As we began to reach the end of this school year, I started thinking of a phonics activity I could use to review many of the vowel patterns my 2nd grader has studied this year and last. That’s when Find the Oddball popped into my head.
*This post contains affiliate links.
The idea for Find the Oddball is adapted a bit from the word sorts you can find in Words Their Way (the words I chose actually came from the amazing word lists at the back of the book). In many of their word sorts, “oddball” words are included. For example, in their ai word sort from Word Sorts for Within Word Pattern Spellers, said is included as an oddball word because it fits the visual pattern of ai, but does not have the long a sound. This is just one to way to integrate phonics and sight words.
This phonics activity is so simple, yet great for getting kids to problem solving and use critical thinking with phonics. It can be used as one-on-one activity/assessment with a child, when working with a small group, or as independent work. You can use them all or just the ones that match your child’s level of development.
The phonics patterns featured in the FREE 23-page pack {download link at the end of post} are
- short vowels (a, e, i, o, and u),
- bossy r (ar and or),
- the most common long vowel patterns (such as a_e, ai, ay, oa, ee, ea, i_e etc.),
- and a few other vowels (such as ou, al, and au).
Play Find the Oddball
The first day, I copied off all the short vowel pages (5 total). I cut up the word cards, which are color-coded and numbered so they stay in their separate piles.
He placed the cards from each phonics pattern down on our table, read through each word, and then identified the word that was the oddball. For example, in our short e deck, they is the oddball because the e does not make the short e sound (like you find in press or smell.)
He then used the recording sheet (pg. 3 of download) to write down the oddballs from each short vowel pattern deck and the reason WHY that particular word was the oddball–this is an important step…don’t miss it! In order to get kids thinking deeper about how words work, we must ask them HOW they got their answer!
We worked through the entire pack (20 word decks altogether) over the course of the week and I was pleased with how well he read the words, found the oddballs, and was able to support his answer through his explanations! Phonics patterns reviewed? Check!
More Phonics Activity Resources:
- Phonics BINGO Pack {a 62-page bundle pack for $2.99}
- Helping Spellers Make Phonics Generalizations
- Phonics or Sight Words? Teaching Kids to Read {and Spell}
- FREE BOB Book Printables– phonics and sight word activities for sets 1-5
- FREE Elementary Printables– find TONS of activities and resources for phonics
Follow This Reading Mama’s board Word Study/Phonics on Pinterest.
Download Find the Oddball for free HERE!
~Becky
i am a reading teacher and am finding your posts to be incredibly helpful and useful. Thank you so much for sharing them.
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that. You are very welcome!
I just bought the Words Their Way book from your recommendation. Now I have a game we can play, too. Thank you.
You are very welcome! 🙂