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This Reading Mama

Go on a Word Search after Reading {and Giveaway!}

By thisreadingmama 80 Comments

Going on a word search (also known as a word hunt) is one of my absolute favorite activities to do with a book after reading it. Word hunts not only give beginning readers a reason to re-read text, but also help them to see how phonics patterns, such as word families, are applied to reading and spelling.

Go on a Word Search After Reading - This Reading Mama

*This post contains affiliate links.

A word search works particularly well with phonics-based books, like the BOB Books. We used our BOB Books Rhyming Words set, the newest set in the BOB Books collection, for this activity this time (read more about this set here).

 

Let’s Go on a Word Search

Before going on your word search, it is important to read the book with the child first. This ensures that the child knows how to read the words and comprehend the text, when appropriate.

Once you have read it, either on the same day or a subsequent day, tell your child, “We get to go on a word hunt!” If you are using the BOB Books Rhyming Words set, I have created free printable word search templates that correlate with them. You can download them all HERE.

re-reading text for a word search

Ahead of time, print off (or create your own) one of the word family word search charts. Tell your child that you’re going to re-read the book and search for words that fit that particular word family. (We used the -ed page.) I also printed off our re-reading eyes and attached it to a popsicle stick, from our Simple Writing Lessons Series, to make re-reading a little more fun.

 

spelling words from the word search

Once the child finds a word that fits the word family pattern, ask him to write it in the chart. This is a great way for readers and spellers to see that words that rhyme are often times spelled similarly. Be picky about spelling. There is no excuse to misspell the word! 🙂

After all the words are written from the text, see if you and your child can think of more word family words that would fit the pattern and write them in the chart. Try to stick with words that are spelled using the same word pattern, as sometimes rhyming words are not spelled exactly the same (red and head). Talk about this with your child and point out the differences.

 

BOBBooks-RhymingWords

Find more FREE BOB Books Rhyming Words printables HERE.

 

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Filed Under: Learn to Read, Teaching Spelling

« Bendy Stick Spelling Practice
Beginning Sounds Listening Game {with Digraphs} »

Comments

  1. Shirley says

    October 5, 2014 at 11:17 am

    hat

    Reply
  2. Anna says

    October 5, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    I just bought the BOB books at Costco, this box would go nicely with the collection sets!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      October 10, 2014 at 8:12 pm

      I didn’t know Costco has BOB books. How much do they run?

      Reply
  3. Mayla M says

    October 5, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    Hat 🙂

    Reply
  4. Mary Happymommy says

    October 5, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    CAT

    Reply
  5. Shelley says

    October 5, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    chat! Love them for my daughters and my classroom too!

    Reply
  6. msdeth says

    October 5, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    Just saw the BOB books in our school book order! Was hedging on whether we could budget for them right now but this would be a great thing for us to win!

    Reply
  7. Jessica says

    October 5, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    RAT!

    Reply
  8. zekesmom10 says

    October 5, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Secretariat! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Ana Anaya says

    October 5, 2014 at 6:36 pm

    Thank you for taking your precious time to create such great FREE printables!

    Reply
  10. Jean says

    October 5, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    I enjoy your new and fresh ideas.

    Reply
  11. liz says

    October 5, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    Fantastic website, love it

    Reply
  12. Jenni says

    October 5, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    This looks fun!

    Reply
  13. Dawn Brosnan says

    October 5, 2014 at 11:07 pm

    Sat!

    Reply
  14. Terri says

    October 6, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    That fat cat sat. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Dianna says

    October 6, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    Love these printables. Printing as I leave a comment. Thanks

    Reply
  16. Leslie says

    October 7, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Drat!

    Reply
  17. Judith Martinez says

    October 7, 2014 at 7:01 pm

    bat I love the Bob Books!

    Reply
  18. Faith B says

    October 9, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Fat

    Reply
  19. Jenny McGoldrick says

    October 10, 2014 at 12:12 am

    Mat

    Reply
  20. Jennifer says

    October 10, 2014 at 2:17 pm

    Cat!

    Reply
  21. Lindsay says

    October 10, 2014 at 2:56 pm

    Sat

    Reply
  22. Tara says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    I’m searching for BOB abc books.. thought that would be a nice start for my kiddies to begin reading!
    BAT!

    Reply
  23. Emily says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    Rat!

    Reply
  24. kridina says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    Pat!

    Oh, and hello 🙂

    Reply
  25. Jen says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    Splat!

    Reply
  26. Rhoda says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    The cat and the rat sat on the dark brown mat waiting to hear if they won the BOB Book before falling over asleep–splat!

    Reply
  27. busweet says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:31 pm

    I love the BOB Books! I use them in my special ed classroom with one or two of my very low readers to build up their confidence.

    Reply
  28. Kat says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:38 pm

    Flat

    Reply
  29. Tammy Crooks Drost says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    Matt

    Reply
  30. Jennifer Olszowy says

    October 10, 2014 at 8:59 pm

    flat, hat, sat, Matt, that, fat. When I taught school my kids loved rhyme time. Of course, now my own child does too!

    Reply
  31. Becky Martin says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:02 pm

    chat

    Reply
  32. sara says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    mat

    Reply
  33. Beverly Ebersole says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    Sat

    Reply
  34. Mary Lee Olson says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    The flat rat was afraid of the cat.

    Reply
  35. OMazing Kids says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    Cat

    Reply
  36. Tracie says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    Vat

    Reply
  37. Cori white says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    Gnat!

    Reply
  38. Ashley Swistak says

    October 10, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    splat!

    Reply
  39. Jen C. says

    October 10, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    scat

    Reply
  40. Karen W says

    October 10, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    flat

    Reply
  41. Kate says

    October 10, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    Love bob books!!

    Reply
  42. Christine B says

    October 10, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    These look awesome!

    Reply
    • Christine B says

      October 10, 2014 at 10:26 pm

      and a rhyming word: scat

      Reply
  43. Jesi says

    October 10, 2014 at 11:38 pm

    Hello! Would love to win these for my Kindergartener! Thank You!

    Reply
  44. Stephanie C says

    October 10, 2014 at 11:45 pm

    We love BOB books in our house.

    Reply
  45. Sarah says

    October 10, 2014 at 11:52 pm

    rat

    Reply
  46. Penny K says

    October 10, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    mat / hello 🙂

    Reply
  47. Jill says

    October 11, 2014 at 12:46 am

    Cat. I would love to have this set, thanks!

    Reply
  48. Caroline Frahm says

    October 11, 2014 at 1:14 am

    drat

    Reply
  49. Melissa says

    October 11, 2014 at 1:51 am

    Hello!!–Cat in the Hat-my favorite!!

    Reply
  50. Tanya Rubezhov says

    October 11, 2014 at 1:56 am

    Sweat. 🙂
    Thank you for the giveaway.

    Reply
  51. Danelle says

    October 11, 2014 at 2:39 am

    This is great, thanks for the opportunity. I have a few new readers that could totally benefit!

    Reply
  52. AnaMaree Ordway says

    October 11, 2014 at 3:27 am

    CAT! And hello 😉 We are halfway through Set 1, loving these books!

    Reply
  53. Jen says

    October 11, 2014 at 4:38 am

    Cat. 🙂

    Reply
  54. Amatullah says

    October 11, 2014 at 4:57 am

    An awesome give away, I am sure everyone wants to be a winner.

    Reply
  55. rejoicedover says

    October 11, 2014 at 5:35 am

    Scrat

    Reply
  56. Paige says

    October 11, 2014 at 8:09 am

    Fat rat, Tat, sat.

    Reply
  57. Vicky Katz says

    October 11, 2014 at 8:26 am

    The Katz family would love this.
    : )
    thanks for the awesome job u do!

    Reply
  58. jennifer mathesz says

    October 11, 2014 at 9:18 am

    there was a bat that fell on a cat who ran over the rat who lived in the hat!

    Reply
  59. Laura Gossman says

    October 11, 2014 at 9:36 am

    Sat

    Reply
  60. Anita Collier says

    October 11, 2014 at 10:23 am

    drat

    Reply
  61. Marie says

    October 11, 2014 at 10:35 am

    Hello!
    Drat!

    Reply
  62. Kim says

    October 11, 2014 at 10:36 am

    Starting out homeschooling! What a blessing!

    Reply
  63. Roxanna Alcantra says

    October 11, 2014 at 10:45 am

    Cat! 🙂

    Reply
  64. Jamie Olson says

    October 11, 2014 at 11:16 am

    This is fantastic!

    Reply
  65. Elizabeth says

    October 11, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Bat! Hi there!

    Reply
  66. Kristina Best says

    October 11, 2014 at 11:53 am

    Mat! and Hello

    Reply
  67. Kristi says

    October 11, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Drat

    Love your freebies & give aways. So appreciate you!!!

    Reply
  68. Phoebe says

    October 11, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    That. 🙂 Thanks!

    Reply
  69. gitta acton says

    October 11, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    I can’t wait to use the BOB books with my students!!!

    Reply
  70. Tammy Jones says

    October 11, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    Mat! I love your printables, thank you!

    Reply
  71. nicchk1@comcast.net says

    October 11, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Bat!…we love bats:)

    Reply
  72. Bonnie Sue says

    October 11, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    sat

    Reply
  73. Michelle Ellen ayala says

    October 11, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Loooove this idea! We so this without the extra fun stuff can’t wait to try

    Reply
  74. Carrie says

    October 11, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Cat

    Reply
  75. Yael says

    October 11, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    THAT!!! Hi, I’m looking forward to do all THAT with my daughter!!

    Reply
  76. dowbright2 says

    May 18, 2016 at 2:34 am

    Extremely helpful to use in conjunction with the Bob Books, especially for kids with reading problems and issues! I’ll use them during tutoring sessions with my online students. Thank you! 😀

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      May 18, 2016 at 11:14 am

      Yes, they are! I’m so glad you can use it! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. FREE Reading Word Search Activity | Free Homeschool Deals © says:
    February 2, 2015 at 11:55 pm

    […] is a FREE Go on a Word Search After Reading from This Reading Mama. Word hunts not only give beginning readers a reason to re-read text, but […]

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Becky, a homeschooling mama with 4 blessings who keep me on my toes {and knees}. Before homeschooling, I was a classroom teacher (M.Ed.) and reading tutor. Read more about me here.

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