Welcome back busy parents! We are on a mission to share the magic of language with our preschoolers by growing their phonological awareness (part 1). We’ve already shared some tricks on boosting your preschooler’s word flexibility within sentences (part 2 and part 3), but today we’re diving into the exciting world of dissecting words themselves.
Let’s kick things off with a concept that’s as delightful as it sounds: compound words. Imagine taking two words and giving them a magical high-five, turning them into one super-duper word! Think “rainbow,” “football,” or “cupcake.” These word combos are not just fun but also incredibly important for your little linguists, and here’s why:
Flexibility in hearing the parts of a compound word is a crucial skill for developing phonological awareness in young learners. This skill lays the foundation for their ability to manipulate and understand words, both in their spoken and written forms. By breaking compound words into their parts and reassembling them, children gain a deeper understanding of word structure and the relationships between sounds and meaning. This not only enhances their vocabulary but also paves the way for more advanced literacy skills, such as decoding unfamiliar words and spelling. In essence, the ability to dissect and recombine compound words flexible and adaptable approach to language, empowering children to become confident and capable readers and writers down the road.
The activities below are listed from easier to more complex, from blending → substitution.
Word Mix Masters (Blending)
Picture this: you and your kiddo are the architects of word fusion. You say, “Say ‘rain’….. ‘bow.'” Your mini-magician’s task is to repeat the words and then combine them into a whole new word. Abracadabra! 🪄 Rainbow! 🌈
Encourage them to get hands-on with it—literally! Have them clench their left hand for the first word and their right hand for the second, and then put them together for the new word. It’s like a secret handshake for words, teaching them the marvelous art of left-to-right reading. It might take a few tries and lots of support from you, but practice makes stronger!
Word Sleuths (Segmenting)
Now, let’s flip the script! Say “rainbow,” and challenge your little detective to break it apart into two words. 🕵️♂️
You can keep the hand motions going, this time in reverse. It’s like taking apart a puzzle! Your tiny wordsmith is honing their skills in understanding the building blocks of language.
Create a Compound Word: The Word Architects (Adding)
Time to put on your hard hats and build new words! Say, “Start with ‘rain.'”After they repeat the word, tell them to add “bow.” Voila! Ask them what new word they’ve created. 🏗️
This activity reinforces their understanding of how words fit together like building blocks.
Undo a Compound Word: The Word Magicians (Deleting)
Now, it’s time to play the word-undo game. Begin with “rainbow” and challenge your mini-Houdini not to say “bow.” What’s left? A whole new word emerges! 🎩✨
This exercise helps them grasp the concept of taking apart words to reveal their individual components, preparing them for more complex word manipulations down the road. Make sure to give them opportunities to remove the first part too!
Compound Word Switcharoo: The Word Chameleons (Substituting)
Prepare for a word metamorphosis! Start with “rainbow,” then switch out “bow” for “coat.” What’s your magical new word? 🦎🌈
This activity encourages your little one to think creatively and discover that words can transform into something entirely new with just a small change. It’s like giving words a costume party!
Use these words to help you get started!
Remember, the ultimate goal is to have a blast with your child as they experiment, learn, and grow their phonological awareness. Learning through play is the name of the game, and you’re their trusty guide! If they are getting frustrated or it isn’t fun, try an easier activity or take a break!
Phonological awareness development is all about hearing the words and sounds, not attaching letters or words. This puzzle has the words on it, but I like that it has a picture of each word within the compound word, as well as the compound word itself. I’ve used this puzzle with Annabelle without the word pieces to grow her compound word vocabulary.
Next time we are venturing into the enchanting world of syllables. Until then, keep the word magic alive! 🪄📚✨
Part 1: Introduction to Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
Part 2: Word Awareness (Blending and Segmenting Words in a Sentence)
Part 3: Word Awareness (Adding, Deleting, and Substituting Words in a Sentence
Part 4: Compound Words
Part 5: Syllables in Words
Part 6: Onset and Rime
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