Teaching phonics skills in small groups in kindergarten sounds overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Small group instruction allows for tailored teaching, immediate feedback, and active participation. In today’s post I guide you through setting up phonics groups, how to structure your time, and activities that will keep your kinders engaged in the beginning of the year!
Setting Up Your Groups
Before you form groups, you need to assess your students’ phonics skills. This is a task I complete in the beginning of the year and once a month after that. As students progress I may need to switch groups around.
I set up my groups based on skills. In the beginning of the year my groups are usually working on letter name recognition, letter sound recognition, and usually a few kiddos who are working on CVC words or beyond. Later in the year I have more kids working on CVC words and digraphs.
I try to have 4-6 students per group. I find this is a nice number that allows for enough one on one attention and is easy to manage. Then I decide on a focus for each group – this will change as students make progress!
My school completes the CORE Phonics survey at the beginning of each year, but I also like to use this assessment for progress monitoring.
How Often to Meet?
This is really going to depend on what your daily schedule looks like, but this is a system I have found works well for me!
I meet with each of my groups for 15 minutes, 3 times a week. Each group receives consistent, tailored practice with me throughout the week. In the beginning of the year when students have less stamina, I only meet with my groups for 8-10 minutes and we build up as the year goes on.
I also like to leave my Friday open for pulling students for progress monitoring, extra practice, or as a built-in time to meet when the inevitable assembly or fire drill interrupts my groups during the week.
Click here for a FREE customizable small group schedule template to use in your classroom!
What to Do With My Group?
In the beginning of the year, the large majority of my students are working on letter names and letter sounds.
I usually have a few incoming kindergartners that are ready to work on blending CVC words and maybe even digraphs, so I am able to put them in a group together. The rest of my students are working on alphabet skills.
A typical group for me follows this format:
- Warm-Up (1-2 minutes)
- Mini-Lesson (2-4 minutes)
- Book (4-6 minutes)
- Additional Practice (3-5 minutes)
Warm-Up Activities
- Phonemic Awareness Practice (listening for beginning, medial, ending sounds, identifying rhymes, etc.)
- Letter Name & Sound Fluency Practice
- Flashcards
Mini-Lesson Activities
- Introduce the focus sound
- Listening for the sound
- Picture sorting based on beginning sound
- Letter sorting with magnetic letters or cards
Alphabet Book
- Read the book, focusing on book handling skills and pointing
- Naming the picture
- Highlighting the letter on each page
- Drawing and naming other things that begin with the focus sound
Additional Practice Options
- Picture sort cut & paste
- Handwriting practice page
- Shaving cream, sand trays, whiteboards
Wrapping It Up
I close out my groups by reviewing the sound once more and then having the students keep these books in their book box. They are able to practice reading them during independent centers and then when we move onto the next letter, students take the other book home to read with their families.
I hope today’s post has helped you with some ideas for your own small groups in the beginning of the year! I find my students grow so much more quickly with tailored practice. If you need a small group resource – look no further. The lessons and books I shared in today’s post are available HERE in my Small Group Alphabet Resources. I include everything you need to run small phonics groups – lesson plans, picture & letter cards, books, and extra practice worksheets!
