Jump Start Slides Sound Detective Academy • Week 1
CVC Blending Foundations
Target: Short A & Short O
Crack the Code: Tap & Blend!
Unlock hidden words by feeling your mouth shape, tapping every sound button, and sliding sounds together smoothly.
1. Hear the Sound
2. Check Mouth Shape
3. Slide & Read
Clue 1 of 5 Ready, Detectives? Let's warm up our sound mirrors!
Mouth Shape Detective Clues
Feel the difference!
a
Short A = /æ/
🍎
Mouth Action: Open wide like you are taking a giant bite of an apple!
"ahhh" as in apple
o
Short O = /ɒ/
🐙
Mouth Action: Make your lips round like an open doughnut ring!
"aww" as in octopus
Detective Drill: Put two fingers under your chin. Short /a/ drops low, Short /o/ stays round!
The Sound Button Tap Routine
Tap each dot, then slide!
Word Clue #1
c
1
/k/
a
2
/æ/
t
3
/t/
Slide smoothly:
/k/ ••• /æ/ ••• /t/ ➔ CAT!
Detective Tip: Don't stop between sounds. Connect them like singing one song!
The Middle Sound Switcheroo!
Watch the vowel change!
Pair 1
h a t
⬇ change to ⬇
h o t
Hat (wear on head) vs. Hot (sunny day!)
Pair 2
c a t
⬇ change to ⬇
c o t
Cat (soft pet) vs. Cot (camping bed!)
Pair 3
m a p
⬇ change to ⬇
m o p
Map (find way) vs. Mop (clean floor!)
Detective Rule: Changing just one vowel changes the whole word and its meaning!
Detective Reading Mission
Choral Read Together!
1
The cat sat on top of the cot.
2
Tom had a map and a hat in the fog.
3
Can Dad mop up the jam on the mat?
Great job, Detectives! Grab your Week 1 Practice Sheet!
Jump Start Sound Worksheet Sound Detective Academy • Week 1
Short A & Short O Sound Lab
Name:
Date:
🍎
Short A = /æ/ (Apple)
Mouth opens wide! Jaw drops low.
🐙
Short O = /ɒ/ (Octopus)
Mouth makes a round "O" circle!
1 Tap & Map Sound Boxes
Say the picture name, tap the sound buttons, write 1 letter per box.
1. Cat 🐱 3 sounds
2. Mop 🧹 3 sounds
3. Fan 💨 3 sounds
4. Fox 🦊 3 sounds
2 Middle Sound Detective: Circle the Correct Vowel
1. A hot beverage in a mug: p _____ t
a o
2. A sleeping camp bed: c _____ t
a o
3. You wear it on your head: h _____ t
a o
4. A paper tool to find places: m _____ p
a o
Sound Detective Academy • Level 1 Page 1 of 2
Sound Detective Academy • Week 1
Word Switcheroo & Story Reading
Detective Code: W1-D2
3 Vowel Switcheroo: Change 1 Sound to Make a New Word
Read the first word. Change the middle vowel to form the partner word. Write the new word on the line.
Start b a t
Change /a/ to /o/ ➔
New Word Meaning: (A robot or small crawler)
Start c a p
Change /a/ to /o/ ➔
New Word Meaning: (A police officer)
Start p o p
Change /o/ to /a/ ➔
New Word Meaning: (Father or dad)
4 Decodable Story Detective Read
Read the story 3 times. Put a check in a star each time you read smoothly.
Read Tracker: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Tom had a fat cat named Max. Max sat on a soft cot in the sun. Dad had a big pot and a mop. "Max, do not jump on the hot pot!" said Dad. Max ran to the mat and had a nap.
Detective Question: Where did Max sit first?
Sound Detective Academy • Level 1 Page 2 of 2
Jump Start Teacher Guide Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 1
Foundational CVC & Short Vowels (A & O)
Grade: 2nd Grade Intervention
Focus: Blending & Sound Mapping
Instructional Objective
Students will segment and continuously blend 3-sound CVC words featuring short /a/ and short /o/. Students will connect articulatory mouth shapes (open jaw drop vs. rounded lips) to isolate vowel phonemes accurately, preventing sound distortion.
5-Day Instructional Pacing Guide
Day 1 Introduce & Articulate Teach /æ/ (apple) vs /ɒ/ (octopus). Slide Deck slides 1–2. Hand mirror check: drop jaw for /a/, round lips for /o/.
Day 2 Sound Button Tapping Slide Deck slide 3. Model continuous blending (no stopping between sounds). Complete Worksheet Page 1 (Sound Boxes).
Day 3 Vowel Switcheroo Slide Deck slide 4. Minimal pair contrasts (cat/cot, hat/hot, map/mop). Complete Worksheet Page 2 Part 3.
Day 4 Connected Text Reading Slide Deck slide 5. Choral reading, partner whisper-reading, and decodable passage comprehension on Worksheet Page 2 Part 4.
Day 5 Progress Check & Game Quick 1-minute blending check per student; Sound Detective Bingo or white-board quick-draw sound challenge.
Continuous Blending Instructional Script
"Listen to me blend these sounds: /k/ ... /æ/ ... /t/. When we blend, we don't chop our voices. Watch my finger slide under the dots: caaaat. We keep our motor running like a car! Now try it with me: tap the buttons, keep the sound singing, slide together: CAT!"
Sound Detective Academy • Teacher Pacing Plan Page 1 of 2
Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 1
Intervention Protocols & Answer Key
Unit 1 Support
Common Misconceptions & Error Correction
Error 1: Adding the "Schwa" (/kuh-a-tuh/) Students clip consonant stops with an extra vowel sound.Fix: Prompt "Keep your stop sounds crisp and whisper-soft. Clip the /k/, don't say 'kuh'!"
Error 2: Forgetting the Initial Sound After Segmenting Student sounds out /m/-/ɒ/-/p/, but guesses "top".Fix: Use continuous blending. Stretch the initial continuant consonant: "mmmaaaap".
Tier 2 Multisensory Intervention Techniques
Arm Tapping Strategy:
Extend left arm. Tap shoulder for sound 1 (onset), inside elbow for sound 2 (vowel), wrist for sound 3 (coda). Slide right hand from shoulder to wrist to blend the whole word.
Mirror Self-Monitoring:
Provide inexpensive hand mirrors. When students struggle between short /a/ and /o/, have them watch their lips in the mirror. /a/ opens wide vertically; /o/ forms a circle.
Week 1 Student Practice Worksheet Answer Key
Sound Detective Pre Assessment Baseline Diagnostic • Month Entry
Sound Detective Pre-Assessment
Student Name:
Assessment Date:
Administer prior to Week 1 instruction to pinpoint vowel confusion and rule mastery. Total Available: 25 Points
1 Task A: Middle Vowel Identification (5 pts)
Teacher says picture name; student fills in a, e, i, o, or u.
1. /æ/ 🐱
c
t
2. /e/ 🛏️
b
d
3. /i/ 🧷
p
n
4. /ɒ/ 🧹
m
p
5. /ʌ/ ☀️
s
n
2 Task B: Tricky E vs. I Auditory Contrast (4 pts)
Teacher dictates word. Student circles the correct word.
1. "pen" (ink pen)
pen pin
2. "pit" (deep hole)
pet pit
3. "bed" (sleep bed)
bed bid
4. "tin" (metal tin)
ten tin
3 Task C: Initial C vs. K Spelling Rule (4 pts)
Write C or K to complete each word.
1. ___ a t
2. ___ i d
3. ___ u p
4. ___ e g
Sound Detective Academy • Pre-Assessment Page 1 of 2
Teacher Administered Section
Oral Blending & Diagnostic Scoring
Form A: Baseline
4 Task D: 1-on-1 Real Word Continuous Blending (8 pts)
Student reads left-to-right. Check (✓) if blended continuously without pausing; mark (X) if chopped or incorrect.
1. map ___
2. red ___
3. sit ___
4. fog ___
5. cub ___
6. pen ___
7. kid ___
8. hot ___
5 Task E: Nonsense Word Decoding Probe (4 pts)
Tests true phonemic recoding rather than sight memory.
1. vap ___
2. kem ___
3. zot ___
4. tib ___
Diagnostic Baseline Summary Student Score: _____ / 25 pts
Tier 1: On Track (21–25) Strong blending; minor phonics refinements needed.
Tier 2: Targeted (14–20) Confuses e/i or c/k; requires multisensory daily routines.
Tier 3: Intensive (<14) Choppy blending; needs isolated mouth mirror & arm tapping.
Sound Detective Academy • Pre-Assessment Page 2 of 2
Tricky Vowel Slides Sound Detective Academy • Week 2
Cracking the Tricky Vowel Case
Target: Short E & Short I
The Mystery of /e/ and /i/!
These two sound cousins sound almost the same to our ears! Let's use our detective mouth mirrors to catch the sneaky clue.
🛏️
Short E: /e/
Like "bed" & "egg"
🦎
Short I: /i/
Like "igloo" & "pin"
Clue 2 of 5 Get your mouth mirrors ready, Detectives!
Mouth Detective: Look in the Mirror
Notice the smile width!
e
Short E = /e/
😁
Mouth Shape: Relaxed, middle smile. Chin drops down just a little bit.
Cue: "Edge of the chair!" /e/ /e/ egg
i
Short I = /i/
👃
Mouth Shape: Tight smile, corners pulled back toward your ears. Chin stays high!
Cue: "Scratch an itch on your nose!" /i/ /i/ itch
Hand under chin test: Say /e/ (chin taps hand), then say /i/ (chin doesn't move)!
Minimal Pair Sound Battles
Listen & Point!
Battle 1
b e d
Sleep time 🛏️
VS
b i d
Auction offer 🏷️
Battle 2
p e n
Write with ink 🖊️
VS
p i n
Sharp needle 🧷
Battle 3
p e t
Cuddly puppy 🐶
VS
p i t
Deep hole in dirt 🕳️
Detective Challenge: Teacher says a word, you point to E or I!
Which Vowel Door Does It Enter?
Say it, feel it, sort it!
Door Short E (/e/)
w e t
n e t
r e d
t e n
Door Short I (/i/)
w i n
s i t
r i d
t i n
Clue Question: When you say "w-i-n", is your smile tight or wide? Tight smile = Short I!
Read Like a Super Detective!
Spot the E & I words!
1
The red hen had a big pin.
2
Ted can sit on the bed and win.
3
Did the pet fall into the pit?
Mystery solved! You can hear the difference! Turn to Week 2 Clue Worksheet!
Tricky Vowel Clue Worksheet Sound Detective Academy • Week 2
Short E vs. Short I Mystery Lab
Name:
Date:
🛏️
Short E = /e/ (Edge of Chair)
Wide smile, chin drops just a bit.
👃
Short I = /i/ (Itchy Nose)
Tight smile, corners back, chin stays high!
1 Sound Box Clues: Write 'e' or 'i' in the Middle Box
Say the word, feel your chin, fill in the vowel.
1. Bed 🛏️
b
d
2. Pin 🧷
p
n
3. Hen 🐔
h
n
4. Pig 🐷
p
g
5. Net 🥅
n
t
6. Sit 🪑
s
t
2 Minimal Pair Clue Match: Circle the Real Word Matching the Clue
1. A tool you use to write with ink:
pen pin
2. A friendly puppy or kitten you love:
pet pit
3. The number that comes right after 9:
ten tin
4. When water or rain gets on your coat:
wet wit
Sound Detective Academy • Level 2 Page 1 of 2
Sound Detective Academy • Week 2
Vowel Sorting & Story Reading
Detective Code: W2-D2
3 Vowel Evidence Sort: Write Words Under the Right Vowel
Word Bank: leg • rib • men • zip • web • sit
Short E Words (/e/)
Short I Words (/i/)
4 Decodable Story: Jen and the Red Pig
Read the passage 3 times. Color a star for each fluent read.
Read Tracker: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Jen had a pet pig named Pip. Pip was in the big mud pit. "Get out of the wet mud, Pip!" said Jen. Jen led Pip to the red pen. She fed Pip ten figs in a tin pan. Pip was glad!
Detective Question: What did Jen feed to Pip?
Sound Detective Academy • Level 2 Page 2 of 2
Tricky Vowel Teacher Guide Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 2
Short E (/e/) vs. Short I (/i/) Contrast
Grade: 2nd Grade Intervention
Focus: Auditory & Kinesthetic Discrimination
Why Second Graders Confuse /e/ and /i/
Acoustically and anatomically, short /e/ (as in bed ) and short /i/ (as in bid ) are adjacent on the vowel spectrum. The tongue height differs by mere millimeters, and regional dialects (such as the pin/pen merger) blur the distinction. Struggling readers must rely on articulatory proprioception (feeling their chin and lip muscles) rather than ear-listening alone.
Week 2 Pacing Guide
Day 1 Mirror Articulation Introduce Slide Deck slides 1–2. Practice "Chin Tap" for /e/ vs. "Itchy Nose Smile" for /i/ using mirrors.
Day 2 Auditory Discrimination Slide Deck slide 3. "Same or Different?" auditory pairs (bed/bid, net/net, pen/pin). Complete Worksheet Page 1 Part 1.
Day 3 Vowel Sorting Lab Slide Deck slide 4. Physical sorting or dry-erase vowel cards. Complete Worksheet Page 1 Part 2 & Page 2 Part 3.
Day 4 Connected Decodable Story Slide Deck slide 5. Choral and echo read "Jen and the Red Pig" (Worksheet Page 2 Part 4); answer comprehension question.
Day 5 Mastery Showdown Formative spelling check: 6 teacher-dictated words (3 with /e/, 3 with /i/). Target: 85%+ accuracy.
"Same or Different?" Auditory Warm-Up
"Close your eyes, Detectives. I will say two words. Show me two fingers if they are different sounds, or one finger if they are the exact same word: bed ... bid (different!). pin ... pin (same!). pet ... pit (different!)."
Sound Detective Academy • Teacher Pacing Plan Page 1 of 2
Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 2
Kinesthetic Prompts & Answer Key
Unit 2 Support
Tactile Articulation Anchors
Anchor 1: The Chin Drop Test (for Short E)
Have the student place their palm horizontally directly beneath their jaw. Say "eh" (/e/). Their chin should press down firmly into the palm. If their chin doesn't move, they made the /i/ sound by accident.
Anchor 2: The Itchy Nose Wrinkle (for Short I)
Have students wrinkle their nose like they smell something funny or have an itch. Say "ih" (/i/). Notice how the corners of the lips pull back tightly toward the cheeks, and the jaw stays shut.
Small Group Tier 2 Remediation
For students still confusing pen/pin: Isolate the vowel sound entirely before blending. Never ask them to spell the whole word first. Say: "Just tell me the vowel sound: in 'red', do you hear /e/ or /i/?" Once they can identify the vowel in isolation 9/10 times, return to full CVC blending.
Cat Kite Sound Slides Sound Detective Academy • Week 3
Cracking the Consonant Cousins: C and K
Target: C vs. K Rule & Short U
Both Say /k/ ... So Which Letter Do We Write?
Hard C and K make the exact same clicking sound in your throat. Look at the vowel right behind it to crack the code!
🐱
Cat chooses:
A, O, U
🪁
Kite chooses:
I, E
Clue 3 of 5 Let's learn the secret detective chant!
The Secret Detective Chant
Say it out loud together!
"K takes I and E,
(The other three are: A, O, and U)
🪁 Kite Rule (K)
k - i - d k - e - g k - i - t
🐱 Cat Rule (C)
c - a - t c - o - t c - u - p
Detective Strategy: Look at the letter coming right next. The vowel gives you the answer!
Meet Short U: Up in the Air!
The 5th short vowel!
u
Short U = /ʌ/
☂️
Mouth Action: Relax your jaw open slightly and tap your tummy gently. Say "uhhh" like pushing an umbrella up!
Short U loves letter C!
c - u - p Cup ☕
c - u - t Cut ✂️
c - u - b Cub 🐻
Remember: Because the vowel is U, the word begins with C!
Code Cracker: Choose C or K
Show C hand or K hand!
1. ___ i d (a young goat) ➔ K
2. ___ a n (tin soda can) ➔ C
3. ___ e g (wooden barrel) ➔ K
4. ___ o b (ear of corn) ➔ C
5. ___ i t (first aid box) ➔ K
6. ___ u b (baby bear) ➔ C
Great job! Follow the vowel and you will never make a mistake!
Week 3 Reading Challenge
Read with Expression!
1
The kid had a kit to fix the cat.
2
A bear cub drank from a red cup in the sun.
3
Can Kip cut the box with his pocket kit?
You unlocked the C & K rule! Complete the Cat & Kite Worksheet!
Cat Kite Rule Worksheet Sound Detective Academy • Week 3
Cat & Kite: C vs. K Rule Lab
Name:
Date:
🐱
Cat Rule: Use letter C
Before vowels: a, o, u (cat, cot, cup)
🪁
Kite Rule: Use letter K
Before vowels: i, e (kid, kit, keg)
1 Detective Rule Check: Fill in C or K
Look at the bold vowel, then write the correct letter.
1. ___ a t 🐱
2. ___ i d 🐐
3. ___ u p ☕
4. ___ e g 🛢️
5. ___ i t 🧰
6. ___ o b 🌽
2 Short U (/ʌ/) Sound Mapping Boxes
1. Bug 🪲 3 sounds
2. Sun ☀️ 3 sounds
3. Cup 🥤 3 sounds
4. Mud 🟫 3 sounds
Sound Detective Academy • Level 3 Page 1 of 2
Sound Detective Academy • Week 3
C vs. K Sort & Story Reading
Detective Code: W3-D2
3 Word Sort Challenge: Group by Starting Letter
Word Bank: kit • cat • keg • cot • kid • cup
🐱 Words with C (a, o, u)
🪁 Words with K (i, e)
4 Decodable Story: Kip and the Bear Cub
Read the story 3 times. Color a star for each fluent read.
Read Tracker: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Kip is a quick kid. Kip has a tool kit in his tent. In the hot sun, Kip saw a little bear cub on a log. The cub dug in the mud. Kip set a red cup of water on the cot for the cub. The cub had a sip!
Detective Question: What did Kip set on the cot for the cub?
Sound Detective Academy • Level 3 Page 2 of 2
Cat Kite Teacher Guide Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 3
Initial /k/ Spelling Rule (C vs. K) & Short U
Grade: 2nd Grade Intervention
Focus: Orthographic Rule Application
The Linguistic "Why": English Spelling Logic
Many 2nd grade students view spelling as random guessing. Teach them the rule system: In English, the letter C softens to /s/ when placed immediately before e, i, or y (e.g., cent, city ). Therefore, whenever the hard /k/ sound precedes an e or i in a CVC word, the language must deploy letter K (kid, keg, kit ). When followed by a, o, or u , letter C is default (cat, cot, cup ).
Week 3 Pacing Guide
Day 1 The Secret Chant Introduce Slide Deck slides 1–2. Teach the mnemonic chant: "K takes I and E, C takes the other three!"
Day 2 Short U Integration Slide Deck slide 3. Introduce short /ʌ/ (umbrella up). Sound box mapping on Worksheet Page 1 Part 2.
Day 3 Rule Decision Drill Slide Deck slide 4. Whole-group whiteboard drill. Complete Worksheet Page 1 Part 1 & Page 2 Part 3.
Day 4 Decodable Fluency Slide Deck slide 5. Partner reading of "Kip and the Bear Cub" (Worksheet Page 2 Part 4); answer comprehension question.
Day 5 Spelling Challenge Quick spelling quiz emphasizing C vs. K selection before writing the word. Celebrate mastery!
Choral Chant Routine
"Teacher: Who does K take? Class: I and E! The other three: A, O, U! /u/! So it starts with... C! "
Sound Detective Academy • Teacher Pacing Plan Page 1 of 2
Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 3
Multisensory Prompts & Answer Key
Unit 3 Support
Kinesthetic Hand Gestures for C and K
The C Curved Claw:
Curve your right thumb and fingers into a round "C" shape (like a cat paw). Flash this whenever the vowel is a, o, or u .
The K Kite Wings:
Make a peace sign tilted sideways to show the diagonal arms of a "K" kite. Flash this whenever the vowel is i or e .
Intervention Anchor: "Look Ahead" Habit
Students often impulsively write the first letter before processing the rest of the word. Teach the "Look Ahead" pause: when writing a word that begins with /k/, students must write the vowel down first or say the vowel aloud before choosing the first letter.
Master Blend Slides Sound Detective Academy • Week 4
The Grand Master Blending Quest
Target: All 5 Short Vowels & Fluency
You Are Ready to Become a Master Code Breaker!
This week we combine every tool: tap and blend, mouth shapes, e vs. i differences, and the C vs. K rule!
a e i o u
Final Mission: Graduation Week Let's power up the 5-Vowel Switchboard!
The 5 Short Vowel Switchboard
Touch your mouth for each sound!
a
🍎
/æ/
Open wide!
e
🛏️
/e/
Edge smile!
i
👃
/i/
Tight smile!
o
🐙
/ɒ/
Round "O"!
u
☂️
/ʌ/
Tap tummy!
5 Master Vowels = All the glue we need to build words!
Speed Blend Matrix: Change the Vowel!
Keep your voice smooth!
b a t
Baseball bat 🏏
b e t
Friendly wager 🤝
b i t
Little piece 🍪
b o t
Friendly robot 🤖
b u t
Connector word 🔗
Notice how only the middle mouth shape changes: /æ/ ➔ /e/ ➔ /i/ ➔ /ɒ/ ➔ /ʌ/!
Real Words vs. Silly Alien Words
True Code Breakers can read both!
🌍 Real Earth Words
c - a - t
k - i - d
m - o - p
r - u - n
👽 Silly Alien Words
v - a - p
k - e - m
z - o - t
d - u - g
Detective Secret: If you know the sounds and blend continuously, you can read ANY word in the universe!
Grand Graduation Reading Passage
Full Fluency Choral Read!
1
The red fox and the cub had fun in the sun.
2
Kip got his kit and a big cup to help the pet.
3
We can tap, blend, and win the grand phonics prize!
Congratulations, Master Detectives! Complete the Graduation Challenge Sheet!
Master Blend Review Worksheet Sound Detective Academy • Week 4
Master Code Breaker Review
Name:
Date:
/a/ 🍎
Apple
/e/ 🛏️
Egg
/i/ 👃
Itch
/o/ 🐙
Octopus
/u/ ☂️
Up
1 5-Vowel Quest: Write the Missing Vowel (a, e, i, o, u)
Say the word aloud, feel your mouth shape!
1. Cat 🐱
c
t
2. Hen 🐔
h
n
3. Pig 🐷
p
g
4. Fox 🦊
f
x
5. Sun ☀️
s
n
6. Bed 🛏️
b
d
7. Pin 🧷
p
n
8. Cup 🥤
c
p
2 C vs. K Master Check: Remember "K takes I & E, C takes A, O, U!"
1. ___ i d (young goat)
2. ___ a n (metal can)
3. ___ u b (baby bear)
4. ___ e g (wooden barrel)
5. ___ o t (camping bed)
6. ___ i t (tool box)
Sound Detective Academy • Master Level Page 1 of 2
Sound Detective Academy • Week 4
Word Ladder & Graduation Story
Detective Code: W4-D2
3 The Master Word Ladder: Change One Sound at Each Step
Climb the ladder! Read the clue and write the new 3-letter word.
5. Change vowel in "p-e-t" to /o/: Cooking container ➔
4. Change vowel in "p-i-t" to /e/: An animal you love ➔
3. Change start sound in "h-i-t" to /p/: A deep hole ➔
2. Change vowel in "h-a-t" to /i/: Tap with a bat ➔
1. START WORD: You wear this on your head ➔ h a t
4 Graduation Story: The Big Detective Picnic
Read the passage 3 times. Color all 3 stars when finished!
Read Tracker: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Kip and Jen had a fun picnic in the warm sun. A fat red hen and a black cat ran to the mat. "Look, the cub has a big bun and jam in his cup!" said Kip. Jen pet the cat. They ate figs and nuts on the cot. It was the best day!
Detective Question: What two animals ran to the mat?
Sound Detective Academy • Master Level Page 2 of 2
Master Blend Teacher Guide Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 4
Cumulative Mastery & Fluency Quest
Grade: 2nd Grade Intervention
Focus: Spiral Review & Assessment
Instructional Objective
Students demonstrate automaticity in segmenting and continuously blending across all five short vowels (a, e, i, o, u) in CVC patterns. Students independently apply the C vs. K orthographic rule and transfer decoding skills to connected decodable stories at 95%+ word accuracy.
Week 4 Pacing Guide
Day 1 5-Vowel Switchboard Slide Deck slides 1–2. Choral mouth cue review for all 5 vowels (apple, egg, itch, octopus, umbrella).
Day 2 Rapid Continuous Blend Slide Deck slide 3. Rapid vowel mutation drills (bat-bet-bit-bot-but). Complete Worksheet Page 1 Part 1 & 2.
Day 3 Alien Word decoding Slide Deck slide 4. Real vs. nonsense word sort. Word Ladder activity on Worksheet Page 2 Part 3.
Day 4 Graduation Fluency Slide Deck slide 5. Partner fluency reads of "The Big Detective Picnic" (Worksheet Page 2 Part 4); comprehension check.
Day 5 Cumulative Check 1-on-1 progress monitoring check (10 CVC words, 5 nonsense words). Award Sound Detective Badge!
Diagnostic Benchmark Goals for 2nd Grade Intervention
CVC Blending Fluency: 35+ correct words read smoothly within 1 minute.Vowel Accuracy: Zero confusion between /e/ and /i/ in isolation and simple words.Orthographic Rule: Accurate C vs. K selection with 90%+ consistency.
Sound Detective Academy • Teacher Pacing Plan Page 1 of 2
Teacher Instruction Guide • Week 4
Assessment Tracker & Answer Key
Unit 4 Support
Quick 1-Minute Diagnostic Word Probe
Have student read row-by-row. Mark (✓) for correct continuous blend, (–) for hesitation or error.
1. cat
2. pen
3. kid
4. fog
5. cup
6. bed
7. zip
8. cot
9. mud
10. kit
Nonsense Words Probe: mip • ked • bup • zot • vap (Tests phonemic decoding without whole-word sight memorization).
Post-Unit Instructional Pathway
Mastery (85%+ accuracy): Student is ready to progress to consonant blends and digraphs (CCVC/CVCC words like flag, stop, duck, ship ).
Emerging (60-84% accuracy): Continue daily 5-minute multisensory arm tapping and minimal pair flashcards focused exclusively on error vowel pairs.
Week 4 Student Practice Worksheet Answer Key
Sound Detective Post Assessment Summative Mastery Check • Month Exit
Sound Detective Post-Assessment
Student Name:
Assessment Date:
Administer at end of Week 4 to measure student skill growth and rule mastery.
Pre: ___ / 25 Post Target: 22+ / 25
1 Task A: Middle Vowel Identification (5 pts)
Teacher says word; student writes missing vowel (a, e, i, o, u).
1. /æ/ 🦇
b
t
2. /e/ 🐔
h
n
3. /i/ 🤐
z
p
4. /ɒ/ 🦊
f
x
5. /ʌ/ 🛁
t
b
2 Task B: Tricky E vs. I Auditory Contrast (4 pts)
Teacher dictates word. Student circles the correct word.
1. "pin" (safety pin)
pen pin
2. "pet" (friendly cat)
pet pit
3. "bid" (auction bid)
bed bid
4. "ten" (number 10)
ten tin
3 Task C: Initial C vs. K Spelling Rule (4 pts)
Write C or K to complete each word.
1. ___ a n
2. ___ i t
3. ___ u b
4. ___ e g
Sound Detective Academy • Post-Assessment Page 1 of 2
Teacher Administered Section
Summative Blending & Growth Tracker
Form B: Month Exit
4 Task D: 1-on-1 Real Word Continuous Blending (8 pts)
Student reads aloud. Mark (✓) for smooth continuous blend; (X) for error or hesitation.
1. fan ___
2. wet ___
3. rip ___
4. mop ___
5. bus ___
6. leg ___
7. kid ___
8. cut ___
5 Task E: Nonsense Word Decoding Probe (4 pts)
Verify student decodes rather than recalls sight words.
1. map ___
2. peb ___
3. zot ___
4. kib ___
🏆 Official Growth & Mastery Record
Pre: ____/25 Post: ____/25 Growth: +____ pts
Teacher Sign-off:
Recommended Next Focus:
[ ] Consonant Digraphs (sh, ch, th) [ ] Initial Blends
Sound Detective Academy • Post-Assessment Page 2 of 2
