Learn more: 15 Phonics Songs for Kids at We Are Teachers 2. Singing songs is such a fun and effective way to learn! Kids will love to watch and sing along, and might not even realize they’re learning along the way. Sing a phonics song We Are Teachers/Phonics Songs for Kids via Here are some of our favorite ways to teach these key skills. Phonics activities help young learners break words into their constituent sounds so they build their literacy skills, bit by bit. Try four-letter words with younger kids.Phonics is one of the five essential components of the science of reading, along with phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. But doing it mentally is very good memory training! Our family tends to play for fun, but you can keep a running score if you want – the guesser gets 5 points for guessing the word first go, four for guessing on the second go, three for third, two for fourth, one for fifth, and none for missing the word in five guesses. This game is much easier if you use pencil and paper to keep a record. The U is correct and in the right place, the N is correct and in the right place. The U is correct but in the wrong place.Ī – It's not dunny. There are no correct letters.Ī – It's not donut. B gets five chances to guess the word.Ī - It's not drive. B makes guesses at the word and finds out if letters are correct and in the correct place, correct but in the wrong place, or not correct at all. One person, A, thinks of a five-letter word. Word Game: I have no idea of the name of this game, but this is how we play it. All of these word games are great for developing thinking skills, as well as giving the whole family a way of celebrating the joy of language. Once older kids are used to the game, it can provide a lead-in to crossword puzzles, and then cryptic crossword puzzles. There is nothing more joyous than the sight and sound of 30 youngsters marching about, chanting the syllables in given words! If your child has trouble working out how many syllables are in a word, play a game where you tap the syllables on her arm as you slowly say the word: 'butt(tap)-er (tap)-fly(tap).' Or march and dance the words, making strong body movements for each syllable. head cover that's been squashed by a truck 4. Here are some Hink Pinks you can use to get you and your child started.Ĭlues 1. The game can be extended to Hinky Pinky (two syllable rhyming words), like happy chappy = 'joyful fellow.' Or Hinketty Pinketty (three syllable rhyming words, much harder), like mellower bellower = 'less angry bull.' Mix and match with Hinky Pinketty or Hinketty Pink! The guesser tries to work out what the two rhyming words are. She works out a clue that should lead (eventually!) to the answer 'fat cat.' One clue could be 'an obese mouse-catcher' or 'a pet that eats too much,' depending on the age of the guesser. Hink Pink: Kids adore this game! One person thinks of two-single syllable rhyming words, like fat cat.

The aim is to try to think up a word for each letter and category. Then write some categories (for instance 'plants,' 'girls' names,' 'cars,' 'grocery items') down one side of the grid and write alphabet letters across the top.

Do you remember it? Simply draw a grid on a piece of paper. Great beginning for board games like Scrabble.Ĭategories: This is a game I loved as a child. Simply give your children some letters and challenge them to make words from those letters. Play it mentally with older kids, or with paper and pencil. Make a word: If you have plastic letters, magnet letters, or letter blocks, you can play this as soon as your child is old enough to spell. Children must look around and try to guess what it is you 'spied.' Spot something nearby and tell kids the sound or letter it begins with. I spy: This is a simple word game most people know. Guess the animal: Give children a rhyming word and have them guess the animal. There are also word games that have become board games and toys, but the ones you'll find below need minimal equipment. By playing word games with our kids, we give them the benefit of our company, as well as demonstrating to them that playing with words is lots of fun. Word games are great because they help children focus on sounds and letters, and develop skills they need for reading, writing, and spelling.

Games where letter connect words slide