Skill Building

Lesson Plans for MAX level P

Building Skills

Phonics
Consonant Blends
st-, sn-, sl-
Write the words stomped, sneaking, slammed on the chalkboard or chart paper. Underline the letters st, sn, and sl in each word. Explain to children that these letters stand for the /st/, /sn/, and /sl/ sounds, respectively. Point out that often when s and another consonant appear together in a word, the sounds that both letters stand for are blended together. Blend each sound aloud as you run your finger under each letter. Have a volunteer underline the letters st, sn, and sl. Point to each of these clusters. Ask children to state the sounds that the letters stand for. Continue by having children generate a list of words containing these sounds. List these words on the chalkboard or chart paper.

Write the following words and sentences on the chalkboard. The sentences contain some high utility words from the story. Ask volunteers to point to the st, sn, or sl cluster, say the sounds that the letters stand for, and then read the word.

stand station storm
snack snake sneeze
slid slept slot
He said, "the storm is coming."
She was afraid of the snake.
I slid down the hill and she laughed.

Word Work
Contractions
Write the words you’re, didn’t, don’t, we’re, I’m, they’d, wasn’t, what’s, and we’ll on the chalkboard or chart paper. Explain that these words are called contractions. Contractions are two words combined with an apostrophe. They shorten two words into one; for example, I’m is a contraction of I am. Ask children if they know what words the other contractions stand for (that are written on the chalkboard). As they answer, write the two words next to the contraction.

you're
didn'
dont't
we're
I'm
they'd
wasn't
what's
we'll

you are
did not
do not
we are
I am
they would
was not
what is
we will

Have children work in pairs. Help them to make sentences using the contraction in one sentence and the words they stand for in another sentence—for example:
They’d be lost without a compass.
They would be lost without a compass.

Next, have them write in their Word Journal the contractions they have learned and the words they stand for.

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