Help your child gain confidence reading short a words!
Have you seen our word slider cards? The concept is simple.
1. Write a short vowel word on a long strip of paper, being sure to separate each phoneme (distinct sound). Blends (fr, tr, sp, etc.) and digraphs (sh, th, ch, wh) are not separated.
2. Seal a business-sized envelope and cut off the end. Insert the strip of paper.
3. Have your child sloooowly pull out the card, saying the sounds of the letters as he pulls. Help him push all the sounds together to make a word.
He can check how he did by looking at the picture at the end of the strip.
I love how these cards help my son child focus on each individual sound in a short vowel word. He still struggles with beginning blends, but he did great with the simple CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant). We’ll keep pulling them out for short practice sessions here and there. I hope you can use them!
More word slider cards
Check out the rest of our free printables for short a!
- Word family houses
- Short a UNO
- Milk cap spelling mats
- File folder game
- Phonics books
- Read ‘n stick mats
© 2014 – 2020, Anna G. All rights reserved.
Pria says
Hi, thank you so much for such wonderful resources, unfortunately the data here says password protected and am unable to print from my ios
Kindly advice me on the same.
Anna Geiger says
Hi Pria, I’m sorry that I don’t know what could be causing that, as I don’t password protect my pages. You might be able to find some answers on my troubleshooting page: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/how-to-download-free-files/
katy says
would you suggest mixing the vowel sounds or keeping them together for a guided reading group? Curious on what will be most helpful for our kinder students. THank you again for all your free resources!! They are a blessing.
Anna Geiger says
Hi Katy! If kids are still learning the concept of sounding out words, I’d definitely keep the vowels separate. You could even put the rhyming words together to keep it extra simple.
As this process gets more automatic for some kids, then it might be time to mix the vowels.
For children ready to move on to long vowel patterns, I’d definitely give them mixed short vowel practice first.
Christy says
Great resource, so simple but very effective. I’m working with ESL students and this will be great for them .
Anna G says
I’m so glad this works for you, Christy!
Kely says
This is fun for all reading levels. A great way for them to self check. I love that they can clean up too.