Rhyme for Reading:

Phonological Awareness: Let's Start with Rhyming

Last week, I introduced the concept of phonological awareness and promised a month of skill-building activities. If you missed that discussion, check out the previous post for a deeper understanding.

First Up: Rhyme

Have you ever noticed that many preschool books are filled with rhymes? Dr. Seuss, for instance, was a master of this craft. From “two fish... blue fish...” to “wocket in my pocket,” his rhyming books captivate children and make reading fun.

However, some children need explicit instruction to recognize rhymes. They need help noticing that certain words sound the same at the end. Here's a simple way to teach this skill: point out the similarities and discuss them. Encourage students to raise their hands—or use a small flag—when they hear a rhyme.

For example:

“The eensy weensie spider climbed up the water spout  

Down came the rain and washed the spider out”

After they can identify rhymes, the next step is to help them produce rhymes by matching sounds.

Why Rhyming is Important

Rhyming is not just about fun and games; it’s a critical pre-reading skill. Rhyming helps children understand the structure of words and sounds, which is essential for phonological awareness. It also aids in memory and recall, as the repetitive nature of rhymes makes it easier for children to remember words and concepts. 

Tips for Teaching Rhyming

1. Read Aloud Regularly: Incorporate books that rhyme into your daily reading routine. Point out the rhyming words and engage children in discussions about them.

2. Use Songs and Chants: Songs, nursery rhymes, and chants are excellent tools for teaching rhyming. Sing together and emphasize the rhyming words.

3. Interactive Games: Play rhyming games where children have to find or match words that rhyme. This can be done with cards, objects, or even in an outdoor setting.

Activity: Cloze Procedure

One effective activity is the cloze procedure, where students fill in the blanks. You can start by providing picture word banks for them to choose the correct response. Here are a few examples:

- Sally has fun playing in the ___ (sun).

- On the flower, I see a buzzing bumble ___ (bee).

- I see the cat chasing a ___ (rat).

You can also try this with familiar songs. It might not always make perfect sense, but that's part of the fun!

- Old MacDonald had a farm, e-i-e-i-o  

On that farm, he had a ____ (charm), e-i-e-i-o

Rhyming Task Cards

To assess your students' understanding, use rhyming task cards. These cards can help you determine if students can identify and produce rhyming words.

Extending Rhyming Activities

1. Create Rhyming Books: Encourage students to create their own rhyming books. They can draw pictures and write simple rhymes to go along with them.

2. Rhyme Time Circle: Have a circle time where each child comes up with a word, and the group has to find as many rhyming words as possible.

3. Rhyming Word Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt where students have to find objects around the classroom or home that rhyme with a given word.

Conclusion

By incorporating these activities, you’ll help your students develop a strong foundation in phonological awareness, setting them up for reading success. Rhyming is the first step in this journey, and with your guidance, children will find joy and confidence in recognizing and creating rhymes.

Stay tuned for the next post where we will dive into another essential phonological skill. Let’s make learning fun and engaging, one rhyme at a time!

You can read more in an earlier post here.