After asking our literacy coach this question 100 times and having her tell me the same exact answer 100 times, I finally tried her simple solution: sound boxes! And let me tell you, I have used them with students in K-5, and they have been life changing!
Sound boxes are just that - a box for each sound in the word that the student is writing. If a sound is made by more than one letter, like /sh/, then both sounds go in one box.
This is an excellent strategy for primary students learning about basic sounds, and it is beneficial for intermediate students learning to write multisyllabic words.
I use the Gradual Release method when introducing sound boxes to my students. First, I model for them how to stretch out the word and how each sound should go in its own box. Next, we practice the skill together. At first, they may need several reminders to understand that two letters can go in one box if they make the same sound. Finally, they began using sound boxes independently. Sound boxes don’t have to be a life sentence, so if a student starts to be self-sufficient, he/she can return to regular paper as needed.
If this is a strategy you want to try out, I would love to help you get started! Click here to get some sample sound box pages or here for some mini-lessons that have a dictation component.
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