In which I create a literacy station to promote learning beginning sounds and consonants.
A few months ago one of my storytime moms gave me a box of supplies. Blocks, paper, little manipulatives, to name some of the supplies. These items came from her sister, a former second grade teacher who was now teaching an older grade and had no use for such things.
Since I am a girl who “cain’t say no” I gratefully accepted the gift and tried to think of ways I could use them. After cleaning up the supply closet at work, I rediscovered the box. I also found some papers in a file with some notes for a passive activity and got to work.
Words at Play
The file I found was The Consonant Sorting Mat from The Measured Mom. I laminated the mats and asked the circulation staff to help cut out the 170 little picture cards.
When cleaning out the closet, we found some index cards. These were added to the station to provide users an opportunity to create their own cards to take home.
Read It, Make it, Write It
On the blog, You Clever Monkey, I found “Read It, Make it, Write It” mats. These were printed in color and laminated for multiple use. From the local dollar store I found a strip of sight words. I had one one my volunteers cut the strips, punch holes into them and mount them on binder rings.
I added some cube blocks and foam letters that the kids can use to “make words.”
I made copies of the mat for kids to take home and added some books about consonants and beginning sounds from the library collection, added some signage and instructions and a station was born!
This can be a passive activity to be explored when there are no programs or activities at work or this activity can be used during the weekly homework help program.
Thanks to You Clever Monkey and The Measured Mom for inspiration and to C’s sister for the supplies!
What’s your favorite way to put words ay play?