• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

building words with letter lids

home / early literacy / alphabet / building words with letter lids
267 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

We have been rockin’ it out with our alphabet letter lids since we made them a few weeks back, and occasionally I’ll throw in some word building when the kids are in the mood.

I had a bunch of bigger lids that were just waiting to find a new life outside of their ole lid container, so I thought I’d make work spaces for word building.

I’ve found that Maddy and Owen–and many kiddos, for that matter–seem to enjoy tiny spots for word-creating rather than just making words on the carpet, fridge, magnetic board, or table.

  • Building Words With Letter Lids:  I used the alphabet letter lids and some larger, flat lids, and I combined the flat lids with tiny dot stickers.  

I wanted to focus on two things: short vowel words (the simple CVC pattern–consonant-vowel-consonant) and one long vowel pattern (CVC e — consonant-vowel-consonant + e). 

Because short vowel word families are the first ones that emerging readers usually learn, I thought it would make sense to use these with Owen, and the review of the short vowel sounds would be helpful for Maddy. 

The first time we used the lids, I said, Hey, Owen! Look at this tiny word-building space.  There’s a dot, the letter ‘a’, and another dot.  Watch how I can put a letter ‘t’ on top of the second dot, and now I have ‘at’, (and then I sounded it out) at.  If I choose any letter and put it on the first dot, I can make a word. Watch.  

I grabbed a ‘c’ and put it on top of the first dot. Owen loooves cats.  Now I have ‘cat’.  Cat.  How cool is that?

He said, I know.  Cat.  

Watch what happens if I put a letter ‘m’ where the ‘c’ is. Now I have mmm–aaaa–ttttt.  Mat.  Neat, huh? And I can do it if I put a letter ‘h’ where the ‘m’ is.  Hhhhhh–aaaaa-ttttt. Hat. 

Hey that’s cool. And now we have an ‘s’ for ssss–aaaa–ttt. Sat.

He got it. And that’s all he and I did that afternoon.  And I was fine with it; changing the first letter of a word that kiddos already know is one of the 7 Basic Principles of  Word Building, and if Owen remembers just a teeny bit of this concept, I’ll be happy.  

 Maddy and I played with ‘powerful e’

On another lid, I placed a dot followed by the letter ‘a’, followed by another dot, followed by the letter ‘e’ — (* a * e).  Maddy and I played a bit with the ‘powerful e’ by comparing gat/gate, rat/rate, mat/mate, and hat/ hate, until she had had enough and was ready to get back to dress-up with Cora and Owen again. 

Maddy and I have been recently talking about the ‘powerful e’ at the end of words, so I wanted to have her play with those patterns as well so that she could see firsthand how an ‘e’ at the end of words can really change the sound.

I really didn’t want to make this into a huge and boring lesson for them; I wanted to use a teeny bit of time while they were playing to show them each something reading-related that they would find interesting and relevant.

And part of the reason they maybe, just maybe, get into these things is because I think the concepts are cool–because they really are, aren’t they?
 
If you’re interested in a pretty neato (yes, I mean ‘neato’) and incredibly handy sheet that outlines the Seven Basic Principles of Word Building (I’ve used it for years and have only modified slightly from Reading Recovery and MCPS), then feel free to download it here: How Words Work–The 7 Basic Principles.

fyi: The 7 Basic Principles of Word Building:

  1. Add a new letter or letters to the end of words you know. (go-going; can-can’t; look-looked)
  2. Change the first letter of a word you know. (to-do; Dad-had; come; some)
  3. Change the last letter of a word you know. (up-us; is-if; out-our)
  4. Add a letter or letters to the front of a word you know or take away the first letter. (is-his; and-stand; or-for)
  5. Change the middle of a word you know. (get-got; ran-run; make-made)
  6. Put two words you know together. (in + to-into; a + go-ago; to + day-today)
  7. Take a part of one word and add it to a part of another word you know. (sh/she + op/stop-shop; pl/play + an/can-plan)

 A few pointers:

  • Always use two examples when teaching these principles (or any, for that matter!).
  • In spelling new words in writing or decoding an unknown word in reading, children should learn how to go from their known words to new words through ‘analogies’–comparing what they know to what they need to know. 
  • These Seven Basic Principles are not a sequence; kiddos can work on each concept as needed.
  • Magnetic letters, stamps, jello-mix, post-it notes, letter lids–anything with letters–can be used to play with these principles.

Happy Word Building, and remember what reading researcher, Kathryn H. Au has said: “Making words encourages children to study how letters go together to form words, to look beyond the initial consonant, and to notice vowels as well as consonants.”  We want our kids to love words, to be in awe of what words can do, and to–most of all–have fun building words!

2002, Multicultural factors and the effective instruction of students of diverse backgrounds. In A.E. Farstrup & S. Samuels (Eds.) What Research Has to Say About Reading Instruction (pp. 392-413). Newark, DE: IRA

Thanks to Reading Recovery program and MCPS for most information here.

Thanks for subscribing to teachmama! Have a good one!

You May Also Like...

  • how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
    how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
  • the polar express night: a holiday family tradition
    the polar express night: a holiday family tradition
  • Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators
    Navigating Education in a Time of Uncertainty: A Virtual Summit for Educators

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:alphabet letter lids | use recyclables for ABC learningalphabet letter lids
Next Post:know where the offenders and predators are: family watchdogknow where the offenders and predators are: family watchdog

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
Today, tomorrow, and forever. 
โค๏ธ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ–ค๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฉต๐Ÿฉท

๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ = @missjohnstonsjourney 

#pridemonth #youarelovedโค๏ธ #pridemonth๐ŸŒˆ #teachersofinstagram #parentsofinstagram
View
Open
Thank you @upliftyogaolney for a fun and joy-filled afternoon of yoga with goats! ๐Ÿง˜๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ

#goatyoga #marylandyoga #sundayworkout #motherdaughtertime #yogawithgoats #ourfaves
View
Open
loved our first @saltvinemd experience 

cannot wait to return!
View
Open
Had THE BEST dinner at Olneyโ€™s newest restaurant, @saltvinemd โ€”

Our hostesses were kind and welcoming, our server was THE BEST, and food was delivered to our table by SUPER food runners. 

Everything we ordered we LOVED. Cannot wait to return. 

(Swipe to see what we ordered!)

#saltandvine #mocoeats #mocofood #marylandeats
View
Open
What a DAY!! 
Any book festival is a great festival, but @gburgbookfest KNOWS how to put together a celebration of books and authors!!

Loved meeting 
@evascreativity 
@zigzagzeph 
@jackieadrian_art 
@nomoreblankpageskids 
@palavergames 
@jessicadallauthor 
@keanstrategies 
@gurkirtsinghvirk 
@teegarner 
@lincolnhartlaub 
@jadesocoby 

and so many others! And loved hearing @authoralexandrarobbins speak!

#gaithersburgbookfestival #gburgbookfest #bookfestival #readingteacher #featuredreels #marylandlife
View
Open
still peaceful

#yogapractice #peaceful #sheepadoodle #bigfuzzydog #yogaeverydamnday
View
Open
The must-have guide for every woman:  The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs is officially out in the world today! 

Congratulations to my pal @laura.tremaine ! 

This book WILL:
๐ŸŽˆEncourage you to look around at your current life landscape to really SEE your acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and friends
๐ŸŽˆFill you with gratitude for the friendships of your past
๐ŸŽˆOffer suggestions for how to navigate the complications of modern friendship
๐ŸŽˆGive you space to mourn the friendships that are over
๐ŸŽˆOutline 10 types of friends that can shape your life 
๐ŸŽˆHelp you name the type of friend YOU are on other peopleโ€™s Life Councils 
๐ŸŽˆInspire you to let friendship take on the important role that it deserves 
I want this book to spark a million This book WILL:
๐ŸŽˆEncourage you to look around at your current life landscape to really SEE your acquaintances, coworkers, neighbors, and friends
๐ŸŽˆFill you with gratitude for the friendships of your past
๐ŸŽˆOffer suggestions for how to navigate the complications of modern friendship
๐ŸŽˆGive you space to mourn the friendships that are over
๐ŸŽˆOutline 10 types of friends that can shape your life 
๐ŸŽˆHelp you name the type of friend YOU are on other peopleโ€™s Life Councils 
๐ŸŽˆInspire you to let friendship take on the important role that it deserves 
I want this book to spark a million conversations.

Laura, I know it will. Love you, girl. 
#TheLifeCouncil #happybookbirthday
View
Open
I was in #annapolis today demanding our lawmakers take meaningful action on gun safety. 

Are you fed up with lawmakersโ€™ inaction, too? 

Join me & turn your anger into action with @MomsDemand by texting FED UP to 644-33. #FedUp #MDpolitics 
#notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice
View
Open
I started my teaching career at @hcpss_wlhs โ€” a place packed with really awesome educatorsโ€” and @eric.ebersole.for.maryland was one of them!

LOOK at us now! Delegate Ebersole is moving mountains in Annapolis! 

It was so cool to run into my friend while Iโ€™m here with @momsdemand โค๏ธโ™ฅ๏ธ 

Want to get involved? YOU NEED TO. 

Please text FED UP to 644-33 to find an event near you and make your voice heard!

#FEDUP #notonemore #dosomething #useyourvoice #bethechange #momsdemandaction

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved

  • 1
267 shares