Phonics instruction and learning approaches

Phonics Project

The book chosen is "Tigger" (ISBN 0-525-46233-3 © 1999). Tigger is a very short book that is physically in the shape of the Tigger character from A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh series. Most children have had some exposure to Winnie the Pooh prior to school so all should understand the story easily.

The story reads:

Tigger loves to bounce.

He bounces to Pooh's house,

Where there is honey for breakfast.

Tigger does not like honey.

Tigger doesn't like Eeyore's thistles, either. Ouch!

Tigger and Roo climb a tree

But Tiggers can't climb down. Uh-oh.

Tigger bounces Eeyore right into the river!

Then he bounces home. Good-bye, Tigger!

The story is very simple. The book is beautifully illustrated so the children's attention should be kept by both the illustrations and the rhythm of the words.

Sight words will be Pooh, Tigger, honey, climb, and bounce. These words repeat themselves at least once in the story and are words an average first grade student would use in everyday speech. They can also be used easily in other subject. For example, in math the students might have to count the honeybees. In gym class, students could climb something or bounce for a time.

The overall objectives are:

Read this story by themselves.

Recognize the sight words when used out of context

Understand the meaning of the sight words

Monday's Lesson Plans

Focus: Language Arts / Phonics / Spelling

Materials: Room Decorations

Text

Blackboard

Chalk Preparations: Decorate room / reading corner in Winnie the Pooh decorum. Find pictures specifically of Tigger and Pooh and if possible a honey pot. Procedures: Read text.

Be sure children understand the story.

Ask questions about the story.

Write sight words on board.

See. Say. Spell.

Equate recognizing words with recognizing friends. Ask children to remember back to their first day of school when they didn't know anyone. Recall that feeling. Now think of the feeling you get when your friends recognize you and you them. Ask how they recognize each other. Phonics is a tool to help you recognize words!

Recognize the clues. Little Sandy has brown hair and freckles. Pooh has a double "oo." Tigger has a double "gg." Bounce has the "ou." Show the children the "clues."

Phoneme Segmentation: Teacher asks the children to join in the chopping of a sight word. "Lets say it together. First we'll say it, and then chop the word. Ready?" Children respond in unison "/p / / ooh/." Teacher asks, "How many sounds?" Children respond, "Two." Teacher praises effort, and then chooses another word to model. "Now let's find out how many sounds are in Tigger's name. / t / / ig / / ger/." Children and teacher break apart Tigger's name together and count the sounds. Teacher and children repeat several times with the students' names. Follow Up: Read the text each day at least once.

Leave the sight words written on the board throughout the week.

Monday would be an introductory to the text and an overview of the phonetical sounds.

Tuesday's Lesson Plans

Focus: Math

Materials: Room Decorations

Text

Blackboard

Chalk

Math worksheets Preparations: Decorate room with pictures of honey bees

Create math worksheet. Counting not addition. Procedures: Ask who can point out the word honey on the board (remember it's there from Monday.)

Today we're going to count the honeybees! - Have students do math worksheet.

For spelling, go over honey and similar words (example - money)

Wednesday's Lesson Plans

Focus: Language Arts / Phonics / Spelling

Materials: Room Decorations

Text

Blackboard

Chalk Preparations: Room should still be decorated in Winnie the Pooh decorum. Procedures: Read text.

Ask questions about the story.

Have students pick out sight words from text.

Have students read sight words off blackboard.

See. Say. Spell.

Practice the "oo" sound.

Have students think of words with the "oo" sound. (Pooh, goo, tooth, goof, loose, etc.)

Follow through with other sounds as well. Follow Up: Leave the sight words written on the board throughout the rest of the week.

Thursday's Lesson Plans

Focus: Gym

Materials: Pooh and Tigger Room Decorations - also honey pots

Rope Ladders

Bouncy balls (the ones you sit on and bounce)

Banners that say Climb and Bounce

Individual signs with all sight words on them. Preparations: Decorate room in Winnie the Pooh decorum.

Hang rope ladders somewhere kids can climb them. Hang "climb" banner above area.

Place balls elsewhere. Place "bounce" banner near there.

Place sight word signs throughout gym. Procedures: Read text again.

Have students do a relay race to find specific sight words. Once they find the word. They must read (say) it, spell it and say it again.