So, two weeks ago I was so busy I couldn’t see straight.  Last week was supposed to be my catch-up week.  Well, I caught something.  THE FLU.  Omiword, it was awful.  I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.  I started coughing randomly on Tuesday night and just broke free of my fever today.  I missed Wednesday through Friday of school and totally didn’t get to enjoy my long weekend.  Sadsville 🙁 * * * * * * * * So, yes, I love my new job.  But, there’s a LOT that I miss about being a classroom teacher. Anyway, who wants to learn how to teach beginning blends?

After several requests for a blends resource, I decided to approach this post as if I were teaching a classroom of firsties again!  Yay!  First off, let’s start with a whole group mini-lesson about blends… Now, let’s read a fun story – like Crictor by Tomi Ungerer.  Crictor is a French snake, so obviously he’s perfect for helping teach blends!  However, blends are in all books, so go with what you have!  While we’re reading, we’ll talk about and listen for words with beginning blends… Then, I will have pre-made posters that only have a beginning blend written in the center of them.  I will partner students up, so that 2-3 students were working on each poster.  They would add pictures and/or words that began with the blend.  After coming up with all the words/pictures that they could, they would trade with another group and add to other posters.  This activity would take 10-15 minutes depending on student interest.  Here is a sample I would show the kiddos… Then, it’s time to practice identifying, reading, and writing blends! Because I’m planning to add this to a center, I would teach some of the activities whole group – Highlight-a-Word and Spot-the-Sillies.  Students will highlight words with a specific blend in the first activity, and spot “silly” words (nonsense words) wearing silly glasses, of course!  Thanks to my trusy assistant, Beckham, for demonstrating 😉        During word work at a literacy center, I would assign a Blends Book activity.  Now, I realize that beginning blends (double consonant) are primarily taught in the first half of first grade, but you could always incorporate them as a review during word work or center time.  Nothing wrong with a little review!  Here’s a little glimpse of what the Blend Books resource pack entails… For a more detailed explanation of how to teach beginning blends, check out the description in my TpT shop!  Yay!  That was fun!  Happy to get it out of my syster! I hope you got to enjoy your long weekend.  I’m praying for a little snow on Friday, so that I can enjoy one soon!  Ha!  Have a great week 🙂