An integral part of learning to read is breaking down words into individual sounds (or phonemes) and then blending those sounds to say the word. Your students will need to build their segmenting and blending skills to progress in reading development. As students begin to decode, they will recognize words and then translate those words into speech.
One way to boost your students' power to segment and blend is to allow them to read simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words, such as cab, net, dig, log, or cut.
In the video above, the student identifies the name of the picture (bag), says the word out loud, and then segments the word by isolating each phoneme (b-a-g). She then writes a letter for each sound she hears. After writing each letter, she blends the phonemes to read the word. To reinforce the word, she writes down the word.
It is important to build phonological awareness skills to increase your students' understanding that words are made up of sounds.
This digital resource, "Phoneme Segmentation Practice CVC Short e Words," gives your students the opportunity to independently practice segmenting and blending CVC short vowel words. You can print the pages and insert them into plastic sheet protectors. Students can use a dry erase marker to write on top. This can be stored in binders and used during small groups or individual seat centers. This resource also includes black and white copies for students to color and flashcards for word centers. You may copy the flashcards onto card stock and laminate them for sturdiness.
(picture above) Students will feel proud of their ability to segment and blend as they color the star for their accomplishments.
When you begin to engage your students to blend the phonemes, be sure to show them how to slowly isolate each sound and smoothly blend them. Students will begin to understand that when the sounds are blended, they will form a word.
After completing the practice activities, students may show what they’ve learned by writing the words they know.
This resource is also available in a CVC short vowel bundle:
Click below to see other resources like these:
As you watch your students engage in these activities, you will see how much they will grow as readers!
HAPPY SEGMENTING & BLENDING! xoxo