Easter eggs are fun. Finding hidden treasures in the yard is always fun. Learning to read isn’t fun for a lot of kids.
But here’s a simple tip that can help kids learn their phonic blends – use plastic easter eggs and a marker to help make new words using the basic blends.
Plastic eggs are festive and kids love them. What better way to help them relax and let go of that early reading anxiety than to put something into their hands that they love?
Making these couldn’t be simpler. You need plastic eggs and a permanent marker, that’s it!
Most easter eggs these days also have a small plastic piece that attaches the two halves. Cut this apart so that the top and bottom of the egg can twist, which allows the new words to be formed.
On the long end of the egg write common blends such as an, am, en, et, ot, un. On the other side of the egg write letters or simple blends that can be used to form new words.
For example, on the egg above we wrote “en” on the right half of the egg and on the left half we wrote the letters P, D, M, H and B. When you twist the left half you can make the words pen, den, men, hen and Ben.
When you’re working with your child, start by reviewing what the letters on the right side say when blended. Then add on the right half and show them how to combine the sounds.
After your child reads the word take a minute and ask them to form a sentence using the word. This a great way to make sure they know the meaning of the word while also letting them have fun. If they’re struggling, help them make some silly sentences.
Start with the basics and include words that you know your child can already read. It will help them have a little confidence boost.
As their reading level improves, add harder blends such as aught, end, and, atch.
Simple reading fun and a great use for all the plastic easter eggs that your child begs you to buy every time you walk into the store.
