Word Families

The use of Word Families can build confidence in the young reader. Word families are made up of word endings that only the initial sound changes to form new words within the same “family”. The rhyming part is called the rime and the beginning sound is called the onset. In each Word Family card set, you will find a set of cards that have the same rime, but a different onset or beginning letter or letters.

Supplies Needed:
Printer
Tag Board or Card Stock
Book Rings

Creating Your Word Families:Currently we have a collection of 100 different Word Families available for download. There are more than enough sets to use one word family a week for the entire school year. Download each PDF file and print. If possible, use a color printer and print on tag board or cardstock to create each set. Each Word Family has two pages of cards. Cut apart each card and use a hole punch to create a hole in the upper left hand corner. The first card for each Word Family has a * in the right hand corner. Bind cards together with a book ring so they can be taken apart easily.

Using Your Word Families: Under five minutes a day!

Day 1 Introduce the first word by writing it on the board. Decode together. Once they are familiar, talk about Word Families and how they are created. Show them your new book and explain how it works. Together read the first word of the family and then using the letter below the first word, predict what the new word will be. Turn the page and read the new word together. Continue through the rest of the book.

Day 2 Take the book apart and lay all of the words face up on a table. Hold the first card and ask for a volunteer to find the word that comes next. Have them read the word before adding it to the ring. Continue until the book is back together.

Day 3 Put the cards up individually on your word wall. Ask students to see how fast they can retrieve the word family and put the book back together in the correct order using cooperation.

Day 4 Can you add to the book? Are there any words left out of the family that belong? Can you make up nonsense words for this family?

Day 5 Without looking at the word family book, write as many words for the word family individually on a piece of paper. Have a contest!



NOTE: These files are in Adobe PDF format and require an Adobe Reader. All are available FREE as downloads in the download area for members only. Have a membership? Go to the download area and click the links to obtain the listed items below.