Teaching phonics is an essential skill for readers, but if it’s not jazzed up, it can be downright borrrring for kids. I absolutely LOVE teaching phonics. I enjoy seeing my students put the puzzle pieces of phonics together to make words and having it all make sense to them. Even my higher readers need to know and understand phonics skills. We talk a lot about how knowing the rules of phonics can help them with longer unknown words. Since phonics is such an important part of the 1st grade curriculum, I am constantly trying to find ways to make it more fun for my students.
A new component that I have added this year is Digital Word Work. We do not have iPads or tablets for our students, so I created something that we could do together using what we have. We have one computer and a projector, so I created a Digital Word Work Slideshow that can be projected while my students record their answers or interact with the slides.
What is included with Digital Word Work?
These Digital Word Work packets come with three separate files.
- Digital Word Work without Timers – This includes a Power Point Slideshow that you will display and click through each section at your own pace to allow for all students to complete the activity.
- Digital Word Work with Timers – This Power Point Show has timers, which allows you to walk around your classroom and help students where needed. This works well once your students have done these for a couple of weeks and know exactly what is expected.
- Printable Recording Sheet- This includes a PDF that needs to be printed for each of your students. I print this 2-sided, so each student only needs one paper.
How do I use Digital Word Work?
I personally use the slideshow without timers. I have a huge range of learners in my classroom, and I want to make sure that I give my students an ample amount of time to complete the task. Plus, my goodness…we have a really hard time keeping track of our crayons in my classroom 🙂
I hand out the 2-sided recording sheet and have my students go ahead and get their crayons ready before we start. Then, I project the slideshow for the class. The first activity has the students looking at pictures and saying the phonics skill sound for each picture.
The second activity uses the recording sheet. A group of pictures are on the screen. The students have to write down the picture that shakes on the screen.
Students need their crayons for the third activity. They turn their recording sheets over and color the picture that matches the word on the screen.
The last activity gets the students up and moving. When a picture flashes on the screen that has the particular phonics skill that you are working on, the students have to stand up. If a picture appears that does not follow the skill, they stay seated.
These have been a great addition to our classroom. It’s just a fun twist on phonics each week.
Which phonics skills are included?
I have each phonics skill listed individually, but I also have bundles available. The Ultimate Bundle includes:
♥short a, e, i, o, & u ♥r blends ♥s blends ♥l blends ♥ending blends ♥sh digraph ♥th digraph ♥ch digraph ♥wh digraph ♥long a_e ♥long a (ai,ay) ♥long e ♥long i_e ♥long i (ie/igh) ♥long o_e ♥long o (oa, oe) ♥long u ♥ar ♥er,ir,ur ♥or ♥soft c/g ♥ou/ow ♥oi/oy ♥au/aw ♥oo/ew
Check out ALL of my Digital Word Work packets in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
Thank you for the Digital Word Work Freebie! My class LOVED it!!!! They asked for more.
I think this is a creative way for students to learn word work. I think the last part of the activity that allows the students to get up and move around is essential. First graders have to get up and move throughout the day. While they are moving, they are also learning which is awesome! I’m a preservice teacher right now and observing in a first grade classroom, so I am familiar with word work.