when students are ready-let students choose the root words

3. Challenge students to use the word of the day in a sentence

Differentiation:

1. Complete puzzles in small group using familiar morphemes. Provide support in defining the new word

2. Move towards independence in completing the puzzles with more complex words

3. Challenge students to define new words with synonyms and antonyms

Florida Center for Reading Research: provides activities to support morphology and literacy skills

At Home Activity: Word Sorts

Word sorts involving roots and affixes help build vocabulary and reinforce language skills. They can be used with both familiar and more complex words, visual support, and in context to create new vocabulary. Reading and writing skills benefit as well.