Word Welders

Teacher Guide & Instructional Script

Level: Foundational Phonics

Learning Objectives

Identify letter-sound correspondences for short vowels (a, e, i, o, u).
Identify digraphs sh, ch, and th as single phonemes.
Segment and blend CVC and CCVC words using visual sound boxes (Elkonin boxes).

Materials

• Sound Box Worksheet
• Match Master Worksheet
• Pencil & Eraser
• Optional: Magnetic Letters

Step-by-Step Instruction

1

The "Welding" Concept (5-10 mins)

"Class, today we are Word Welders! Just like a welder joins metal together, we join sounds together to build words. Some letters work in pairs, like SH, CH, and TH. Even though there are two letters, they make ONE sound."

Practice the "hushing" sound (/sh/), the "train" sound (/ch/), and the "thumb" sound (/th/).

2

Sound Box Modeling (10 mins)

Model how to use the Sound Box Worksheet. Use the word FISH as an example.

"Watch me. F-I-SH. The /sh/ goes in ONE box because it is one sound. I write 'f' in the first box, 'i' in the second, and 'sh' in the third."

3

Independent Matching (10-15 mins)

Distribute the Match Master Worksheet. Encourage students to "whisper-read" each word before drawing their lines. Circulate and check for vowel sound accuracy.

Common Roadblocks

Confusion with Digraphs:

Students may try to split 'sh' into two boxes. Remind them: "They are best friends—they stay together!"

Vowel Swapping:

Short /e/ and /i/ are often confused. Have students watch your mouth shape: /e/ is wide (egg), /i/ is narrow (itch).