Personal Notebook or Cards

One strategy that may be useful for your learner is to have her make her own personal phonics notebook or set of cards. In it, each page (or each card) would be dedicated to a different letter or sound.

Basic steps in producing and using the personal notebook.

1. Choose a sound to work on.
   
   
2. Make a list of words that begin with this sound with the learner.
   
   
3. Write these words on scrap paper.
   
   
4. Have the learner select words she doesn’t know from the scrap paper and wants to learn.
   
   
5. Have the learner write these words on her page or card.
   
   
6. Make sketches next to the new words wherever possible (stick figures will do!)
   
   
7. Ask the learner to select a card and say: the sound (/m/), the name of the letter (M) and one of the words on the card. (This should be the word that the learner pronounces best.)
   
   
8. Continue reviewing all the cards made. (Have the learner practice with more words from the card each time the exercise is done.)
   
   
9. Review these cards again the next time you see your learner.