Cat Tap Teacher Guide
Educator Facilitation Guide
Cat Tap Phonics
Grade 2 • SpEd Support
15–20 Minute Mini-Lesson
Target Skill
Short /æ/ CVC phoneme blending & reading fluency
Core CVC Words
cat, pat, mat, tap, sat, hat, fat
Accessibility Focus
24pt+ print, tactile touch dots, reduced visual clutter
Step-by-Step Instructional Routine
Gradual Release of Responsibility
1 Sound Warm-Up (3 min)
Tap each colored dot under letters: /k/ - /æ/ - /t/. Have student point finger or stylus to each dot while vocalizing sounds together, then slide along arrow to blend: "cat".
2 Echo & Choral Read (5 min)
Teacher reads Sentence 1 while pointing. Student echoes while tracking along the large numbered sentence strip. Repeat with choral reading (reading simultaneously) for confidence.
3 Independent Touch Read (5 min)
Prompt student to read independently. Use a tracking window/card or finger guide if student skips lines. Mark 1 star in the Fluency Tracker for each successful read-through.
4 Comprehension & Action (4 min)
Ask: "Where did Pat sit?" Allow student to point, vocalize, or circle the large answer box. Reinforce target word "mat" with high-five or tactile reward.
Least-to-Most Prompting Hierarchy
Level 1: Independent
Wait 5–7 seconds processing time.
Level 2: Gestural
Point directly to the first sound dot.
Level 3: Verbal Model
Say: "/c/ - /a/ - /t/, what word?"
Level 4: Hand-under-Hand
Guide finger across blending dots gently.
Specific Accommodations for Significant Disabilities
Visual Field & Mount: Position paper on a 20° slant-board. Mask unread lines with a blank index card to eliminate tracking confusion.
AAC & Verbal Output: Program a high-tech AAC device or low-tech communication board with 1x3 buttons: cat, pat, mat for non-verbal response.
Tactile Touch Support: Place Wikki Stix or foam tactile dots over printed phoneme dots for students who need physical tactile feedback.
Error Correction Script
If student says "cot" instead of "cat": Stop immediately. Touch middle dot: "This sound is /æ/, like apple. Your turn: /æ/." Then re-blend: "/c/ - /æ/ - /t/, cat." Have student repeat word correctly.
Measurable IEP Goal Template
"By (date), given large-print decodable CVC text with tactile blending supports, student will decode target short-a words with 80% accuracy across 3 consecutive sessions as measured by teacher observation."
Cat Tap Answer Key
Educator & Aide Reference
Cat Tap Answer Key
Short A CVC Unit
Answer & Scoring Key
Decodable Passage Check Answer 1 Item • 1 Point
Passage Question: "Where did Pat sit?"
in a bed on a mat
Practice Activity Answers (10 Items Total)
Target Mastery: 8/10 (80%)
Part 1: Touch & Circle (3 Items) Visual Clue Matching
Clue 1 (🐱): cat
Clue 2 (🧶): mat
Clue 3 (🧢): hat
Part 2: Middle Vowel Builder (4 Items) Letter "a" /æ/ Placement
Box 1 c a t
Box 2 m a t
Box 3 p a t
Box 4 t a p
Part 3: Read & Choose (3 Items) Sentence Context Selection
1. Pat is a [ cat / bed ]. Correct: cat
2. Pat sat on a [ dog / mat ]. Correct: mat
3. I can tap, tap, [ tap / sun ]! Correct: tap
IEP Session Trial Data Table Code: I = Indep | G = Gestural | V = Verbal | P = Physical
| Date | Words Read Correctly (/6) | Practice Score (/10) | Prompt Level | Observer Initials |
|---|
| ___/___ | _____ / 6 | _____ / 10 | I G V P | ______ |
| ___/___ | _____ / 6 | _____ / 10 | I G V P | ______ |
