Based on the bestselling "Phonics They Use," this title introduces kindergarten teachers, teachers of emergent second language learners, and teachers of students with special needs to Making Words lessons with step-by-step instructions for developing letter-sound relationships.

Patricia M. Cunningham

Dorothy Hall

Making Words Kindergarten

Based on the best-selling book Phonics They Use, this grade level series offers a fresh pairing of lessons and activities for kindergarten through fifth grade. In Making Words Kindergarten, Pat and Dottie introduce kindergarten teachers, teachers of emergent second language learners, and teachers of students with special needs to Making Words lessons with step-by-step instructions for developing letter-sound relationships. Each Making Words activity in the book shows young students how to blend letter sounds together to make a word and then change letters to build a new word within the same word family. As the lessons progress, students become aware of similarities and patterns among groups of words, developing critical reading and writing skills.

"It is refreshing to see the authors take a stand and affirm that kindergarten is not a mini-first grade and offer a pragmatic guide for effective reading instruction at the kindergarten level...[This book will] be a sought "staple" in the world market of kindergarten!"

-Elaine Williams, teacher, Clemmons Elementary School, Clemmons, NC

"The organization is one of the [book]'s greatest strengths. Teachers love to teach when they know exactly what the expectations are. The steps are research based, and allow for multi levels and engage students in many levels of thinking...Young children will...love the lessons..."

-Jean Barnard, teacher, Spring Valley Elementary School, Raytown, MO

Patricia M. Cunningham is the author of Beyond Retelling, Classrooms That Work, Schools That Work, and Phonics They Use, all published by Allyn & Bacon, as well as a professor of education at Wake Forest University. She has over 30 years of experience in various elementary grades and with remedial reading and has served as a curriculum coordinator and director of reading. Pat promotes literacy for all children through her Four Blocks(R) workshops and staff development sessions with educators.

Dorothy P. Hall is the co-developer of the Four Blocks(R) framework and the director of the Four Blocks(R) Center at Wake Forest University. A former elementary teacher and education professor, she also presents workshops around the country on Four Blocks(R), Building Blocks, guided reading strategies, and phonics instruction.

An active and innovative approach to making words that teachers and their students have grown to love is finally here!

Based on its highly successful parent text, Phonics They Use, this new grade-level series Making Words offers teachers a fresh multi-level activity and lesson series written for the kindergarten through fifth grade classroom. Pat Cunningham and Dottie Hall present classroom teachers with effective tools for strengthening phonics and spelling skills that encourage students to move beyond learning and into a world of word discovery. Each research-based volume includes a wealth of friendly, hands-on, manipulative activities that guide teachers in teaching the development of words--from phonemic awareness to spelling.

In Making Words Kindergarten, Pat and Dottie introduce kindergarten teachers, teachers of emergent second language learners, and teachers of students with special needs to Making Words lessons with step-by-step instructions for developing letter-sound relationships. Each Making Words activity in the book guides teachers in teaching young students how to blend letter sounds together to make a word; then segment or take off a letter and change the beginning letter(s) to make new words with the same spelling pattern or word family.

Making Words Kindergarten is the best resource you can have on hand for motivating your students to learn words!

• Features 50 fun and interactive lessons for building phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling skills.
• Presents a concise method for involving students in the process of identifying phonological units and patterns within words.
• Promotes student awareness of similarities in words that helps develop writing skills.
• Includes photocopiable letter tiles to copy, cut, and laminate for use in the classroom.
• Highlights a list of useful children's books to extend the Making Words lesson.