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Six Games for Reading

Six Games for Reading

Playing games is a great way to provide additional practice with early reading skills. Here are six games parents or tutors can use to help young readers practice word recognition, spelling patterns, and letter-sound knowledge.

four pairs of rhyming words with illustrations

Rhyming Games

Rhyme is found in poetry, songs, and many children’s books and games. Most children also love to sing and recite nursery rhymes. Words that can be grouped together by a common sound, for example the “-at” family — cat, hat, and sat — can be used to teach children about similar spellings. Children can use these rhyme families when learning to read and spell.

kindergarten teacher helping students make the sounds in words

Blending and Segmenting Games

Blending and segmenting games and activities can help students to develop phonemic awareness — the ability to hear the individual sounds in spoken words. Begin with segmenting and blending syllables, and then move to working with individual sounds (phonemes). Learning to blend and segment sounds is key to learning to read. 

icon of hand clapping with three words broken into syllables

Syllable Games

Syllable games help young kids to hear the different parts of multisyllabic words, which supports decoding speed and accuracy as well as fluency. Understanding syllables can also help students learn to spell words correctly.

kindergarten teacher pointing at word in picture book during read aloud

Concept of Word Games

Young children with a concept of word understand that each word is separate, and that words are separated by a space within each sentence. Using strategies to build concept of word in the classroom can also strengthen children’s developing awareness of the individual sounds within words.

teacher and kindergarten students demonstrating sound parts in words

Onset-Rime Games

The term “onset-rime” refers to the division of a syllable into two parts: the onset and the rime. The onset is the initial consonant sound, blend, or digraph, and the rime is the following vowel and all subsequent sounds in the syllable. Understanding onset and rime is fundamental in phonological awareness.

cards to match uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet

Alphabet Matching

Alphabet matching is an early literacy activity designed to help young learners recognize the uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet — a key skill for learning to read. 

Mother and daughter reading together outside in tent made of sheets

Summertime and the Learning Is Easy

The summer is a time to unwind and relax for parents and kids alike, but learning should not come to a halt. By focusing on your child’s interests, involving the family, and setting goals, you can motivate even the most reluctant learners

Portrait of Annette Bening

Sounds and Symbols

Play with letters, words, and sounds.Hosted by Annette Bening, this episode focuses on how children learn the relationship between sounds, letters, and words as an initial step before being able to decode the printed word. Features children’s book author and illustrator Norman Bridwell (Clifford the Big Red Dog).

Photo by Jon Rou

First grade girl reading book in class

Phonics and Decoding: Activities for Your First Grader

The goal of phonics instruction is to help children learn the alphabetic principle — the idea that letters represent the sounds of spoken language — and that there is an organized, logical, and predictable relationship between written letters and spoken sounds.

Dad reading picture book to kindergarten and preschool sons

Reading Tips for Parents of Kindergartners

Play with letters, words, and sounds! Having fun with language helps your child learn to crack the code of reading. The tips below offersome fun ways you can help your child become a happy andconfident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best foryour child.

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