8 Ways to Practice Soft & Silent Letters
Silent letters (like WR, GN, & KN) and soft C & G can be tricky for students, so they’ll need plenty of practice even after you’ve taught the concepts. These phonics activities can be used for word work, stations, centers, or work tasks!
Word sorts Word sorts encourage students to notice phonics elements within words, and it also gives them additional practice reading and writing the targeted words.
Puzzles Puzzles are another fun way for kids to practice reading words with soft and silent letters.
Magnetic letters You can provide picture cards of words featuring soft and silent letters (like the ones included in my Phonics by Design Unit) and have students build each word with magnetic letters. You can also use magnetic letters during the guided practice section of your direct phonics instruction.
Adapted books My students always love completing adapted books, like this one!
Clip cards Clip cards are a fun, tactile way to get phonics practice.
Stamping You can use letter stamps the same way as magnetic letters. You can provide paper and ink pads, or you can have students stamp into play dough!
File folder tasks Most kids seem to love file folder tasks! They take a little time to prep, but you can use them year after year.
Sand tracing Just like with magnetic letters, you can provide picture cards of words with soft and silent letters, and have students write the word in sand with their finger. I like to use flat plastic containers for the sand, and of course you’ll have to go over rules about the sand staying in the container!
I hope these phonics activities are useful in your special education, first grade, or second grade classroom!
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