How I Create Engaging Phonics Lessons for My Nursery 2 Class: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction:
There’s something magical about watching young children begin to recognize the sounds that make up the words they speak and read. As a teacher, it’s incredibly fulfilling to see a child, like Ayo, who was once struggling with the /a/ sound, now confidently blending sounds together to form words. I’ve seen it happen over and over with my Nursery 2 students, and it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
Phonics is at the heart of early literacy development. It’s the key that unlocks the door to reading, and as we all know, once a child starts reading, a whole new world opens up to them. But how do I make phonics fun and engaging for my students? Let me walk you through how I structure my phonics lessons, using simple activities and lots of fun moments that keep my students involved.
1. Understanding Phonics in Early Education
Phonics isn’t just about teaching kids to recognize letters—it’s about helping them connect those letters to sounds so that they can begin to read and spell. For young learners like Fikayomi and Ire, understanding phonics is the foundation for everything else. Without it, they can’t begin to decode words or develop the reading fluency they need.
-
What is Phonics?
Phonics is the relationship between letters and sounds. When children understand that the letter “s” makes the /s/ sound, they can start to blend that sound with other sounds to form words, like “sun” or “sock.” It’s an essential part of early reading, and trust me, when the kids finally “get it,” it’s like a light bulb goes off! -
Why Phonics is Important for Nursery 2 Students
At the Nursery 2 level, the children are just beginning their reading journey. Phonics helps them:-
Recognize sounds and letters: For example, Olamiposi now knows that “b” makes the /b/ sound and can quickly identify “bat,” “ball,” and “book.”
-
Blend sounds: When Ife blends sounds like /c/ and /a/ and says “cat,” she feels proud, and so do I!
-
Build confidence: Every time a child, like Ife, says a word on their own, they feel more empowered and capable.
-
Develop vocabulary: With phonics, children can sound out new words and expand their vocabulary without relying on memorization.
-
Phonics is a critical skill for reading and writing, and getting it right from the start is essential. But how do I make sure my lessons are not only educational but also fun and engaging for my students?
2. Creating a Phonics Lesson Plan for Nursery 2
I believe that phonics lessons should always be interactive, hands-on, and student-centered. Here’s a breakdown of how I typically plan my lessons.
Step 1: Choose a Focus Sound or Letter
-
Focus Sound: I start by choosing a sound or letter to focus on for the lesson. For example, one day, we worked on the letter “s”, and I made sure to include a variety of words that start with that sound: snake, sock, sun.
-
Visuals: I always use pictures or objects that relate to the target sound. For the /s/ sound, I brought in a toy snake and showed them a picture of a sun. The kids loved it!
Step 2: Use Songs or Rhymes to Reinforce the Sound
I’ve found that children love songs, and they’re a wonderful way to reinforce phonics concepts. I often use the classic “The S Song”:
“S, S, S, what sound do you hear? S says /s/, snake, sock, and sun!”
I get the kids to repeat it with me, and before long, even Ayo and Fikayomi are singing along without even thinking about it. Songs help children retain sounds and make the learning process fun.
Step 3: Introduce Letter Formation and Writing
After we’ve worked on the sound, I introduce the letter. For the /s/ sound, I show the kids how to write the letter “s” using large sand trays. They love the tactile experience, and it’s so much fun when they trace the letter in the sand or with their fingers on the board. Ife always gets excited when it’s time to write because she loves the playdough activities I use for letter formation.
Step 4: Interactive Phonics Games
Now comes the fun part—putting everything we’ve learned into action through interactive games. For instance:
-
Sound Hunt: I hide objects around the classroom that start with the target sound. For the letter “s”, I might hide a sock, a snake, and a spoon. The kids love running around the room to find these items, and I’m always amazed at how they remember which item starts with the /s/ sound.
-
Flashcard Games: I use flashcards with pictures or words starting with the focus sound. I’ll hold them up, and they have to shout out the sound or the word. It’s loud, chaotic, and always filled with laughter—just the way I like it!
These games keep the children engaged, and I love seeing their faces light up when they get a word right.
3. Differentiating Phonics Lessons for Diverse Learners
Not all my students learn at the same pace, so I always make sure to differentiate my lessons to meet their needs. Some children, like Olamiposi, are really quick at picking up sounds, while others, like Ife, need a little more practice and encouragement.
For Advanced Learners:
-
I’ll introduce digraphs, like sh and ch, to kids who are ready for more challenges.
-
I ask them to blend sounds to form simple words, like “shop” or “chicken.”
For Struggling Learners:
-
I use hands-on activities like letter tracing in playdough or sand. Fikayomi loves this, as it lets him feel the shape of the letters while learning.
-
We also focus on rhyming words. This really helps with phonemic awareness. I ask Ayo to come up with words that rhyme with “cat,” and he starts saying “hat” and “bat.”
The key is to meet my students where they are and provide activities that will help them feel successful at their own level.
4. Assessment and Tracking Student Progress
I’m always keeping an eye on how my students are progressing with their phonics skills. I like to do both informal and formal assessments to see how well they’re mastering the content.
-
Informal Assessments: During games and activities, I observe how well they can identify the sounds. Ife always impresses me with how quickly she can blend sounds together. I also listen to their responses when they call out words.
-
Formal Assessments: Every so often, I give them a phonics quiz, where they must identify the sound and match it to a picture. I keep track of their progress using a phonics checklist. This helps me see which kids need extra practice.
5. Tips for Maintaining Engagement in Phonics Lessons
Keeping young children engaged is always a challenge, but I’ve learned a few tricks over the years. Here’s what works for me:
-
Short, Interactive Lessons: I keep the lessons brief—about 15 to 20 minutes. This helps prevent distractions and keeps their attention focused.
-
Movement: I incorporate movement into the lessons. For example, when teaching the /s/ sound, I get the kids to pretend to slither like a snake. It’s a fun way to get them moving and engaged.
-
Active Participation: I encourage everyone to participate. Even the shy ones, like Olamiposi, get involved when I pass around flashcards and ask them to say the words out loud.
6. Conclusion: Phonics Lessons That Stick
Phonics is so much more than just teaching letters and sounds. It’s about creating a positive experience that helps children connect with language and begin to see themselves as readers. I’ve seen it happen countless times in my class—children like Ayo, Fikayomi, and Ife who started out unsure of themselves are now blending sounds and reading simple words with confidence. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing them light up with pride when they successfully read a word on their own.
As a teacher, I believe that phonics should be fun, interactive, and adapted to the needs of every child. It’s about creating an environment where my students feel safe to make mistakes and learn at their own pace. And when they do, it’s like watching them unlock the door to a world of reading and imagination.
So, let’s keep making phonics fun for them—because when they enjoy it, they’ll remember it.
Fill-in-the-Gap Questions (with options a, b, c, d)
-
Phonics helps children understand the relationship between __________ and their corresponding sounds.
-
a) Letters
-
b) Numbers
-
c) Colors
-
d) Shapes
-
-
A good phonics lesson should be __________ to keep children engaged.
-
a) Boring
-
b) Fun
-
c) Complicated
-
d) Quiet
-
-
To teach the sound of the letter “b”, I can say, “The letter ‘b’ makes the __________ sound.”
-
a) Buh
-
b) Zzz
-
c) Shh
-
d) Eh
-
-
When I introduce new phonics sounds, I use __________ to help children remember the sounds better.
-
a) Flashcards
-
b) Blackboards
-
c) Chalk
-
d) Computers
-
-
Using __________ during phonics lessons helps kids interact and stay focused.
-
a) Songs
-
b) Books
-
c) Worksheets
-
d) Flashcards
-
-
It’s important to start phonics lessons with __________ so children can get into the right mindset.
-
a) A story
-
b) Quiet time
-
c) A review of sounds
-
d) Worksheets
-
-
Phonics helps children with __________ by teaching them to blend sounds.
-
a) Writing
-
b) Listening
-
c) Reading
-
d) Math
-
-
A good phonics teacher should encourage __________ to make sure each child is progressing.
-
a) Silence
-
b) Group work
-
c) Individual practice
-
d) Tests
-
-
To make phonics lessons interactive, I can ask the students to __________ words with the sounds we’re learning.
-
a) Ignore
-
b) Repeat
-
c) Write
-
d) Guess
-
-
I always make sure to __________ students’ progress to ensure they understand the sounds.
-
a) Ignore
-
b) Celebrate
-
c) Review
-
d) Evaluate
-
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
-
How can I keep my Nursery 2 students engaged in a phonics lesson?
-
Keeping lessons fun with songs, games, and interactive activities can make phonics lessons exciting for young learners.
-
-
What should I do if a student is struggling to understand a phonics sound?
-
Break down the sound further, offer more examples, and use visual aids or actions to help them connect the sound to real-world objects.
-
-
How often should I introduce new phonics sounds to my class?
-
Start slow and steady, introducing new sounds every week or two, based on your students’ ability to grasp the current sounds.
-
-
How can I help students remember phonics sounds better?
-
Use fun songs, flashcards, and visual aids, and reinforce sounds regularly with repetition and review.
-
-
Can I teach phonics through storytelling?
-
Absolutely! Incorporating phonics into stories is a great way to make learning feel natural and fun for young students.
-
-
What are some good activities to practice phonics in class?
-
Phonics Bingo, sound sorting, and rhyming games are excellent activities to reinforce phonics in a fun way.
-
-
How can I assess my students’ phonics progress?
-
Use both informal assessments (such as observing their responses during lessons) and formal assessments like quizzes or phonics-based reading tasks.
-
-
Should I introduce blending sounds right away?
-
Start with individual sounds and blend them gradually as your students become comfortable with the basic sounds.
-
-
What should I do if students lose interest in phonics lessons?
-
Change up your teaching strategies, introduce more interactive and sensory activities, or pair the phonics lesson with a fun game or story.
-
-
How can I make phonics lessons inclusive for all learners?
-
Adjust your teaching methods to cater to different learning styles, use visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities, and provide extra support for students who need it.
-
Evaluation Questions (for Teachers)
-
How would you assess whether a student has mastered a specific phonics sound after a lesson?
-
What strategies would you use to keep a Nursery 2 class actively engaged during phonics lessons?
-
How do you determine if a child is ready to progress to blending two or more phonics sounds?
-
What materials or resources would you include in your phonics lesson plan to make the class more interactive?
-
How do you ensure that all students, including those who are struggling, are included in the phonics activities?
-
After a phonics lesson, what kind of follow-up activities can you use to reinforce the sounds learned?
-
What is your approach when a child continuously confuses certain phonics sounds (e.g., “b” and “d”)?
-
How do you adapt your phonics lessons to cater to students with different learning speeds?
-
How would you use real-world examples (e.g., animals, food, etc.) to teach phonics sounds in a practical way?
-
In your opinion, what is the most effective way to evaluate students’ progress in phonics by the end of the term?