Have you ever thought about using FREE paint chips in your classroom?
I’ve been using this idea for quite some time now but would love to know if any of you have other ways to use these in your classrooms. Over the next few posts, I will share some ways I love to help my little kiddos learn using paint chips.
Paint chips come in all sizes, single or multiple color chips, with and without viewing squares, etc. I always get this first set of chips at Home Depot. Use a paper cutter to slice the edges off where the paint color and numbers are located. I like to draw a happy face in the upper left corner to teach the students where to begin when we first start learning to blend sounds together.
If you have ever used the McGraw-Hill Treasures Reading Program, then you will know that it incorporates several strategies from other programs. I have used all of the programs that Treasures has embedded strategies from. One such strategy for blending is from Reading Mastery. In the picture below you will see how drawing on paint chips can help your children learn to blend easily by having something tangible and hands on in front of them.
You can use these a few different ways. First, laminate them if you wish. Then use dry erase markers to write a word in each section. They will last longer if they get erased right away after being used. I prefer to replace them when they get shabby and instead use magnetic letters the students can hold. Another way I have used them is to write the words with a permanent marker and eventually place them in a center. If you’re not sure how the strategy works (click the Reading Mastery link above for a sample page with instructions) students begin on the left side touching the dot. As they sound out each phoneme, the student slides their finger slowly across the line with the arrow. After practicing this a few times, say “say it fast.” In which case the student again follows the same strategy however, they move their finger and mouth much more quickly and eventually achieve fluency. By the way, these FREE samples also come with four and five paint colors so you can even use them for your students who need more of a challenge. Happy blending.
More on using paint chips tomorrow!
Please leave comments if you have other great ideas for paint chips.
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