short a word families

Our kids are recognizing beginning sounds and have moved on to word families and CVC words. What now? Sight words? For the longest time, I was looking for a phonics resource to introduce sight words along with word family words but I could not find anything. So, I created these cute phonics readers for word families. We shall be covering the short a -ack, at, ap, am, an, ad and ag words.

Aren’t these books cute?

In the above video, I have focused on ack words and the sight word is ‘that.’ I have not used sentences but a common sight word for all the -ack words.

These little books are easy to make. No gluing or stapling is required. This phonics reader made out of a single sheet!

The PDF files are in letter paper format. Take a printout and cut out the extra margins so you get a sheet like the one above.

Now, fold the sheet lengthwise with the print outside. It is also called the ‘hotdog fold.’ Fold in half again. We have to create creases along the lines so that the page folds into a booklet.

Now fold in half in the middle. This is called a hamburger fold. Cut along the dotted line as I have done in the picture above. Cut from the folded edge along the dotted line.

Unfold the sheet. It will have an open slit in the middle. Fold it in half again (hotdog fold.) Push folded edges towards the center allowing the slit to open up into a diamond shape. Fold one edge towards the slit and the opposite slit towards the folded edge.

Now you have a six-page booklet or phonics reader for ack words.

It may seem slightly complicated at first but once you get through making one, the other phonics readers will be a cakewalk. They are perfect for little hands.

These phonics readers also work really well as a special education resource. The best thing about these phonics readers is that they can be made out of a single sheet of paper.

The last page will be a little writing practice for sight word ‘that’ and ‘ack’ words. These little books are really popular in my class. Kids love to flip.

The otherword families covered are an, ad, am, at, ap, and ag.

Do leave your comments about these little books. I will create more depending on your feedback.

You may also enjoy these posts:

Word families – picture sort Phonics word families cards short e word family – eg ed et en short a word family – ad am an ap at ag