Keeping Word Lists for Phonics Review

To reinforce phonics (and vocabulary), keep cumulative lists of words your students have learned.

Use a flip chart, or create lists on a word wall, with a separate page or column for each beginning letter. Review them frequently with students.

• Once students have learned a number of words with the same initial sound, read the list orally together.
• Now ask students to listen to a list of words they know, raising their hands when they hear one with the target beginning sound.
• Alternately, have them identify words which do not have the same beginning sound. This is more difficult.
• Asking students to identify final sounds is also a way to increase the difficulty.
• Extend the activity by having students add words they can think of which begin with the same letter or sound.