Sounding out words: Idea #66

When sounding out three letter words with your student, try different techniques to see what is most effective for them. You could cover up each letter as they say the sound in the word. You could even have them sound the word out on their arm. In my experience, using the arm was very successful.

Here is what you do: For a three letter word, the first sound of the word is on the shoulder, the second sound is at the elbow, and the last sound is at the hand. After your student has made the three sounds at the three points, have them touch each part again quickly and put the sounds together. From the top of the arm to the bottom. 

For example, for the word hat, your student would: Touch the shoulder and say the h sound, touch the elbow and say the a sound, and touch the hand and say the t sound. Then touch the shoulder, elbow, and hand quickly blending h-a-t together to say: hat.  

I made a video of this because I realize that this can be very confusing. The words I sounded out were: cap, pet, kid, mop, fun. I know I look silly, but hopefully it will give you an idea of how to teach your child to sound words out on their arm! 

Don't laugh too hard at the movie!