Word Families
Learning to read can be a daunting task for early elementary students. In a seemingly inconsistent language, a great tool for kindergartners to have in their "literacy tool belt" is the ability to recognize reading patterns. Words that rhyme, known as word families, are one such pattern. For example:
Here are some great activities to use when introducing the concept to your students, for continued practice, and ultimately, to strengthen basic literacy skills, helping your kindergartners become confident readers - now and in the future!
Worksheets
Use dry erase crayons, magnet letters, or other letter markers with these fabulous word family ladders from Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler. Students will practice recognizing common word endings and letter sounds.
Have Fun Teaching Blog provides a great series of word family printables. Use in the as a traditional worksheet, laminate the printables and add them to your literary center (with dry erase crayons), or even adapt the graphics and words to create interactive emergent reader books (like those found here at Preschool Printables).
With this series of worksheets from Education.com, you can do the same kinds of activities! Your students will love the variety and you won't have to come up with your own practice printables!
Charts
These index card word family flip charts from Quirky Momma are great for individual instruction. Create several and place them in your literary center for independent study.
This flower word family chart from Reading Rockets is a great way to introduce word families during group instruction. This format will keep the different groups organized and provide convenient review posters for continued use.
Games
Your students will love this word family game from The Snail's Trail. It's colorful, easy to understand, and will allow students to practice this important concept!
If you have access computers, there's a great (free!) word family sorting game at ReadWriteThink. It may seem daunting to your students - working with four families at one time - so consider partnering your students up for some learning fun!
With such a variety of exercises, your students are sure to enjoy learning about word families! Be sure to visit each site for the full post, downloads, and directions!
Related Blog Posts
View MoreAll About Me Rainbow - First Day of School Acti...
We've been finding so many fun first day of school activities on Pinterest and other great sites...
Read MoreLearning About The Parts of a Plant
There are so many cool ways to teach your kiddos about the parts of a plant. Whether you're looki...
Read MoreSpring Plant Unit - Eating the Parts of a Plant
Photo Source: dutchhill.sno.wednet.edu Last May we featured this same activity, but we thought ...
Read MoreSummer Olympics - Hold Your OWN Olympic Games!
What better way to get into the spirit of the Olympic games than with a friendly competition of y...
Read MoreI Can Make Good Choices
Nicole, kindergarten teacher and creator of Mrs. Ricca's Kindergarten, came up with this cute fi...
Read MoreRoll & Draw A Monster - w/ FREE Game Printable!
Photo Source: www.expressivemonkey.com Perfect as a Halloween party station or math center acti...
Read MoreSight Word Sundaes: Fun Literacy Activities for...
Looking for a fun way to review sight words this summer? Try having your kinders construct sight ...
Read More40 Christmas Word Wall Words
This set of 40 Christmas word wall words is perfect to use in your literacy center, as a matching...
Read More10 Great Prompts - St. Patrick's Day Writing Fun!
The St. Patrick's Day holiday offers some fun opportunities for providing your kinders with a bit...
Read MoreFall Leaf Counting Activity for Kids Numbers 1-10!
We have taken our previous post and re-vamped it into a free, printable activity! This activity...
Read MoreSnowman Sequencing - FREE Printable Worksheet
Photo Source: todayinfirstgrade.blogspot.com While the conditions certainly can't be categorize...
Read MoreLiteracy Center Activities: Rainbow Sight Words
This literacy center activity will help your kinders strengthen letter recognition, learn/review ...
Read MoreHow Do Plants Grow?
If you're planning a spring plant/gardening unit, check out these fabulous printables/activities ...
Read More30 Winter Word Wall Words
This set of 30 winter word wall words is perfect to use in your literacy center, as a matching ga...
Read MoreWho Was Ruby Bridges?
Your Black History Month lessons wouldn't be complete without a discussion of Ruby Bridges, a cou...
Read MorePrintable Easter Measuring Activity
This fun, festive printable is a great way to provide your kiddos with a little non-standard meas...
Read MoreEaster Craftivity - The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Spring and Easter are about renewal, metamorphosis, and new life. That's why the season offers a ...
Read More40 Fall Word Wall Words
This set of 40 fall themed word wall words is perfect to use in your literacy center, as a matchi...
Read MoreThe Cat in the Hat
Can you believe that it's almost March?! March is one of our favorite months because we get to pu...
Read MorePassport to Fun - Individual Continent Study
Once your kinders have become comfortable with identifying continents on a world map, it's time t...
Read MoreFriendship Unit - How To Lose All Your Friends
{If you're looking to do a unit about friendship and community, here are a few kinder-tested acti...
Read MoreCrocodile Snap! Alphabet Game for Kids
Photo Source: Growing Kinders Add excitement to letter practice with this super cute Crocodile ...
Read MoreCounting Hippopotamus Teeth!
Photo Source: mamabeefromthehive.blogspot.com Adorable for dental health month {...yes, dental ...
Read MoreThe Butterfly Life Cycle - What is a Chrysalis ...
Photo Source: overallsuccess.net Working through the butterfly life cycle with your kinders? We...
Read More"What's the Weather?" Printable Matching Worksheet
Help your preschoolers and kindergartners learn about the different kinds of weather with this ...
Read MoreSimple Sight Word Centers - The Power of Craft ...
Photo Source: tunstalltimes.blogspot.com We're always on the lookout for new ways to use ordina...
Read MoreOne Fish, Two Fish! - Dr. Seuss Printable Count...
A great addition to your math center plans for Read Across America, this printable exercise will...
Read MoreReduce, Reuse, Recycle! - Earth Day Activity
As part of your Earth Day discussions, invite your students to explore these new vocabulary words...
Read MoreChristmas Action Cards
Photo Source: www.oopseydaisyblog.com As the Christmas holiday approaches and your kiddos get a...
Read MoreLabeling Fun - The Parts of an Apple
Oh my goodness! There are so many apple themed goodies over at What the Teacher Wants! If you're ...
Read MoreLet's Talk About Respect
As you discuss the importance of building a positive classroom community in the first few days o...
Read More5 Sequencing/Retelling Activities for "The Mitten"
Your winter lesson plans just wouldn't be complete without Jan Brett's classic children's tale, "...
Read MoreScience Journal: Four Seasons Tree Project
We saw this fantastic year long project at A Place Called Kindergarten, the blog created by kind...
Read MoreSt. Patrick's Day Rainbow Craftivity with FREE ...
Photo Source: The Bubbly Blonde St. Patrick's Day festivities would not be complete without a b...
Read MoreStory Starters - Using Story Bags in the Writin...
Photo Source: apartmenttherapy.com | Jackie Boucher While it's very likely that your kinders ar...
Read More30 Spring Word Wall Words
This set of 30 spring themed word wall words is perfect to use in your literacy center, as a matc...
Read More100th Day Journaling - with Printables!
Here's a fun 100th day lesson from Kacey over at Doodle Bugs Teaching! Keeping with the theme of ...
Read MorePrintable Gingerbread Story Comparison Chart
Photo Source: aplacecalledkindergarten.blogspot.com You know how we were just talking about com...
Read More