This class is geared toward students who are just beginning to read.  Most students at this level are probably end of PreK, K, beginning of first grade level.  A struggling second grader may also fit this description well. This class is not appropriate for the majority of 3 year olds, with the exception of those gifted and reading. This class requires printing materials each week and gathering art supplies each week.

Prerequisites: Knows letter names and letter sounds in English, and is ready to blend sounds together into words.  Can use scissors pretty well or will have adult help with more difficult fine motor skill requirements. 

Each class will focus on a word family in English.  A word family is a group of words that rhyme, such as the -at family would be cat, hat, sat, mat, etc.  Most of the words will be CVC words (3 letter words), but some words will have more blends (sl, sk, tr, etc.) at the beginning of the words as well (for example the -at family may include the word splat.)  I will provide an interactive video demonstrating decoding the word family together and do a word study aloud, then students will complete an activity that corresponds to the word family of the week. Each week parents will be expected to do a small amount of prep work in printing materials and gathering a few art supplies. If your child has difficulty cutting with scissors, I would suggest pre-cutting the needed materials for them or sitting nearby to help.  

Student: 
1. View videos
2. Interact with videos, audibly reading the words aloud and answering questions
3. Complete the weekly projects 
4. Share the weekly projects to the classroom 
5. Interact with the teacher on the classroom page
6. Let your classmates know your thoughts on their projects 

Teacher: 
1. Will leave feedback for students on their projects in the classroom
2. Will post weekly interactive videos and games 
3. Will help scaffold student discussions of each other's projects through the classroom

If your student is above this level of reading and is ready for more difficult long vowel and irregular vowel sounds, check out my other class Beginning Reading Flex: Decoding Long Vowels. 

Week 1  - at word family, make a cat word wheel
Week 2   - ot word family, play a fun dice game and complete a maze 
Week 3- ig word family, create an ig pig with a curly pipe cleaner tail
Week 4  -ack word family, create a paper snack with yummy foods 
Week 5 -um word family, create a gumball machine with all our um words
Week 6-ip word family, create an ip ship, tell us where you would sail away to if you had a ship 
Week 7-op word family, create a hopping frog with our op words, share your favorite animal 
Week 8 -ab word family, create a crab word wheel
Week 9 -ell word family, create a 3D bell with our ell words
Week 10 -amp word family, create a campfire with sparks
Week 11 -an word family, create a paper fan
Week 12 -un word family, follow along with a sunshine activity and share in the classroom