Power Word Flash1. Give directions: If you can say it before I count to 2, it’s

yours. If not, it’s mine.2. Flash small group of words to group.3. Go quickly, count quickly—keep your standards high.

They may not get any the first time.4. Try again, do it over and over until they begin to win

some of the words.5. Bemoan your losses; take great delight in their wins.6. See if boys can beat girls, girls can beat boys…try other

groups.7. Keep them pumped up. Adrenaline is key!!!

Partner Words1. Introduce a new Power Word.2. Use it with words that matter to the students.

For example, “see”a. Create a list of students’ favorite thingsb. Ask students: Imagine you are going into a magic

room that has everyone you love inside it. What do you see?

c. Post student responses on the wall and read themd. Cut the sentences up and see if students can put

them in the right order.3. Each student uses word connections that matter to him/her.

On the “love card”, add a picture of someone you love…

Bean Bingo

1. Each student has a bag with large white lima beans inside. The set contains 26 upper case letters and 26 lower case letters, with several blank for extras in case they need an additional letter. (Option: Consonants are written in black, vowels in red)

2. Students take the Power Word cards they are working on and spell them out with beans, putting one bean over each letter of their card.

3. Use beans for as many other activities as you come up with.

Sand Tracing1. Using their Power Word cards, students pick out

the sand letters and put them in word order.2. Students trace the sand letters while saying the

SOUND of the word, not the letter names. 3. This can be done at a sand table, on pre-cut

sandpaper letters, or on sandpaper.

Screen Tracing1. Students place a piece of paper over the

screen. 2. Using a large, thick crayon, students write

the Power Word on the paper.3. Students trace over the Power Word on the

paper, saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

Screen Tracing1. Students place a Power Word Card under the

screen. 2. Using a pointer finger, students trace the

Power Word that they see through the screen.

3. Students trace over the Power Word, saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

Cornmeal Tracing

Students use their fingers to write Power Words in pans of cornmeal, saying the SOUND

of the word, not the letter names. Use only enough cornmeal to cover the bottom of the

tray. Students should see the letters as they trace.

Rice TracingStudents use their fingers to write Power

Words in pans of rice, saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names. Use only

enough rice to cover the bottom of the tray. Students should see the letters as they trace.

Magnetic Tracing

Students use magnetic boards to write Power Words and then trace them, saying

the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

Tracing: other typesAir tracing: students trace the word in the air—as big as they can, saying the SOUND of the word as they write, not the letter names.Back tracing: students trace the words on each others’ back, saying the SOUND of the word as they write, not the letter names.Hand tracing: students trace the words on their own hands, or on another’s hand, saying the SOUND of the word as they write, not the letter names.Shaving cream tracing: students trace the words in pans of shaving cream, saying the SOUND of the word as they write, not the letter names.

Wet PaintingStudents use a wet paint brush to paint words on the chalkboard, saying the SOUND of the

word as they paint, not the letter names.

Tactile Letter Tracing

1. Using their Power Word cards, students pick out the tactile letters and put them in word order.

2. Students trace the tactile letters while saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

3. This can be done with uppercase or lowercase letters.

Foam Letter Tracing

1. Using their Power Word cards, students pick out the foam letters and put them in word order.

2. Students trace the foam letters while saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

Bingo Marker Words

Students use Bingo Markers to write Power Words on blank sheets of paper. Students use

Bingo Markers to dot words, saying the

SOUND of the word as they dot, not the letter names.

Dry Erase Board Tracing

Students use magnetic boards to write Power Words and then trace them, saying

the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

Magnetic Letters

1. Using their Power Word cards, students pick out the magnetic letters and put them in word order on cookie sheets.

2. Students trace the magnetic letters while saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

3. This can be done with uppercase or lowercase letters.

Bead Words1. Each student has a bag with white letter beads

inside. The set contains upper case letters or lower case letters

2. Students take the Power Word cards they are working on and spell them out with beads, putting one bead over each letter of their card.

3. Use beads for as many other activities as you come up with.

Wooden Letter Blocks

1. Using their Power Word cards, students pick out the wooden letters and put them in word order.

2. Students trace the wooden letters while saying the SOUND of the word, not the letter names.

3. This can be done with uppercase or lowercase letters.