Phonics They Use

Phonics They Use
Patricia Cunningham

I am always looking for great books to teach reading. I believe in using lots of different techniques including phonics. This is a book I highly recommend. It has plenty of games and new activities and strategies for teaching reading and is a great resource for beginning as well as veteran teachers. The book provides step by step, easy to follow explanations of practical phonetic activities that can be used in the classroom. This is an excellent resource book that will always remain on my shelf.




Ideas that you might consider:
1. Room Reading: Print words that the children should know around the room. Give them charming glasses and interesting pointers to read and point. They love the reading aids.
2. Big Books: I like to make my big books using photos of the children. For example, the song Dem Bones take photos of your students. You might use a photo of Christopher's toes, Alexandria's leg and so on. I like to have them also make a picture of a bone and have their face photos on the page as well. They love this type of an activity!
Dem Bones
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the toe bone connected
to the foot bone,
and the foot bone connected
to the ankle bone,
and the ankle bone connected
to the leg bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the leg bone connected
to the knee bone,
and the knee bone connected
to the thigh bone,
and the thigh bone connected
to the hip bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!

Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the hip bone connected
to the back bone,
and the back bone connected
to the neck bone,
and the neck bone connected
to the head bone,
Oh mercy how they scare!

Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the finger bone connected
to the hand bone,
and the hand bone connected
to the arm bone,
and the arm bone connected
to the shoulder bone,
Oh mercy how they scare!

Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh those bones, oh those bones,
oh those skeleton bones.
Oh mercy how they scare!

With the shoulder bone connected
to the back bone,
and the back bone connected
to the neck bone,
and the neck bone connected
to the head bone.
Oh mercy how they scare!
Original Version:
E-ze-kiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
E-ze-kiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
E-ze-kiel cried, "Dem dry bones!"
Oh hear the word of the Lord.

The foot bone con-nected to the (pause) leg-bone,
The leg bone connected to the (') knee bone,
The knee bone connected to the (') thigh bone,
The thigh bone connected to the (') back bone,
The back bone connected to the (') neck bone
The neck bone connected to the (') head bone
Oh hear the word of the Lord!

Dem bones, dem bones gon-na walk a-roun'
Dem bones, dem bones gon-na walk a-roun'
Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk aroun'
Oh hear the word of the Lord

The head-bone connected to the neck-bone,
the neck-bone connected to the back-bone
The backbone connected to the thigh-bone
the thighbone connected to the kee-bone
the kneebone connected to the leg bone
the leg bone connected to the foot bone
Oh hear the word of the Lord

Consider these books as a great resource:

3. Listening Center: Always have books on CD's so the children can follow along.
4. Wall Writing: Have a specific place in your classroom on a chalkboard, white board or on the refrigerator at home for writing words. If the children find an interesting word, have them print it on paper and place it on the wall.
5. Word Sorts Children can classify long or short vowels, initial consonants, prefixes, or nouns and verbs, from a collection of words or pictures. You can do lots of activities using word sorts.
6.Overhead Projector: Kids love to illustrate their writings using overhead pens. They can create their own graphic organizers pictures for books they are reading.
7. Magnetic letters: I love having a ton of magnetic letters in the classroom. I have cookie sheets for the work boards. The magnetic sheets you can purchase will go through your printer. Kids can match letters in words by placing the plastic dimensional letters over top of the ones you have printed on magnetic sheets.
The magnetic sheets are found here:
8. Stamp A Story: I have collected millions of rubber stamps. By using different fonts and stamps, children can create a variety of stories. They can be changed according to holidays or even events.
9. Living Books: There are plenty of websites that offer books for children to read. They offer a different type of technology for our upcoming geeks.
10. Kids Books: I always have a collection of books that children (in my class as well as upper grades) have created. I have them laminated and kid illustrated. The students love them.


Other books by Patricia Cunningham include: