These picture puzzles give children a way to check letter order after they build a word. Keep the print as the first clue, then use the illustration to confirm that the pieces line up.
At a glance
Read the focus word, build it from left to right, and write it after checking the spelling.
1. Read the target word
Say the word and look at its letters. Point out a spelling pattern students know or show the part they need to remember.
2. Lay out just the needed strips
Set the pieces beside the model. Pre-cut the strips if cutting would make it hard to see what a child knows about the word.
3. Build from the first letter
Ask the child to find the first letter and place it in the first box. Work across the row and compare each position with the model.
4. Use the picture as a check
Look at where the picture lines meet after building the word. If two pieces seem switched, reread the letters before moving them.
5. Write or rebuild one word
Have the child write the finished word or rebuild it from loose letters. Show the word again later without the picture to check whether it is becoming familiar.
A classroom example
In a fictional kindergarten group, Dev fits two picture pieces together before looking at the letters. His teacher asks him to read from the first box. Dev sees he put the final letter first and corrects the order.
Companion printable
The 35-page PDF includes 32 black-line puzzles, a teacher guide, and a word index. The high-frequency words range from two to five letters.
Leave a Comment