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Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.
-O. Fred Donaldson
I am a firm believer that children learn through play. I also whole-heartedly believe that learning is and should be fun!!! Now, does this mean that I believe children need to be “entertained” at every second while they are in school? No. However, if possible, should we as educators try to incorporate opportunities for students to practice new skills AND have some fun doing it? Absolutely!
Phonics is no exception! Using manipulatives, incorporating movement, and singing songs are simple ways to add some fun to your phonics lessons, but what about during centers? Now, there is nothing wrong with the classic phonics printable activities, CVC worksheets, and fluency passages, but variety is the spice of life.
This post will focus on some ideas for how you can make literacy centers engaging, interactive, and fun!!! My three go-to activities are digital learning activities, easy to print learning games, and arts and crafts.
Digital Learning Activities
Centers can’t be complete without some kind of tech option. Technology is here to stay, and I think it’s important for students (and teachers) to be comfortable using it. The nice thing about using apps and online activities is that they are often highly engaging and self-correcting. My two favorite are Nearpod and Boom Learning.
Nearpod
Nearpod is an online platform designed to elevate your lesson plans by incorporating interactive elements, such as matching, drag and drop, drawing/writing, and self-graded assessment games.
You can create a free Nearpod account. It only takes 2 minutes to sign up.
The best part? Students can participate in a live lesson where the teacher can see student responses in REAL time or complete these activities independently during centers or for morning work. PLUS, all student work will be saved in your teacher’s account. This makes for a quick and easy way to assess student understanding.
Boom Learning
Boom Learning is an online platform that specializes in digital task cards. These resources are perfect for independent practice! They are self-correcting and easy to assign.
Games, Games, and More Games
Learning games are super engaging, but they can cost way too much money (especially if you shop at teacher stores)!!! There are several types of learning games, including board games, BINGO, and card games. Plus, I even have some ideas that can be played on the fly with no prep at all!
Printable Board Games
Making your own board game can be cost-effective and once prepped, will last for years. All you need is a laminated game board, character pieces, and printable playing cards. (Dice can be fun too, but cards can be used instead.)
I recently created a new game that will have your students practicing their CVC words all while having fun! The objective is to collect letters and spell the words on a game board. The first player to reach the finish line and spell all the words on his/her student board wins!
How to Play:
On your turn, draw a card or roll the dice and move the correct number of spaces. If you land on a letter, try to use it on your student board. (Students can play as a team also. In this version, they will try to use the letter on any of the players’ student boards. They play until all words on all student boards have been spelled.) If you land on a star, draw another card. Play continues until a player has reached the end of the board. If that player has spelled all the words on the student board, s/he wins! If not, they go back to start and try again.
BINGO
BINGO is a classic game that can be played whole class or in small groups. This is also a fun and easy center for a parent volunteer to run.
You may be wondering…how are these BINGO games any different than the others…I made two different versions! One version is meant to help struggling readers and/or language learners. Students listen to the word and find the picture. In the other version, students must find the words instead. Each version includes 30 unique BINGO boards so that all you have to do is print and play!
Card Games
I don’t know about you, but I love card games. They encourage communication and are so easy to prep!!! I have recently started adding some basic card games to help students spell words and practice their phonics skills. Plus, each resource includes blank copies if you would like to make your own cards. If you are interested in being up to date on these resources (and more!), make sure to follow my TpT store and join my email list. My TpT followers and email list are often the first to know of any giveaways and upcoming sales.
COMING SOON: A brand new line of card games are headed your way. Join my email list and follow my TpT store for the latest updates.
On the Fly
Flying by the seat of your pants?…(said every teacher EVER)…No worries! For this game, all you need is a dice, pencil, and blank paper.
I call this game Roll and Draw. It is best if played in pairs or small groups but can be played individually, as well. Simply decide what students draw (or write) when they roll each number. I recommend having students label the pictures they draw. That way, they can practice spelling these words too! I listed a couple of example games below, but honestly you could play this game with any skill you happen to be learning in class.
I have used this game as an incentive for the end of the day. If were earn “game time”, we clean up 10-15 minutes early and play this game before going home. It’s fast, fun, and easy! It also makes a fun “extra time” activity for early finishers.
If you are looking for some pre-made seasonal options, check these out! I have them printed in a folder in the corner of the room. Students know that if they finish early, this game will always be on the “may do” list.
| When you roll a… | draw a … |
| 1 | ends with -ab |
| 2 | ends with -an |
| 3 | ends with -ap |
| 4 | ends with -ad |
| 5 | ends with -at |
| 6 | ends with -ag |
| When you roll a… | draw a … |
| 1 | word that has the long A sound |
| 2 | word that has the long E sound |
| 3 | word that has the long I sound |
| 4 | word that has the long O sound |
| 5 | word that has the long U sound |
| 6 | word that has the magic e |
Arts and Crafts
Finding ways to incorporate arts and craft into your phonics centers does not need to require a ton of prep! For me, I really like to make my centers seasonal. It makes kids excited to learn! Even upper graders light up when an activity is holiday-themed or seasonally inspired.
Take word families, for instance. Instead of having students simply practice changing out letters in words, have them create words on spider legs and turn it into a spooky art project! It is way more engaging than a basic worksheet. The best part is all you need is paper, scissors, and coloring supplies. I change out the project for each season! An apple tree for back to school, a pumpkin patch for fall, a spider for Halloween, a turkey for Thanksgiving…the possibilities are endless! (SPOILER…New Thanksgiving product coming soon!)
These same ideas can be incorporated into math centers too! Instead of word families, include math facts. This same idea can literally be used for any grade level, any subject, and practically any skill.
Phonics can be fun AND manageable! I hope that you found this post helpful and inspiring. I absolutely love my phonics centers, and I hope it quickly becomes the best part of your day too!
As always, reach out if you have any questions or want to brainstorm any ideas together. My next blog post will focus on adding some holiday cheer to your literacy centers. Stay tuned because in just a couple of weeks…let the holidays (around the world) begin…
Until next time, keep learning!
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