To determine the needs of students in skill groups, a skill group assessment is available from the Reading Resource Center, 557-2574. This test includes some individual and small group assessments designed to determine students' strengths and weaknesses. Students who are assigned to skill groups should receive direct teacher instruction daily. They should also participate in whole and flex group instruction during the week. Use a kinesthetic technique such as have students each wear a letter and come to the front of the room to make a word.
Teacher shows how to slide the sounds together by having students link their arms.
Also, showing students how the letters in a word can be blended. Begin at the shoulder to elbow, then to the hand. Teach students to say the sounds quickly. Also, teach students to look at word families first when they come to a new word. They should say the word family and then add the beginning letter sounds.