Sound Play Stories
SuperHawk
List of 37 Rimes to Create > 500 Words (Stahl, 1992).
Sample sound play overlay:
Five Little Frogs follow-up: Target -og.
| I | like | tent | said the |
m | c |
| hate | tree house |
called the |
t | l | |
| my | home | cried the |
p | w | |
| your | nest | yelled the |
f | D | |
| cabin | whispered the |
pl | an | ||
| cave | sang the |
<clear> | <speak> |
Sample sound play overlay:
My Home follow-up: Target -an.
DESCRIPTION
Stahl provides strategies for "Exemplary Phonics Instruction" (1992). One suggestion is to include rimes (word endings) and onsets (word beginnings). This activity permits students to build words using common rimes and onsets to accompany stories. Combining this with the <speak> function permits the student to hear the word after s/he makes it. The student combines various beginning sounds with the same rime, and listens to the new combinations. The student can also decide if the combination is a "real" word, and if it fits into the story.
WHY AND WHEN
This is a great activity for students who do not get to engage in sound play, such as students who are nonspeaking. The activity is most useful if rimes relate to a key topic or story.
HOW TO SET UP
Choose a target story. The sound play is related to that story. For example, the rime "-op" might be used when reading Hop On Pop, by Dr. Seuss, while the rime "-an" would be ideal as an extension activity for the story My Home. The list of rimes included in the sidebar may be helpful in identifying a widely used rime.
The overlay is set up with several columns of story construction vocabulary, plus two columns of sound play vocabulary, as illustrated.
Dimension the SuperHawk as appropriate for your story (e.g., 6 x 6 story for "My Home Sound Play."
Record your story vocabulary. Remember to save space for two cells to include <speak> and <clear>.
Add the <speak> and <clear> commands as follows:
Press <PROG> and <MENU> on Tool Bar to enter Programming Mode [light turns red and LCD Display reads PROG].
Press <Program SPEAK> cell [#30]. LCD prompts WHERE? Press location where you want <speak> command.
Press <Program CLEAR> cell [#32]. LCD prompts WHERE? Press location where you want <clear> command.
Move button to PLAY mode and enjoy your story!
Since the lower right-hand cell is activated by Switch #4, a single switch user can press a switch to retell the sound play story!
Note: This trick can be used with any device that offers the <speak> and <play> functions, plus ability to record or call up phonemes. Samples include: Macaw, MegaWolf, and computer options, such as Ke:nx or OverlayMaker + expanded keyboards.
Stahl, S. (1992). Saying the 'p' word: Nine guidelines for exemplary phonics instruction. The Reading Teacher. 45(8), pp. 618-625.
