HOW TO TEACH RHYMING - FREE ACTIVITIES
PRESCHOOL - PREK - KINDERGARTEN - PHONEMIC AWARENESS
Rhyming is one of the very first literacy skills I teach my students.
For some, it comes easily and they master rhyming within a couple days. For other students, it takes them much longer and I have to use a variety of resources for them to get it.
I am sharing some FREEBIES from my rhyming bundle, as well as other resources and ideas that I use. I hope you love them as much as we do!
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The scientific research behind reading instruction is very clear. The five components of reading are shown above.
Rhyming is included in the very first step called phonemic awareness.
It is important not to confuse phonemic awareness with phonics.
These are entirely different steps and skill sets, however I have found that many instructional programs barely touch on phonemic awareness and skip straight to teaching phonics.
Skipping comprehensive, systematic phonemic awareness instruction is a huge disservice to so many young students.
Rhyming is just one component of phonemic awareness instruction.
The skills shown below start with the easiest skill of alliteration and first sound isolation, and then proceeds down through blending/segmenting, comparing/contrasting and substituting phonemes.
All 7 components of phonemic awareness shown above are included in these units.
Please note: some units shown below teach multiple steps.
If you would like to learn more about my comprehensive phonemic awareness program, please CLICK HERE
This blog post is dedicated to teaching children how to identify, match and produce rhyming words.
Let’s get started!
I am sharing my best tricks, tips, songs, games, and activities and more!
It is not easy for some students to hear sock/block and think, “Oh, they sound the same… so they rhyme!”
Rhyming can be especially tricky for my ELL students.
I love to start with songs and real pictures, or even objects students can hold.
Have you heard of Raffi?
Willoughby Wallaby Woo is always a kinder crowd favorite.
Of course they love it because after we sing the song a few times and they get the tune, we then make our own version with their names!
I have to get a little creative with some of my kids’ names to find some that rhymes with them, but the kids absolutely LOVE this activity and beg me to play it every day.
I think they love the rhyming part, but they especially enjoy hearing their own name being part of the song.
IDEA:
Write everyone’s name on the board, and then play THIS version of the song so you can insert everyone’s name.
My kids are SO excited to see who’s name will be next!
Another favorite rhyming activity we do is Dr. Jean’s Scat the Cat.
It is perfect for the beginning of the school year because it incorporates rhyming, colors, sequencing and retelling.
My kids love the repeating part that goes, “I’m Scat the Cat and I’m sassy and fat! I can change colors just like that!”
Plus, I love the YouTube video where Dr. Jean reads the story because it gives my poor voice a break.
She has a link under the video where you can download printables to go with the story.
The Gruffalo
One of my absolute favorite books to teach rhyming is The Gruffalo.
We usually end up reading it a couple times because the kids like it so much.
I share FREE Gruffalo activities in my first week of kindergarten email series.
Simply enter your email address below, and detailed lesson plans and activities will begin arriving immediately!
Please note: the Gruffalo printables will land in your inbox on day 3 as they are included with the third day of lesson plans.
After we sing a few songs, read The Gruffalo and practice a few nursery rhymes, we dive into identifying rhymes.
This is where the magic happens!
I think it is important to use both real pictures as well as graphics/clipart pictures. These cards are perfect for pocket charts, whole group games, small group instruction, literacy centers and even 1:1 assessments.
I created 30 cards with real images and 60 cards with the graphics so students get a lot of practice with these!
These cards really build their vocabulary and builds a great foundation for our rhyming unit.
Rhyming Game
I display these slides on the front white board (from my computer) so we can play a whole group game.
I show the first slide and we discuss and vote which one doesn’t rhyme.
I flip to the next slide and it is like a gameshow… it will tell them the answer!
The kids think this is so fun and it is easy to keep them engaged.
The slides also have both real pictures and graphics to mix it up.
Students now have a foundation and basic understanding of identifying rhyming words, so they are ready to move on to hands on activities to practice.
I like to start with the I Can Rhyme Books shown here.
Each student gets a mini book, and they cut and paste the two rhyming pictures/words on each page.
They can then color the pictures and “read” their books to a partner.
Next, we move on to the included worksheets.
They are all very simple and straightforward so pre-k and kinders can be successful at the beginning of the school year. These all practice phonemic awareness skills so no words are used - only pictures.
Multiple pages of these activities are included, so students get a lot of practice and exposure to rhyming words.
Students appreciate the repetitive exposure to the same format, and you will like that you do not have to explain directions each time! CLICK HERE to print a FREE worksheet to try!
RHYMING CENTERS AND HANDS ON ACTIVITIES
Kiddos love the cut and paste matching, rhyming rainbows, rhyming puzzles, rhyming flip books and rhyming quilts!
Repeated exposure and lots of practice will lead to mastery in no time.
I recently updated this unit, and you’ll now receive FREE Google Slides activities and Boom Cards to enhance your rhyming lessons.
Both of these digital activities have embedded audio on the slides so students can be 100% independent!
Ready to get started with rhyming?
This kit even comes with pre and post assessments to help you track student data.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I love your units!!!!”
“There are so many resources to use with my Kinders! I can't wait to begin the next school year with these!”
“Love the layout of your packs. Can't wait to dig into this next year!”
“This resource is awesome.”
This rhyming unit is included in our PHONEMIC AWARENESS BUNDLE
“Wonderful bundle to help build my students phonemic awareness skills! I cant recommend this resource enough. It is my favorite purchase on TPT.”
Four research based units are included in the bundle to teach all the steps of phonemic awareness.
After rhyming, I focus on teaching Onset and Rime.
Watch the quick video below.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS COMPREHENSIVE RHYMING UNIT?
★ Pre and Post Assessments
Only pictures are included so these are perfect for primary students.
★ I Can Rhyme Books
Students cut, paste and color the two rhyming pictures on each page to make their own book.
★ Rhyming Worksheets
(4) Cross off the picture that does not rhyme
(6) I Can Match and Rhyme
(3) I Can Color and Rhyme
★ Rhyming Cut and Paste
10 sets included, plus a DIY page for students to create their own rhymes and trade with a partner to complete.
★ Rainbow Rhymes
An adorable, hands-on center. Simply print, laminate (optional) and students match the rainbows that rhyme.
★ Rhyming Puzzles
Students match these self-correcting rhyming puzzles.
★ Rhyming Picture Cards
30 real life pictures and 60 graphic pictures are included! Perfect for whole group lessons, for charts, small groups, literacy centers or these also work well for 1:1 assessments.
★ Rhyming Quilts
These adorable "quilts" come in both color and BW. I laminate the color ones for a center, and students simply make their quilt by matching the rhyming pictures. You can use the BW version for a cut/paste activity.
★ Which One Doesn't Rhyme?
I project this on to my front board and we use it as a game with students. The first PDF slide asks, "Which one doesn't rhyme?" Students must look at all three pictures and we vote which one it is. Then the next slide gives the answer. This game comes with both real life pictures and graphics. You could also use these slides as an assessment tool.
★ Rhyming Flip Books
These come in both color and black and white. Students have fun making flip books with rhyming words.
So many activities for your rhyming unit! This all in one kit is all you need for your students to have fun and be successful with rhyming words.