Chunk that Word! Reading Decoding Game

My oldest son (currently 1st grade) had been reading along so well. We had studied short vowel patterns, blends, digraphs, bossy r patterns, and some long vowel patterns. Then he hit a little road block. Many of his independent reading books began introducing multisyllabic words and he simply froze. Because the words were longer, they intimidated him. That is, until we started playing Chu-u-u-nk That Word! {spoken with an announcer voice}.

Chunk that Word! Reading Decoding Game

To prep him for the game, I brainstormed a list of longer words that were made up of familiar sight words or word chunks that he already knew. {p. 8 in the FREE DOWNLOAD}

Finding Familiar Chunks

I modeled first on a dry erase board. I wrote the word and exclaimed, “Chu-u-u-nk that Word!” I circled the two familiar words with two different colored markers and read the word aloud.

Then, I let him have a go with more words.

Chunking Words at the Syllable Juncture

The next day, we reviewed a few more words on the dry erase board and then I introduced him to VCCV words with doubles in them (like rabbit or happy). I showed him how to chunk the word right in between the doubles and that he could easily decode each chunk.

We practiced again on the dry erase board. {Be sure to insert your announcer voice with each word.}

I made it a little harder on day three. We chunked words like picnic and reptile, sticking to syllable chunks that he could read and easily decode. (CVC, bossy r, and long vowel patterns ).

Matching Words to Pictures

Once he’d chunked words on the dry erase boards for 3 days, it was time to match words with pictures {also on the FREE DOWNLOAD}. I put all the words in one pile and pictures in another. He chunked each word by drawing a line to separate the syllables, read the word, then found each matching picture.

On day 5, he was handed the same words and pictures. This time, he was challenged to chunk the words in his head {without drawing the line} and I provided less support. I did allow him to use his finger to cover up part of the word, if needed.

My son will still sometimes get to a longer word and freeze. But I know he has the tools to “Chu-u-u-nk…” {you get the point}. I’m also quick to add a little humor in my announcer voice!

 Becky Spence is a homeschooling mama to four little blessings. She is passionate about teaching, specifically literacy. She is the author of This Reading Mama, where she shares reading and writing activities as well as free literacy curricula and printables. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.