Elkonin boxes are a great tool for beginning and struggling readers to build phonological awareness by segmenting words into sounds. They help students practice listening for and counting the number of phonemes in a word—though this is not always the same number of letters. Mastering this skill orally lays the foundation for both decoding and spelling.
To use, the teacher gives a word and the students push a stone, counter, penny, or other small object into the squares below the pictures as they say each sound in the word. Remember, one push for one sound, so digraphs like /sh/ count for one sound!
The Level 3 pack includes over 100 full page and quarter sheet pictures as well as a phonetic guide to the words depicted. Cards can be laminated or put in sheet protectors for use at tables, in a binder or during reader’s workshop. This pack is geared toward advancing students who are ready for a mix of 3, 4, and 5 phoneme words with blends at beginning or end of a word.
