elkonin boxes for blends

2 min read 06-09-2024

Elkonin boxes are a powerful tool in literacy education, particularly for helping young learners develop phonemic awareness and understand the concept of blending sounds. In this article, we will explore what Elkonin boxes are, how they work, and their specific application for teaching blends.

What are Elkonin Boxes?

Elkonin boxes, also known as sound boxes, are a visual and hands-on method used to teach students about phonemes—the smallest units of sound in a language. The technique involves drawing a series of boxes on a piece of paper or a whiteboard, each representing a sound in a word.

How to Use Elkonin Boxes

Draw the Boxes: Create a number of boxes equal to the number of sounds in the word you are focusing on. For example, the word "blend" would have 4 boxes: one for /b/, one for /l/, one for /e/, and one for /nd/.
Say the Word: Pronounce the target word clearly, breaking it down into individual sounds.
Fill in the Boxes: As each sound is articulated, students place a marker (like a token or a letter) into each corresponding box.
Blend the Sounds: Once all sounds are represented in their boxes, students can then blend them together to pronounce the word fully.

Using Elkonin Boxes for Blends

Blends are groups of two or three consonants that appear together in words, where each consonant retains its sound. Examples of blends include “st” in "stop," “br” in "brake," and “fl” in "flip." Teaching blends using Elkonin boxes can help students visualize and physically manipulate sounds to enhance their understanding.

Steps to Teach Blends with Elkonin Boxes

Introduce the Blend: Start by introducing the blend and providing examples of words that contain that blend.
Draw the Boxes: For a blend like "str" in "street," create 4 boxes: one for /s/, one for /t/, one for /r/, and one for /ee/.
Sound it Out: Have students pronounce the blend sound together, then each sound individually.
Place Sounds in Boxes: Guide students to place the sounds in their respective boxes as they say them.
Practice with Different Words: Use various words with the same blend to reinforce learning and familiarity.

Benefits of Using Elkonin Boxes for Blends

Visual Learning: The boxes provide a visual representation of sounds, helping students to better understand sound segmentation and blending.
Hands-On Experience: Manipulating physical tokens can increase engagement and focus during phonics lessons.
Building Phonemic Awareness: Regular use of Elkonin boxes can improve students’ ability to hear and distinguish between different sounds, leading to better reading skills.
Encouragement of Independence: Students learn to decode words on their own, fostering confidence and self-sufficiency in reading.

Conclusion

Elkonin boxes are an effective method for teaching blends and developing overall phonemic awareness in students. By incorporating this strategy into literacy instruction, educators can help students build a strong foundation for reading success. Through practice and repetition, students will not only learn to recognize blends but also gain confidence in their reading abilities.