We, as teachers, know that phonics is the building block that you need to have to read well. Using phonics activities for struggling readers is a way to introduce and reinforce a skill with readers that makes reading comprehension stick.
As an upper elementary teacher, I see students who do not have the basic building blocks they need to be successful readers each school year. I often see kids who would benefit from practicing those basic phonics skills each year. I like using the phonics activities for struggling readers when teaching in small groups or independently to help strengthen reading comprehension in my classroom. I have also used this lesson with kids I tutor after school, and you can use it if you teach homeschool.
Using Phonics Activities for Struggling Readers
When a student struggles with reading comprehension, I find it best to go back to the basics and sometimes start over. I like to use this order:
1. Introduce the Skill
2. Practice the Skill
3. Access understanding of the Skill
In this product, I introduce the phonics skill we will be learning using the phonics poster. These posters can be hung around the classroom in easy eyesight for the students to use throughout the year. The teacher can also print out the posters and start a phonics binder with the students so they have the skill handy.
Practice Makes Perfect
Students must practice the skill of learning the phonics rule. When I have students practice, I like to have them near me at a small group table, on the classroom floor, or during tutoring. This product contains two short pages of examples that can be used to see if a student understands the skills. I have the worksheets cut in half and secured with a binder ring in the picture below.
Some other fun ways to use this practice sheet are:
- Use a clear sheet protector & and a Vis marker.
- Have students write their answers on a dry-erase board and use fun colored Expo markers.
- Have a pair of students swap cards and be the teacher. The students can quiz each other to check for understanding.
Time to check for understanding
Once the teacher feels confident that the student understands the skill, the best way to find out is to check for understanding. These worksheets use a repetitive format to see if they understand how to use this phonics skill when reading. With answer keys provided, the teacher can quickly pinpoint which phonics still need to be retaught to the student. I have found that using phonics activities for struggling readers not only works well in lower grades in elementary but is also helpful to students in the upper grades, too!
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