Building Strong Readers with CONNETIX

By Christina Dartt

Have you ever started a build that you thought was going pretty well until you really began to build upon it? Then, you notice the structure, which you didn’t focus on the foundation, comes to a halt or even worse a giant crumble?

Just like building with CONNETIX, it’s essential we develop a strong foundation in phonics with our early readers. As for both reading and constructing awesome builds, when we dedicate time and focus into building a strong foundation, we are rewarded with fluent, confident readers and tall, strong structures.

Working with our hands paired with verbal instruction is a form of multisensory learning which benefits include higher engagement, improved retention of new information and deeper understanding of material. These five activities will help to create a strong foundation by focusing on letter sounds, letter names, letter identification, isolating beginning sounds and blending sounds to read whole words.

1• Form Uppercase and Lowercase Letters with 52 free printouts after Joining the CONNETIX Club for FREE!

Focus: Become more familiar with letters, their names and main sounds.

Prepare: Print the letters you would like to focus on or print all 52 pages at once to have them ready for future activities. Gather the tiles needed to form the letters as reflected on the printout.

Implement: Form letters using various CONNETIX shapes by referencing the printout. Discuss the name of the letter, the main sound it makes and brainstorm words together that start with that sound.

2• Match Letters Using Different Combinations!

Focus: Become more familiar with what letters look like, differences between uppercase and lowercase letters, and uppercase and lowercase pairs.

Prepare: Gather double the amount of square tiles as the letters you would like to focus on. Decide whether to focus on uppercase letters, lowercase letters, or uppercase-lowercase pairs (ie. A-A, a-a, A-a). First, form two columns of tiles all separate from one another, then using a chalk marker begin writing the letters you have chosen all down one column and do the same in a different order to the other column.

Implement: Working from the left column and beginning with the top tile, ask your child/tell them the letter name (example: “This is letter a”). Ask them to search for the other letter and then connect the two together. After connecting the pair, reiterate that the letter is correct by making a statement or by asking them what letter it is.

3• Letter sort!

Focus: Recognise and sort letters into separate groups.

Preparation: Select two or more letters to work on, then use a chalk marker to write those letters repeatedly on square tiles. Use as many tiles as you like and reserve one tile for each letter you are working on. On all of those tiles write each letter to create a place to stack the sorted letters.

Implementation: Review the letter names and sounds using the tiles set aside for stacking. After review, ask your child to sort the other tiles based on the letters written on them and form stacks.

4• Beginning Sound Match!

Focus: Recognise the initial sound in a word represented by an image and be able to match it to the written letter.

Prepare: Gather double the amount of square tiles as the letters you would like to focus on. Arrange the tiles separate from one another in two columns. In the first column draw with a chalk marker or print and tape images representing words with initial sounds you want to match to the letters. For example, draw a picture of a cat in the left column, then select a tile from the right column to write the letter c. Do this with as many letters you would like to work with.

Implement: Starting with the left column and the top tile, ask your child to tell you what the image is. After they tell you, ask them, what’s the first sound they hear? If they are having some difficulty isolating the sound, model stretching the word out by saying it slowly, but continuously. Once they have identified the beginning sound and the letter that makes that sound, ask them to find the letter tile from the right column and connect it to the image tile.

5• Tile Connect and Blend!

Focus: Blend letter sounds together to read words.

Preparation: Create a list of words you would like your child to read that reflect letters and their sounds that they are already familiar with. Write each word out in rows by using a chalk marker to write one letter on each tile; keeping them separate from one another. For example, for the word cat, write “c”, “a”, and “t” on a separate tile all next to one another but not touching. Repeat with the remaining words.

Implementation: Starting with one word, point to each letter and ask what sound that letter makes. After correctly naming the letter sounds, ask your child to place their hand on the first letter and continue making that sound until it connects to the next letter where they will begin making that letter sound. Continue to do this until all letters of the word are connected, then say what the word is.

As we know, each young reader has unique strengths, interests and will learn at their own pace. Creating a strong foundation in phonics builds their confidence and understanding to foster a lifelong love of learning. And the best way to learn? Make it FUN with CONNETIX!

Christina Dartt

Christina Dartt graduated college ready to teach, but instead of doing so in a classroom she is using her knowledge to teach her own little ones at home. She opted to reach more lives by sharing ideas on Instagram on learning through play and living life with other parents and educators. She believes in simple activities and incorporating skills into play, engaging games, and hands on experiences.

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