Consonant Blends: cl, fl, gl, pl, sl Children work with letter sounds for five different l-blends as they complete a pocket-chart poem. Skills Sound Search How are and flag ❉❉ Blending letter flute alike? What parts sound the same? Just like fl fly , each one has sounds to make one or more of the following blends: /cl/, /fl/, /gl/, /pl/, /sl/ ❉❉ Learning sound-spelling relationships in its name. Getting Started 1 Copy and cut apart the poem strips. Make one set of strips for each file-folder pocket chart you are creating. You may wish to number the strips to provide sequencing support. 2 Copy and cut apart the picture and word cards. For each set of consonantblend cards, consider including several “distractor” cards (from this lesson) that do not represent the target blend. This will encourage children to listen carefully for beginning letter sounds as they say each word. 3 Place the materials (poem strips and picture and/or word cards) in the “pocket” on the back of each file-folder pocket chart. 4 Copy the poem on chart paper or the board. File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Materials ❉❉ Poem Strips (pages 94–95) ❉❉ Letter, Picture, and Word Cards (pages 96–97) ❉❉ File-Folder Pocket Charts (See Preparing the File-Folder Pocket Charts, last page.) 91 Teaching With the File-Folder Pocket Charts 1 Introduce the poem by saying, “I’m going to say some words. Listen carefully and see if you can tell me what sounds you hear in all of the words.” 2 Slowly say the following words: flag, fly, and flute. While speaking, emphasize Teaching Tip R epeat the lesson to introduce and work with the other l-blends (cl, gl, pl, and sl), for which picture and word cards are provided (pages 96–97). and extend the /fl/ sound to help students isolate it. Talk about the part of each word that sounds the same. Explain that the sound children hear at the beginning of each word is the /fl/ sound. As you say this, write one of the words on the board, underline the letters fl, and reinforce that this word starts with the /fl/ sound. 3 Tell children that in today’s poem, they will work with words that have the /fl/ sound. Hold up each picture card, and as children say the name for the picture, place the card on the easel or board tray. Point to the picture card and repeat the word. Use the word cards to make the connection to print. Read the words with children, reinforcing the sound-letter relationship. Place the cards next to the corresponding pictures. 4 After reviewing the pictures and words, invite children to suggest additional f l words, such as f lower, f light, and f luffy. List these on chart paper or the board as children say them. File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © 2010 by Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Poem Strips Sound Search How are and alike? What parts sound the same? Poem Strips File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © 2010 by Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Just like , each one has in its name. 95 on chart paper (or the board). Read it aloud, pointing to each word in turn to reinforce the left-to-right directional movement of reading. As you read, pause to place the picture and word cards in order to complete each line (using tape or removable wall adhesive). As you select each card, say the word, emphasizing the blended-letter sound. Confirm that the word contains the /fl/ sound (or, in the case of a “distractor” card, that it doesn’t, and then make a different selection). 94 5 Direct children’s attention to the poem 6 Have children remove the supplies from fl fly flag the backs of the file-folder pocket charts. flute Review each component, then let children work with the file-folder pocket charts independently, in pairs, or in small groups. Encourage them to repeat the activity several times to reinforce learning (removing and mixing up the poem strips and cards each time). 92 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Extending the Lesson Blend Play: Play a simple game loosely based on the strategy used in the card game War. Have children work in pairs. Give each child ten picture cards that depict items beginning with various l-blends. At the same time, each child turns over one card and places it on the table or rug in front of him or her. If students happen to flip over cards representing the same blend, the partners earn a point. The object is not to pit individual against individual; partners are to play the game with the intent of saying words aloud and recognizing matching blends. Teaching Tip U se blending riddles to familiarize children with the skill of blending. For the Blend Sort: Give children multiple sets of blend and picture cards blend fl, you might (for example, the blend cards cl, fl, and gl and corresponding picture cards). Have children place the blend cards across the top of the pocket chart. Then have them say the name for each picture, listen for the beginning sound, and place it beneath the correct blend card. say, “I’m thinking of something we look at when we say the Pledge of Allegiance. It has red and white Black and Blue: Reinforce l-blends with items that are colored black or blue. In the center of a piece of unlined white paper, have children draw a circle and write the word blue inside it. Then have them draw six lines extending out from the circle, to make a web. With students, brainstorm a list of things that are blue, such as blueberries, the sky, and a mailbox. Invite children to draw (in blue crayon) one item at the end of each line to complete the web. Have children repeat for the color black, drawing in black crayon on a web things that are black, such as a bat, a black bear, and the night sky. Copy the words on blank cards (see Picture and Word Card Templates, page 144) for independent exploration. File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources stripes. It is a fl-ag.” Allow the student who correctly says the word flag to invent the next riddle. 93 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources What parts sound the same? alike? and How are Sound Search Poem Strips 94 in its name. , each one has Poem Strips Just like 95 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Letter Cards • Picture Cards cl fl gl pl 96 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources sl Word Cards cloud fly globe plant slide clover flag glove plate sled clock flute glue plane sleep 97 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Picture and Word Card Templates 144 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources Preparing the File-Folder Pocket Chart Materials Teaching Tip F ❉❉ One file folder ❉❉ Clear, plastic overhead transparencies, cut into six 2- by 11-inch strips ❉❉ Heavy-duty tape, 1-inch wide and 1½-inch wide, any color ile-folder ❉❉ Stapler pocket charts help keep young ❉❉ Scissors children focused and ❉❉ Standard-size envelope (#10) or resealable plastic bag organized, allowing them to manage and manipulate the poem strips, as well as letter, picture, and word What to Do 1 To make this pocket chart, open the file folder and position it vertically. Place six transparency strips across the open folder, one inch apart. To keep the fold area clear, be sure to leave ½-inch of space just above and below the fold. cards, without trying to keep these in place on a desk- or tabletop. (file-folder pocket chart) The handy pockets 2 Staple the ends of each strip to the edges of the folder. offer structure and 3 Affix a piece of ½-inch tape across the bottom of each transparency strip stability, as children set up and sequence these literacy to form the bottom of each pocket. 4 To cover the staples and make the pockets more secure, cut two pieces of 1½-inch tape the length of the file folder . Wrap them around the edges of the folder, as shown . 5 Tape the envelope (flap side facing out) or resealable bag to the back of the file folder, near the top . 6 Before beginning the lesson, photocopy the poem strips, picture cards, and any other reproducibles indicated in the instructions . Cut apart the strips and cards and store in the envelope or bag . manipulatives to complete the poems, without having to expend effort keeping each piece in place. When preparing file-folder pocket charts, laminate poem strips and cards for durability. Children should place the file-folder pocket charts flat on a table or other work surface (as opposed to fullsize pocket charts, which hang vertically). 6 File-Folder Pocket Charts: Phonics Poems © Kathleen M. Hollenbeck, Scholastic Teaching Resources