In our domino math activity I shared how we love to use dry erase markers to get a lot of practice on specific skills without going through a ton of paper. But dry erase activities aren’t just for math, there are a ton of ways to use them for reading instruction too. We’re continuing our sponsored series with EXPO Markers with this new free printable roll and write phonics activity that will be just right for your kindergarten and first grade learners. Use it to practice blending onsets and rimes, and also help kids identify real versus nonsense words.
Don’t miss our tips and tricks for using dry erase markers with kids.
FREE PRINTABLE ROLL A WORD PHONICS
For this free printable phonics activity you’ll need:
- EXPO Dry Erase Markers with Ink Indicator
- Free Printable Roll a Word Phonics Cubes and Response Sheet (link at the end of the article)
I recommend laminating the response sheet or adding it to a sheet protector like we did. I personally like to use sheet protectors. I leave the holes on them so I can file them in a binder by topic for quick access. Plus when they get too grimy I just slip out the paper and put it in a new sheet protector.
I would also laminate the game cubes if you are able in order to extend the use.
DIRECTIONS
Set this activity up as a literacy center or independent activity for kids. After you introduce the steps, they’ll be able to play again and again as they practice important phonics skills. Using EXPO Dry Erase Markers with Ink Indicator in your center areas lets you easily see at a a glance whether there is enough ink. Nobody wants to be running to search for new dry erase makers in the middle of a busy day!
We like to use different colors for the onset and rime. Then we write the word with the same colors. This gives kids a better visual image of how the onset and rime come together to form the word.
Sometimes kids will roll a real word, and other times they will roll a nonsense word. Both versions let kids blend the sounds, and working with nonsense words has shown to be helpful to later reading fluency. Plus the silly nonsense words often get a giggle from the kids, adding a bit more fun to the activity. For this printable we’ve included a column where kids can note whether the word they rolled is a real word or not.
EXTEND AND ADAPT
This also works well as a partner activity. Have one child roll the onset cube and write the information on the recording sheet. Then the other child can roll the rime cube and record the rime information. Together the kids can blend the word and decide whether it is a real word or not. This is a great way to help learners at different levels if you partner kids of varying abilities.
If kids begin to lose interest a bit, here’s my stealthy trick for reigniting their enthusiasm. It’s as simple as changing the color of the marker you set out with the games. Seriously! EXPO dry erase markers come in 6 bold and bright colors. If you start the center with a black set of markers, switch it up by leaving out some blue markers the next week. It’s amazing what a tiny change in color can do to get kids re-engaged in an activity.
Complete the Form Below to Get Your Free Phonics Roll and Write Printable
Try these additional resources for even more word building fun.
Learn more about EXPO Dry Erase Markers with Ink Indicator at EXPOmarkers.com or purchase today at Amazon.com.
yolanda
I will love to do this activity with my students.
Callie
Hello again,
Thanks for the advice. I have removed pop- up blockers (in 3 places!) and I am afraid it is still not working for me. Not sure what to do next…
Callie
Shaunna
When you click the pink button, do you see a pop up asking for you to sign up with your name/email, or is it still going to the comment page?
Callie
Hi Shaunna,
Thanks for all the wonderful resources you provide! I have been using and loving the onset rime roll and write so much that the dice are worn out! I would love to print move however, when I click the link it takes me to the comment page with another comment from another person who is also unable to download. I think it is a faulty link, not a printing or downloading issue. Thanks in advance for your help!
Shaunna
Hi Callie,
Thanks for reaching out! I am happy to try to help you!
1) Make sure you don’t have any security settings or pop up blockers that are stopping the opt-in box from opening.
2) I have updated the text link and also added a new pink button for the download. So try it again!
Please let me know if it works for you!
Shaunna
Karen
I wasn’t able to get the free CVC game. It just kept on loading. Can you please email me the game and I am also interested in the onset dice game. I would really appreciate that!
Thanks,
Karen 🙂
Shaunna
Hi Karen,
I’m so sorry you’re having difficulty. Please review these tips to help troubleshoot: https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/get-help-printables. There are suggestions regarding what to do if you are not seeing the freebie emails, what to do if you are having trouble downloading the file, what to do if you are having trouble printing files, and more.
Shaunna
Cindy
I would like to use your onset and rime game for our school’s at home learning during our time at home. Would you give permission for it to be used if I sited that you made the game, and referenced your site?
Thank you
Shaunna
Hi there, Cindy!
We’re thrilled you’d like to use one of our resources to support your students and families.
You may always share the original URL link to a blog post with your families, and we appreciate you doing so.
Due to the current situation we know some teachers also need to share our PDFs with students directly. We are okay with our resources being shared in private platforms like Google Classroom or a school district’s secure student area given that they they are only visible for your class, that families don’t share them outside that group, and they are removed when you are done with them or at the end of the year. You may also email the file directly to your current students/families if needed. You may not post the PDFs to a public class website or public social media group. Thanks so much for checking! Please reach out if you have any additional questions.
Jimmy Topiwala
I loved your activities
Shaunna
Thanks, Jimmy. I appreciate you sharing your feedback.
Beth Tate
I am the mother of 3 awesome autistic children. One of them is in K-5 we are actually kind of repeating this year because we just weren’t ready last year so we stayed at home and done the Abeka program. Well we started back to public school this August and he’s actually doing much better but we still are struggling with reading. It definitely has to grab his attention or else he just can’t stay focused. Thank you for all your resources and advice! I love the way you explain things it helps me to better teach and help my son!
Shaunna
We are thrilled to know that our resources and advice have been so helpful for you and your son! Thank you for the feedback.
Annie Moss
It is quite worrisome that rhymes is spelled wrong on an educational activity page.
Shaunna Evans
Not to worry. Rhyme and rime are two different linguistic terms with different meanings. A “rime” is the part of a syllable that includes its vowel and any consonant sounds that come after it. In this activity we are dividing words into the initial consonant (the onset) and the rime.
Two words that “rhyme” can have different “rimes.” For example “hey” and “day” are two words that rhyme but are spelled with different rimes.
Hope that helps clarify 🙂
jan
The “onset” is the initial phonological unit of any word (e.g. c in cat) and the term “rime” refers to the string of letters that follow, usually a vowel and final consonants (e.g. at in cat).