Spelling Words for Beginners: 3 Best CVC Words Secrets for MOMS
Remember sharing secrets as a kid? Promising not to tell? 🤫
A secret you may have ‘secretly’ [no pun intended] wrestled with your conscience about whether you should actually keep?
Well, today, I have a secret for you. Actually, three!
But you won’t have to wrestle with your conscience this time!
Because, these 3 best kept CVC word secrets are worth sharing!
I want your child to thrive as a reader, so I’m sharing 3 simple CVC word secrets for MOMS teaching spelling words for beginners:
- SOUNDS DRILL in every phonics lesson.
- SOUND MATS for spelling – 2-sound, 3-sound, 4-sound, 5-sound words [Doesn’t matter!]
- A handful of alphabet letters [not all 26]!
Spelling secret #1: Phonemic awareness SOUNDS DRILL (a.k.a. Superhero Sounds Drill). Add the cape for your child. Whatever it takes to make this a routine part of every phonics lesson you lead your child through at home. Sounds are what make up words. Letter sounds. If your child can’t hear a word and chop it apart into sounds, spelling is going to be tricky.
PRO TIP: Add a physical action for your child during letter sound drills. Chop apart sounds with hands. Touch 3 different coloured magnetic buttons (one for each sound).
Spelling Secret#2: Get a SOUND MAT for spelling CVC words. Inside my printable K-2 phonics curriculum, ‘TEACH YOUR K-2 CHILD TO READ: From CVC Words to Confident Reader!’, are: 2-sounds, 3-sounds, 4-sounds and 5-sounds word mats. Print off the sound mat you need.
If you’re teaching your child CVC words, then print off the 3-sound spelling mat. If you don’t have the course or don’t have a fancy spelling mat, then here’s a hack you can use. It doesn’t look as pretty, but it does the same job. Draw a rectangle on a whiteboard or paper. Separate it into 3 sections large enough for magnetic letters or your child to write a letter in.
Spelling Secret#3: Now, add a handful of letters for your child to choose from when spelling his/her first words. It’s so simple. That’s why your child can do it. That’s why you can lead your child through these 3 spelling secrets.
STOP expecting your child right off the bat to recall sounds from the entire alphabet. Most kids can, but there’s a better way. Begin with a handful of letters and sounds. Give your child a chance to spell words using just 3 or 4 letters and sounds first. Limit the choice to limit the overwhelm!
Don’t give your child to whole case! Limit choice to limit frustration.
So, when you’re wondering HOW to teach spelling words for beginners at home, remember these 3 CVC words secrets for MOMS!
Need a phonics curriculum that supports spelling words for beginners? I’ve got you!
Yours in phonics,
Melanie
