Using Nonsense Words for RTI and Centers


One of the skills that I really want my kids to be able to do is sound out nonsense words. To me, this is how I know they really know their phonics sounds and rules. 

I do this in my whole group and in my centers a lot. And our school (and district) actually does a school-wide intervention (and enrichment) time where we divvy the kids up by what phonics skill they are on.  When I have a phonics group (as opposed to a Phonemic Awareness), I do a lot of the real vs. nonsense words for the skill. The first phonics group is CVC... depending on the group, I spend a week on each vowel. Or sometimes I can just do a quick review and do a mixed CVC week of lessons. I usually just made some lessons here and there to do with my kids.

Well, I finally put them all together.  Here's what's included in all 6 CVC packs 
(yes, I know there are only 5 vowels...lol. Each vowel has its own pack and then there's a mixed CVC)

First, there are tons of word cards to use throughout the pack in different ways. You can obviously sort them, but there are tons of other ways you can use them. Plus, I just like have a pile of words to be able to use so I don't have to think of words on the spot. I don't know why, but thinking of nonsense words "just like that" sometimes is tricky for me. So weird! lol



Then there are student sorting activities. You can do the sort on a separate paper like this...


Or in a flap-foldable like this. Mix it up each week to make it a little fun.


Then there are a lot of printables to do. This is a Highlight and Write


This one is always a favorite because they love to roll the word cubes.  There are a few different cubes to make the center stretch to a few weeks.


I like to use the picture cube dice and just write the onsets and rimes on index cards and put them in the "sleeves"



Another dice activity, but with an actual dice. I LOVE to dice activities in my class. I have a post written on all kinds of dice activities I like to do. You can check it out {HERE}.


This one is where they have to walk around the room to find the word cards. They are numbered and they have to put them on the corresponding line and then decide if the words are real or nonsense. This activity can be differentiated.. there is a page that has sentence lines for them to write sentences and there's a version that doesn't have any lines for writing out sentences.


This one you just put word cards around the room (like the ones that you can sort)


There are more activities included in each pack, but I wanted to show you these, which my kids do a lot during centers and RTI time.




Here is a better look at what's included... this is what's in the MIXED CVC pack, but all the packs have the same activities, just changed for that specific skill.



You can buy the packs separately, or but the bundle and save!







5 comments

Jessica said...

I love these! The ability to use nonsense words is a great strategy! I have kiddos who can read using context strategies, but can't read words in isolation. Ugh. The missing phonics piece!

What I Have Learned

Melodee said...

I love this, sometimes I thing I could really use this for my rsp and eld groups in middle!!

Linda said...

I love these activities! Thanks for sharing.

Christer said...

I love non sense words!!! It makes the kids pay attention for sure! And the sorting activities are always a plus.

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