Jada Griggs

Explicit Phonics Lesson For Short A Sound

Grade Level: First Grade

Stage: Letter Name-Alphabetic

Standard: CCSS RF.1.2b, RF.1.2c, and RF.1.2d

Materials and Preparation:

- Large set of alphabet cards and rimes for word families (an and at)
- Smaller set of these cards for each student
- Chalkboard
- Pointer
Learning Objective(s):

- Students will be able to say the sound of the short a.

- Students will be able to identify the short a sound in the an and at.
- Students will be able to blend sounds of CVC pattern short a words.
Introduction: 5 minutes

Ask students to recite the alphabet in unison. Afterwards, ask them which ones are
vowels and write the letters on the board.
Tell the students the vowel they will be learning about is A.
Teach the students the sound of the short a is the apple or ant sound.
Tell the students you will do a call and response. I will call: Who let the A out?
The students respond: /a/ /a/ /a/.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher Modeling: 10 minutes

Put the rime cards for the an and at families on the board. Explain that when
you put letters in front of these word families that short a words are created.
Point to the an card and have the students repeat the sound after I say it. Repeat
with the at card.
Take the C card and say c-c-c-c, then place it in front of the an while saying
an. Say the word can as the cards come together.
Take the B card and say b-b-b-b, then place it in front of the at while saying
at. Say the word bat as the cards come together.
Guided Practice/Interactive Modeling: 20 minutes
 Spread the alphabet cards out along the bottom of the board.
Have two students come up at a time to choose a card. Ask one student to make a
word with the an card and the other to make one with the at card.
The students will take turns modeling what I did. They will say their letter sound,
and then combine it with their word family. Then say the whole word.
Each student will come up to make a word, repeats will happen.
Independent Work Time 10 minutes/could be used as Assessment

Push it Say it- students will cut their own alphabet cards and an and at word
family cards. They will create their own CVC pattern short a words and write
down the words they make in their journals.
Closure 10- 15 minutes

Partner comparison- the students compare their list of words with neighbors.
Instruct the students to sound out their words together.
The students will discuss whether or not all of their words are correct or not by
listening to them when spoken out loud.
Extension
Add consonant digraphs as they are introduced. Give the students cards with
digraphs such as sh and ch on one card.
Add consonant blends as introduced. The blends should be made combining two
separate cards such as b and l to make bl.