How to teach students to Encode Words in First Grade | Phonics Ideas and Activities

Do you need ideas for helping students encode words during phonics? These three ideas and activities are great to help students transfer their phonics skills to writing!

If you happen to use any of these ideas at home or in your classroom, leave a comment below and let me know how they go! :) Also, if you share any of the games from Susan's Sunday Spotlight, please tag me on Instagram @susanjonesteaching so I can see!! You can also use the hashtag: #susanssundayspotlight

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Susan Jones

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[ashleyfernandez]

I have literally looked so long for a video like this. I just need examples and easy simple ways to incorporate learning sounds and and breaking down words. These just hit for me. I'm a homeschooling mom and my only child is having such difficulty learning to spell. He can read really well but teaching spelling has not been my Forte. I think this will really help.

[PeterAndGayle]

Hi from Sydney, Australia 🇦🇺. I've just started homeschooling and I'm so happy I found your channel.
I love your videos, you have given me so much insight and ideas on how to teach my 7 year old daughter... especially with spelling.
I've shared your link on my insta story.

[angeliacrosby]

I will try them all this week, starting tomorrow.

[mansalinethomas]

Thank you so much for the encoding strategies. I will definitely be using this for the next school year.

[cheangkana]

I would like to try the sound box, love all your tips, you gave me a direction to prepare the lesson. thank you so much~

[ronaldlapitan]

Thank you for this video! I’ll definitely use the sound boxes one. I actually work with middle-high school aged youth, a few of whom struggle with reading so are still at the level of these techniques. I’ll probably try to find ways to do the other ones without making them feel like first graders. So helpful!

[Lunasol]

I am definitely going to try the sound boxes where they move the marker and then write the sound. So far I have been doing playdoh squishes, but I love the extension of then writing the letter!👍

[jennifermclawhorn]

I plan to use all three of these during my phonics and small group instruction. I also think it is great to use the explicit modeling during our writing lessons.

[pattycrotty]

I am going to use sound boxes with my low reader /writers because i have never used them before. I am excited to see if they work!!

[myrnadiaz]

I teach 5th grade Bilingual. I have been using the sound boxes with them. I plan to use the spiraling back and then making sentences especially with my low group.

[kathywagner]

We love to use Boom Card Decks each week to practice encoding words. My students write the words on dry erase boards and show me once they finish. They love it, and are doing awesome with the skill! I can also see immediately who is having trouble with the skill. Love your weekly videos!!!! 🎃

[donnakolokithas]

Love it! I will definitely use these strategies in my teaching. Thank you

[abigailcaumartin]

Hi Susan,
I love your weekly videos! They are full of easy-to-use activities! Perhaps I am just missing it, but did you include a link to the phonemic awareness and phonics playlist?
thanks

[jeanhamrick]

I have been using letter tiles to make word families and every time we make a new word(swapping initial sound) he writes the word. Is this a good practice?

[rpzieg]

I'm going to use the sound boxes! Unrelated --- what color is your wall painted? I ask because I watch you often enough to think of you as a friend!! :)

[bridgettquinlan]

I love your ideas! We use the program Phonics First in our K - 2 grades and your ideas mesh wonderfully. November is here and I still have a few students that are confusing a, e, and I. We review it daily but they can’t seem to hear the difference. Any specific ideas?