Making Words in 2nd Grade

We have been able to fit word study into our schedule for two consecutive days! I recently picked up this book and the kids are enjoying the activities.

Right now, we are doing the lessons whole class with a pocket chart. Eventually, I will have students doing the activities at their desk with their own set of letters. If you have any tips or suggestions for the best way to do this, I am all ears 🙂

This is what the chart looks like before we begin. The letters are in alphabetical order with the vowels (in a different color) listed first. I’m not sure if you can tell, but each card has a staple at the top. The capital letter is stapled to the backside of each letter. Under each picture, I am giving a snippet of the conversation I am having with my class during this activity.

I need someone to make the word at. I went to bed at 8:00. Who can add one letter to make the word bat?

Student, can you use the word bat in a sentence?

(Student) “I hit the baseball with my bat.”

Can anyone think of a different way to use the word bat in a sentence that doesn’t have anything to do with playing baseball?

(Student) “I saw a bat flying in a cave.”

Which letter could we add to bat to make it mean more than one bat?

Let’s go back to the word bat. Who can change one letter to make the word bet?

Student, can you use the word bet in a sentence?

(Student) “I bet I can run faster than you.”

Let’s clear the board. Who can use three letters to make a number word that is one more than nine?

Who can add one letter to make the word tens?

Who can rearrange the letters to make a word that tells something a bird might build?

Who can rearrange the letters to make the word sent?

Student, can you use the word sent in a sentence?

(Student) “I sent my grandma a letter.”

Finally, I write several of the words we built together on blue cards. Then I hold up the yellow cards one by one. The students must decide which blue word the yellow word would rhyme with. It amazes me how much difficulty some second graders still have with rhyming words. I guess it’s a good thing we are still practicing and reviewing rhyming words!

Up above you can see the word plan. I then added the e to the end. I asked the students to think about whether the word changed or not. I had the students turn to a partner and talk it out. When they came back, all but 4 kids said the word changed. I asked them how they knew the word changed. One of my little darlings said, “When you have a word that has a vowel, not-a-vowel, and then an e, the first vowel says its name.” I love the way second graders describe things at the beginning of the year 🙂

I’ll be sharing about my start with friendly letters in the next few days.