Using The LSK Tracking And Blending Resources
Students may initially acquire single phoneme code quite easily but find difficulty in blending phonemes in a timely manner. For example, they may need to read ‘pen’ as p-e-n. If students continually struggle reading becomes a laborious process and one to be avoided! The teacher can assist the student by incorporating onset and rime activities so that p-e-n moves to p-en. After repeated practice with the chunk ‘en’ the student will swiftly be able to read: pen, hen, den etc.
Stages
- Diagnostic assessment using the Chunk and Word Screening Sheet to determine whether a student requires vc [blue] or vcc [green]chunks
- Make a reading card for each chunk that the student experiences difficulty with
- Practise making words with each chunk [ rime] and a single consonant [onset] p-et,n-et
- Select the appropriate tracking sheet for the student.
- Remove the chunk card from the reading pack when the student no longer experiences difficulty with reading words with the chun.k
Worksheets
- Tracking blue for vc chunks
- Tracking green for vcc chunks
- Tracking green for initial consonant blends
Chunk work
Tracking ‘rime’ chunks can be a helpful exercise for struggling readers, building fluency and speed.
Demonstration phase
- Whole
- The teacher writes the chunk[s] that need work on reading cards, which can be added to the student’s deck. [ e.g., blue level: en, et, ed or green level: ent, est, end]. The teacher works with the student to build words with the chunk using the student’s deck of phonemes as the onset. e.g. p-en, h-en etc.
- Part: The student is given the appropriate tracking chunk activity sheet to complete.
- Direct
- Direct the student to track the chunk and say it each time they do so [in this case -en]
- The student then writes the words that have been tracked
- The student is timed 3 x reading the tracked words
- Whole: Time the student 3 times as they read the words that have been tracked.
- Whole
Further activities
- Reading sheets to support the onset and rime.
- Chunky Pig game
Tips for Success
Success with the Literacy Support Kit comes from consistency, patience, and encouragement. Here are some key tips to help students feel confident, stay motivated, and make steady progress on their literacy journey.
- Stay Consistent and Patient: Consistent practice and patience are crucial, particularly with students living with significant learning difficulties.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Recognise each achievement, no matter how small, to build student confidence and motivation.
- Personalise the Approach: Adjust activities based on the student’s needs, using games and alternative materials to keep learning fun and accessible.
Contact Us
For more details on the Literacy Support Kit or how it can complement other literacy programs, please contact us with your questions.