The Sound Muncher

Ok, so I cannot take credit for this idea. I totally borrowed it from another first grade teacher blog that I have been stalking. :) (I have to give "props" to the blog First Grader At Last!) I absolutely love this activity, and we do this every Wednesday in Reading during our Word Work station.

For the parents who don't know the rules of the Sound Muncher, he likes to eat objects with a sound in its name that our class is working on for the week. On Tuesdays, each student brings in a small object from home with the appropriate sound to feed the sound muncher. On Wednesdays during the Word Work station, each child will pull out an object, draw a picture of it on the Sound Muncher Worksheet, try his/her best to spell the word, and underline the letter(s) that make the sound we're looking for. The pictures I've posted here are from last week's Sound Muncher, when we were learning the short a sound.

Great objects, parents! I had a great discussion with a student when she pulled out the miniature bathtub. I asked her what it was and she said, "tub." I reminded her that its name had to have the /a/ sound and after she thought about it for a second she responded with, "Bath!" :) I love seeing those "aha" moments with students! Keep up the great work parents! :)