VOICES

Stories News

Sounds Matter

I walk around the room and hum. “We/are/ ga/ther/ing.” The children stop and listen. They march and follow the Pied Piper leading his young wards to the meeting area in a corner by the room.  I sing, “We are ga-ther-ing, we are ga-ther-ing, we are ga-ther-ing..…”  The children join the chant, from soft to slow then loud to fast we sing BINGO.   

I begin my mini-lesson.   “Last week, we learned the beginning sounds of our names.  Today, we play Beginning Sound Bingo!” My first graders clap and give each other  high-fives. Play!  I explain the game; they squirm on their seats.  “Questions?”  They run to their work tables and find the deck of cards Teacher Steph had arranged in neat rows of threes.  

I show my wonder pouch and pull out a plastic toy.  “C-c-c-car,” I say, exaggerating its first letter.  “Go and find the picture card with the same sound of c-c-car.”  Everyone grabbed a colored chip to hide the picture that matched the beginning sound.  

I take out another toy.  And another.  Again and again and again.  Livie had only one more picture to hide.  Gabby too. Then, someone yells, “BINGO!!!”  Everyone claps.  Laughter erupts.  A loud, long cheer follows.  The girls hug, the boys jump.  

Happens all the time in my class when we play games where everyone wins … and LEARNS.  

More Stories

December 2, 2023
What Middle Schoolers Say about Healthy Talks with Parents
November 28, 2023
Books as keys to live life to the fullest!
November 18, 2023
Is your primary school child struggling?
Write for us!