8 Short A Word Family Mats - printable!

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One of my favorite things to do as a mom is teach my kids to read. We start by reading tons of books together, continue by learning letters and sounds, then movement to more directed learning when they show the interest and readiness. I'm not a big worksheet gal, and then I love to notice hands-on ways to practice. Since my 4 i/2 twelvemonth old son is not a worksheetguy, what I'1000 sharing today works really well for him.

I'm excited to share something I've been working on for some fourth dimension — 8 brusque a word family unit mats! I telephone call them "Read 'n Stick" considering my kiddo reads the word cards and sticks them to the pictures using velcro dots.

Print these free short a word family mats -- then laminate them and attach velcro dots. Use Read 'n Stick mats for your beginning reader.

(This mail contains chapter links.)

What are word families?

Word families are groups of words that share the same ending. For example, the words cat, fat,andmat all belong to the "-at" word family.

Why teach reading with word families?

ane) Give-and-take families help beginning readers notice predictable patterns within words.

2) Knowing word families makes sounding out words easier because instead of laboriously sounding out each alphabetic character, the reader reads the first sound and attaches it to the familiar discussion family name. When reading the give-and-takecat, for instance:

Instead of reading /k/ /a/ /t/, the kid learns to read /k/ /at/.

Please note: My word family mats give reading exercise with analytic phonics didactics, as described above. Analytic phonics is when yous use known words equally analogies for figuring out words. Many children practice very well with analytic phonics teaching. However, as I learn more almost the science of reading, I at present prefer to kickoff with synthetic phonics educational activity. You tin can larn more nigh that in this video weblog post.

Word Family Mats

Why apply Read 'n Stick Mats?

1) They're hands-on. My son enjoys reading the words and sticking them to the pictures. Wink cards? Non and so much.

two) The visual aid of the pictures gives an actress clue for beginning readers. Information technology makes the reading task more manageable.

3) They're vocabulary builders. I'd love to make all eight words familiar ones – likecrab andcab. Only there aren't enough of them! The bonus if that your child's vocabulary expands when you teach him words likeslab andgab.

Who should use these mats?

1) These are intended for emergent (merely beginning readers) who show these reading readiness signs:

a) They easily know all their letters and sounds.
b) They are beginning to testify the ability to blend sounds together.
c) They take an involvement in words and reading.

ii) They are for kids who struggle with the job of sounding out short words and need some word family do.

How exercise you employ them?

1) Print and laminate each mat on sturdy cardstock. I love this affordable home laminator and laminating sheets! Then print and laminate each fix of cards. Cut them apart and stick velcro dots to the pictures and backs of the cards.

two) You lot tin can certainly print the mats and cards on patently paper, and have your child match them. However, for a more durable and lasting activity, I recommend #1. A bonus of the velcro dots is that you tin shop the mats without the cards getting lost — only stick them on!

iii) My mats were constantly getting misplaced until I punched holes in them and stored them in a 3-band binder.

child with word family mat and cards

4) Have off all the cards. Accept your child read the name of the family in the center of the board. Then take him read each bill of fare and match it to the movie. You volition be teaching new vocabulary along the way when he gets stuck on a detail word ("What's a stag?").

5) After a few times of doing this with you, this is something your kid might exist able to practise himself. You lot tin pull out the binder for a reading warm-upwards before trying some early reading books — or if yous're not at that place however, practice a few Read ' Stick mats after you read books together. You could even put the binder in a bag and bring it forth to the waiting room.

Here are a couple of the mats in the collection:

word family mat