Teaching EA and EE Words with Phonics Games and Interventions

Teaching EA and EE Words with Phonics Games and Interventions

Hey, y'all! We've been working hard on our phonics lessons and have been loving our phonics rotations throughout the week. This week, we're working on words with "ea" and "ee" spelling patterns. These can be tricky for kids because they sound the same and there is no rule that dictates when to use each spelling. How do we help our kids learn which spelling to use? Practice, practice, practice. 

When I was a kid, I had the hardest time learning which was which. It took me forever to learn when to use "peek" and "peak." But it doesn't have to be that way for your kids! With repeated practice, like with these phonics centers, the kids will quickly start to internalize how to spell each word. Even if it's a homonym or homophone. 

Each week, we look at a different spelling pattern in our classroom. With words like these, we sort them together as a class first, then our sorting cards get put in our literacy rotations for students to use in their reading groups. 

Also in their reading groups, the kids have the read and write cards, the hidden words cards, scrambled sentences, Bump games, and sometimes the matching cards. Other times, I'll use the matching cards with my small group at the horseshoe table for extra support there. I also hold onto the roll and read games for small groups. Since those don't have picture cues, it helps me to know which students can read the words and which ones are simply remembering the pictures. 

On Fridays, or when I feel like the kids have the skill, we'l use the Scoot game as a fun little assessment. It helps me know who's got it and who needs more practice in small groups. Sometimes, we'll even use the cards for a quiz-quiz-trade game during our morning meeting or whenever we have a few minutes to spare. The kids love this game!

I love these phonics games and interventions because they give my students targeted, explicit practice in the skills we're learning. So often, we'd teach a skill in reading and hope that they got it and could apply it the right away. But research shows us they need that explicit practice in order to internalize it. I've seen my students get more confident in their reading almost immediately after implementing these phonics centers. 

You can check out the full bundle of "ea" and "ee" words phonics games and interventions in my TPT store here. It's part of a larger growing bundle of phonics games designed to last your students all year long. You can check out the full bundle here. While you're there, be sure to follow me on TPT. I'm always adding new things and you don't want to miss a thing! 

I hoped this helps make your long e unit a little easier. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week. I'll talk to you soon. 

Stay cozy,