Ooohhh! You are going to love the new games I just uploaded to TPT!
I just added 10 games for syllable rules! The games cover all 6 syllable types plus compound words. They are compatible with any Orton-Gillingham morphology program. I typically use the Wilson Reading System and Megawords – or my own program that I’ve created over many years of teaching multisensory phonics and morphology.
Many kids with dyslexia struggle in learning to read and spell.
Many phonics programs present too many rules and move too quickly for our kids with special needs to absorb and get enough practice with the rules they are learning. Also, most phonics programs teach the rules for one syllable words only. Without explicit instruction in how multisyllable words work, how to divide the syllables, what syllable types to look for, and how to spell multiple syllable words, kids with dyslexia often quit reading before they really get started!
I have found that between multisensory spelling activities and games for decoding practice, my struggling students actually beg to work on reading and spelling!
What are my students’ favorite ways to practice spelling? Shaving cream, sidewalk chalk, spray bottle, and play dough are among the favorites of kids. I also like magazine letters, sand tray, magnet tray, and jello – yes – jello! I also have commercial fun boards that write with blacklight markers or craypas on construction paper. Oh, the list goes on and on!
I work with kids in all K-12 grades and sometimes adults. I found the cutesy pie folder games that are mainly matching worksheets glued to a folder do NOT appeal to my students. They are too babyish. I looked, but most games either had too many rules or were not age-appropriate for my older kids working on beginning reading/decoding skills. So many years ago, I created folder games for my own students. I like folder games because they are easy to store, and I can organize them in the sequence I teach the rules. For my home-bound kids, I just throw the folder in my teaching box or bag and away I go! As much as possible, every sessions includes at least one game! Every session.
My games are REAL games.
Winning is by chance, not tied to reading ability. No one is ever punished in a game for not knowing or remembering! This is important. So I play with my students. Sometimes they win. Sometimes I win. We work on sportsmanship and how to be a graceful winner and loser.
My games have only one of two phonics rules or skills in them. That way, no matter what program I have selected for a particular student, I know I have a game for what that kid is working on. Of course, I want retention, so I have made review games that include all the short vowels, or r-controlled rules, or vowel diphthongs, etc.
This set has 10 games that work on the six syllable types plus compound words.
I use the acronym CLOVER to teach the six syllable types. There is at least one game for each rule. Plus a couple of combo games that combine closed syllables with something else. This set is really cheap! Only 88 cents per game. Each game has a directions page that give you a quick overview of the materials, object of the game, and skill objective. The directions give you options for preparing each game and a single-page gameboard in grayscale. You can print out multiple copies for a homeschool group or classroom activity. Then send them home with the kids for extra practice. OR you can print out one copy of each game. Color them with colored pencils or markers. Then mount the directions and gameboard to a letter-sized file folder. I’ve included 2 printable six-sided dice, but regular plastic ones work better. You will need movers – buttons or coins work fine. One game, Sun Rays, looks more fun if you cut out yellow, orange, and red triangles from colored paper.
The games are easy to learn.
Kids will play them over and over again. The words are in a large, easy-to-read font because they are created for older kids with dyslexia and other special needs. However, they are also perfect for gen ed classrooms and homeschools. Since I have been teaching by zoom through the pandemic, I have been searching for alternatives to my games. I have figured out how to convert my games into Google Slides to play interactive board games remotely! But it is taking me time, so keep checking back to see what I post next. I’m still teaching, so many of my updated games are ones I want for my own students. You probably could use them too.
If you like our inexpensive, one-page gameboards, you will love our full-color, more elaborate games also. Really, kids LOVE our games!
You can find all of my games on Teachers Pay Teachers, so be sure to follow me to get notifications that I’ve uploaded new games or resources. Here’s the link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Unique-Learners-Sue-Hegg
I also announce new uploads on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniquelearnerssuehegg
and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquelearnerssh/
Here in my blog, I am working hard to post information about homeschooling kids with special needs – any special learning needs. I am a learning specialist and provide academic and cognitive therapies. However, I want to share what I’ve learned over the years as a homeschool mom of kids with special needs and as a professional special education tutor and consultant. I am happy to support new homeschool moms and dads – or homeschoolers who are struggling and grieving a new diagnosis – or homeschoolers who just feel stuck and don’t know what to do.
Start with a game. Then message me or email me. I’m happy to listen and guide as YOU need.
Happy Game Playing!
Sue Hegg
sueh@uniquelearners-suehegg.com
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