Teaching CVC words is a big part of the agenda in kindergarten. We’re working on learning new word families every day through hands-on learning centers, games, and more! If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a primary teacher, it’s that manipulatives and tools make all the difference! This is so true when it comes to teaching CVC words! Come along to learn why!
Manipulatives Matter When it Comes to CVC Words
Manipulatives might make you think of math, but they’re so effective when teaching CVC words too! In my room, there are a few go-to’s that always make an appearance in our CVC word lessons. They make learning more fun for my students which is really the ultimate goal, right? Aside from the fun, they also help my kids retain the information. We know that hands-on learning is helpful in this way! Young students are tactile learners, so the more manipulatives and tools we use to enforce specific concepts, the more likely they are to stick!
So, if you’re looking to level up your lessons on CVC words, check out how these manipulatives and tools can help you do just that.
1. BINGO Chips
I love to use clear BINGO chips as a manipulative for teaching CVC words. They’re super easy to store and I love that I can see through them to confirm if a student is right without even moving the chip. I use these most often with my Cover it Up CVC Word Resources. These pages are perfect for small group warm-ups and offer a quick and easy way to review specific word families.
To use, all you need to do is print off the desired word family you’d like to target. Then, pass out a page to each student and have them search the page for words that match the target sound. They will use their BINGO chips to cover it up as they go. Then, you’ll be able to quickly glance at the pages and see how your students did. This activity is perfect as a starter activity for your small groups to warm up and prepare for a more in-depth lesson.
2. Plastic Spinners
Plastic spinners are another great tool for the primary classroom. I love using them to practice CVC words with my Segmenting Small Group Games. Inside, there is an activity that has students use a spinner to spin a picture. Then, they will name the CVC word that the picture represents and write it. I like to have the kids use dry-erase boards to write the words, but you can also have them use magnetic letters or stamps to build them.
Plastic spinners are great because they are easier for young students to manipulate than paper clips and a pencil. I will often use them to make quick and easy centers off the cuff. To do this, make a two-by-two grid and fill each square with one of your target CVC words. Then, place the spinner on top and you’ve got yourself a simple game! I have the kids spin, then say the word and write it a specific number of times. More advanced students could spin and write a sentence using the word. The options are endless!
3. Playdough
Playdough is everyone’s favorite, which is why you should add it to your list of materials to help teach CVC words. Each week, I set up a center in our classroom with some flashcards that contain our target CVC words. Students will pull a card, say the word, and then use playdough to build the letters. They love this because they get to roll the dough into “snakes” and form them into letters. Not only will kiddos get practice with specific words, but they also get tons of fine motor practice as well!
Another way to use playdough to practice CVC words is to use them alongside my Cover it Up pages. Students will roll the dough into balls and “smash” them on the pictures to identify the target words. This is fun for the kids and a great way to mix it up! I like to set up this as a center in my room once a week. Laminating the pages allows them to be used again and again, a major win in my book!
4. Snap Cubes
You might already know how much I love using snap cubes. They’re just so versatile! Here’s one more fun use for snap cubes in the classroom… teaching CVC words! In my Segmenting Small Group Games, there’s an activity called Sound Towers. For this activity, students will look at the pictures, say the word for each one, and then count the sounds they hear. Once they have counted, they will build a tower with 1 snap cube for each sound. My kids love this game because it allows them to build as we work on segmenting sounds.
I also like to use them as a visual marker to show the sounds in each word. I like to write words on a whiteboard or use CVC word flashcards for this. I ask students to “tap” the sounds on the table, and as they do, I place one cube down. This visual helps the students see the separation of the sounds.
5. Mini Erasers
Mini erasers are just so fun! I mean who doesn’t love these things?! I have a huge collection of them because I simply can’t resist buying new ones that I see. You can find them for just about any season, holiday, or theme and they’re usually very inexpensive. I find mine in the dollar section of many stores and craft stores. Oh and Amazon, of course!
I like to use these to have students spell out CVC words. You can give them task cards with pictures or words to use alongside, or simply call words out. Either option is a great way to get your kiddos thinking about their CVC word list. Not to mention, they’ll love using those fun mini erasers any chance they get!
6. BINGO Dauber Markers
Last, but certainly not least! BINGO dauber markers are a classroom favorite for many reasons. First of all, we use them to play… you guessed it! BINGO! My Small Group Games for Blending and Segmenting both feature BINGO games that students love. To practice CVC words, we choose the corresponding mats and use the BINGO daubers to keep track of words called on our boards. The kids love this, and I love how easy it is to facilitate. Just print and go! This is perfect for a fun way to review the weekly words on Friday.
We also use BINGO daubers as a way to cover up CVC words on these pages. Students will scour the page for pictures that represent the target word family and dab each one as they go. This is a really easy review activity that you can use as a quick assessment. You’ll be able to tell right away if your students correctly identified the words!
Making CVC Words Fun
I hope you enjoyed this post! The key takeaway here is that learning CVC words can be fun, with the right manipulatives and tools! I think that the more opportunities for hands-on learning we present, the more likely our kiddos are to retain the information. So get creative, pull out some new tools, and have fun practicing CVC words in your room! I promise it will have a much more lasting impression on students than boring old flashcards!
Looking for More?
Check out these posts next for more engaging ways to teach phonics skills!
- Engaging No-Prep Phonics Games and Activities for Kindergarten
- Using Phonics Games to Teach Middle Sounds
- Using Phonics Games to Teach Middle Sounds
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