Phonics lessons are crucial for all. Students need lots of repetition to consolidate skills. Games can help this process. I always add a game or two to each homework packet. Read on to find out how I use games to encourage, motivate and engage my students.
We use track games to get lots of repetition when blending to read. Many children get stuck after learning first CVC words — sat, dog, map. The jump to read first CVCC and CCVC words can take time. Children need lots of repeated exposure, and if this only happens through reading the same connected text, enthusiasm can wane because it is hard work, initially —there is just so much going on. Children tire easily, and their brains hurt. You know this is happening when they look away from text and squirm. Adding a game to the mix can help that feeling — it’s all too much.
In the spirit of the true values of Christmas, we are having a Christmas sale and giveaway starting today to spread good cheer! 5 free phonics resources and a 5 day sale.
Why play phonics games?
Here are the reasons why we play in my clinic. Games are best played after explicit teaching to support learning, build skills and knowledge through repetition.
Games are a brilliant tool for sneaking in lots of repeated exposure to get lots of repetition of previously taught knowledge and skills!
Games are a great way to motivate students to review and consolidate early literacy skills.
Games make learning fun, which can help students pay attention and stay focused for longer.
They are a great addition to homework bags. Students love games and they are far more engaging than a worksheet.
Games help to build oral language skills. As you play together, you are modelling how to read words and how to put words into sentences.
All students need time and repetition to use and apply their knowledge and skills to improve and build fluency.
Playful practice is essential to build knowledge and skill. Games can be competitive, but they don’t have to be with the right language and environment —it’s how you set the scene.
We use games in many different ways, so students get lots of playful repetition and exposure to previous learning. They are a brilliant tool for repeated practice — the same but different! The same but different again!
Games are also a great way to add discussion in an engaging way.
All students need to use and apply their knowledge and skills to improve their vocabulary and build fluency.
Many students in my clinic truly benefit from a playful practice. They are the students that get stuck, tire quickly and have low confidence in their abilities. Games are peppered throughout the sessions to motivate and change the scene. I use games as a learning and motivational tool. Sometimes, they are a carrot and stick.
Let’s just read three more pages.
Let’s just write four more words.
Let’s just write two more sentences, then we can play a game.
Can we play a game now? Let’s just…
Games are fun for most and are a fantastic literacy learning tool for struggling readers to help them gain confidence in a safe, playful space.
Here are three ways to use game boards that are different to a usual track game.
Track games are great for counting skills, whether you use a die or a spinner. If you need some free spinners in your classroom, head on over to my free stuff page here. I needed cost-effective spinners a while ago and couldn’t find what I was looking for, so I made some.
1. Bump is a game kids absolutely love
Adapted from the much-loved maths game to give students lots of repetition for reading and spelling.
This game is perfect for the consolidation of previously taught material. This game is all about playful practice. Students have lots of fun while reading and spelling the target sound/spelling words.
How to play
Use a spinner and 14 counters — 1 colour each.
Players take turns to spin the spinner, move to the spot, say the word and add to a sentence. The player covers the word with a counter.
If a player spins a number that is already covered by one counter from the other player — they “bump” the counter off the spot.
If a player lands on a number they have already covered themselves — they add another counter to the top and freeze the spot to keep it safe. The other player can no longer occupy that spot. Once a spot has two counters of the same colour, it is safe. Students can no longer bump those counters from the spot!
If a player spins the same number again, they can add a counter, creating a tower. Each time a player lands on the same word, they should say the word and create a new sentence.
The first player to use all their counters wins the game!
2. Use a whiteboard
Students move around the board to collect words. They write each word before adding it to a verbal sentence.
Here is how we played with this CVCC track game recently!
Throw the die or spin a spinner. Land on a spot — read the word — add to a verbal sentence.
We always sound out words when writing to link sound to symbol.
Once the game is finished, we swap boards to read our partner’s words.
An extension to this game could be to add the words to written sentences.
3. Use a die with additional instructions
The instructions will depend on your learning objectives, age and ability of your class. I only use a die with additional instructions that I know my students can handle. Games must be fun!
The best phonics lessons incorporate discussion about words to develop meaning. Depending on age, this may involve:
Add words to a sentences
Use words in a sentence that contains a conjunction
Define words
Word structure–discussion about words or how words changes if a prefix or suffix is added.
For some, this can be tricky — some students learn to decode, but they come up with a blank when asked about the word. It’s not that they don’t know about a car or a cat? It’s just that they need a minute to go from decoding the word to thinking about the word. I use games to build on phonics skills and use the track game to talk about the words.
Use a die that says, add to a sentence, define it, connect it. Students often have run-away sentences that go for miles when adding to a sentence. It is best to keep sentences short. We want an excellent sentence, not a story!
Define it is hard! Some words are hard to define, so this has to be used with care. Modelling student-friendly definitions is the best way forward.
Connect it is all about meaning. What do you think of when you think of the word. Can you make the word longer by adding a prefix or suffix? Can you add to a compound word? Can you add the word to a sound family?
A favourite here is to add the conjunctions because, but, and, so. Using conjunctions helps my students build sentences that have extra information.
How to
Throw the die and move the required space.
Read the word.
Read the instruction on the die and complete the action. If your student struggles to do this — model how to.
Play moves to the next player. The students I work with are brilliant at giving feedback and often model how to. This is because it is part of the session. We talk about how we can help our friends. What does good feedback sound like?
Only add instructions to a die that you have taught previously. Games are not designed for new learning and skills. Games are to consolidate previous knowledge and skills.
Be playful, your students need it. If you engage, your students are more likely to follow your lead.
The free game is loaded with Christmas words. Holidays similar to Christmas are celebrated across the world at different times of the year. Even if your class doesn’t celebrate Christmas, it is still fun to find out about festivals around the world.
Happy holidays,
Clare x