Build Fluency /a/

Activity Type: Build Fluency

Activity Form: Standard

Grade: K

Group Size: Small Group, Whole Class

Length: 10 minutes

Materials: Multiple copies of large letter cards for a and other letters (print them here)

Goal: Given a printed letter, the student can say its sound with automaticity ( a -> /a/ )

Items: a

What to do

Assemble a stack of letter cards large enough for the group to see. About half the cards in the stack should show a, and the other half should show letters that students have not yet learned, such as x or o.
Now let's play a game. We're going to try to go through this stack of cards as fast as we can, saying either /aa/ or not-/aa/ for each card. Let's see how fast we can go. My turn first.
Next, model taking the top card of the stack, showing it to the students, and saying either /aa/ or not /aa/ quite slowly. Continue through the stack.
Do you think you can go faster than I did? Call on a single student in the group, starting with the student you think may be slower. Show the first card: /aa/ or not /aa/? If the student is incorrect, correct him; have him repeat your answer, and move to the next card. Praise correct answers.
Select the next quicker student and repeat until all students in the group have worked through the stack.
Okay, now let's go faster. Shuffle the stack of cards and repeat with students in the same order, but encouraging them to go faster.
If time and focus allow, shuffle and repeat at an even faster pace.
For students who struggle, give them help and make a note in an Activity Log.