3.1 Prepare for Onset-Rime Instruction

Before teaching onset-rime, you'll need to do a few things to get ready:

• Select the words you'll work with.
• Decide if you'll need any materials for instruction like manipulatives or picture cards.
• Choose teaching strategies for the skill you're teaching.

Choose words that are familiar to your students. To start, select one-syllable words that have single consonant sounds as the onset. For example, use cash (/c/, /ash/), not crash (/cr/, /ash/). Our word list can help!

Remember, you won't use any letters when teaching this skill, only sounds. For some of your children, bringing in manipulatives such as felt squares, tokens, or slinkies can help. A manipulative serves as a visual representation of part of a word, for those who struggle to hold it in their memory. Be sure to remove these supports once children show accuracy, and work toward that same accuracy without the manipulatives.

Picture cards can also help with teaching onset-rime. We’ve provided some for you to download. The large format picture cards are perfect for whole class and small group lessons. Our small square picture cards fit perfectly into the Reading Universe student practice activities that you will find in the resource hub of this skill explainer.

There are several engaging strategies for teaching phonological awareness skills. In this video, Mississippi teacher Monique Ealey demonstrates the Stretch and Shrink strategy.

Download this printable PDF that includes eight ways for teaching onset and rime, including Roller Coaster and Stomp and Say.