📚 Unit Plans → 📝 Literacy Fundamentals → 📖 Lesson 4: Blending & Segmenting
Years 7–8 Reo Pākehā / English

Literacy Lesson 4: Blending & Segmenting

Evidence-based systematic phonics instruction using

Literacy Fundamentals: Structured Literacy & Phonics Foundations

Evidence-based systematic phonics instruction using 'The Code' methodology for Year 7-8 students needing foundational literacy support

Lesson 4: Blending & Segmenting - Fluent Sound Manipulation

🎯 Learning Objectives

🎥 Media Anchor

Video: Structured Literacy and Phonics Foundations

  • Which sound-symbol pattern from this clip matches today's phonics focus?
  • How can repeated decoding practice build automaticity over time?
  • Students blend sounds smoothly without pausing between phonemes
  • Students segment words into individual sounds for accurate spelling
  • Students use blending and segmenting strategies automatically
  • Students read CVC words with increasing fluency and confidence
  • Students apply phonemic awareness skills to new words independently

📦 Materials Needed

Teacher Materials:

  • Sound stretching demonstration cards
  • Blending gestures reference sheet
  • Decodable text passages (Phase 2)
  • Phoneme segmentation boxes
  • Fluency tracking charts

Student Materials:

  • Finger-stretching mats
  • Segmentation counting chips
  • Individual whiteboards
  • Blending practice cards
  • Reading tracking sheets

1. Sound Stretching Warm-Up (5 mins)

Purpose: Develop phonemic awareness through physical sound manipulation exercises.

Activity: "Let's warm up by stretching sounds like we're stretching rubber bands!"

Sound Stretching Technique:

  • Step 1: Say word normally: "cat"
  • Step 2: Stretch with gesture: "c-a-a-a-t" (hands pull apart)
  • Step 3: Segment clearly: "/c/ /a/ /t/" (tap fingers)
  • Step 4: Blend back: "cccaaattt... cat!"
Practice Words: sat, dog, map, pot, dig, tag

2. Systematic Blending Practice (12 mins)

Teaching Focus: "Today we'll learn to blend sounds so smoothly that reading becomes automatic."

Blending Progression:

  1. Continuous sounds: /s/, /m/, /a/
  2. Mixed patterns: /s/-/a/-/t/
  3. Faster pace: Reduce gaps
  4. Automatic: Whole word recognition

Teaching Strategies:

  • Model smooth blending
  • Use hand gestures for connection
  • Practice at different speeds
  • Celebrate successful attempts

Blending Technique Steps:

  1. Show the written word: "map"
  2. Point to each letter and say sound: "/m/ /a/ /p/"
  3. Blend with continuous motion: "mmmaaaaapppp"
  4. Say the word clearly: "map"
  5. Students repeat the process

3. Segmentation for Spelling (12 mins)

Objective: "Now we'll practice breaking words apart to help us spell them correctly."

Segmentation Activities:

  • Sound counting: How many sounds in "dog"?
  • Chip pushing: Move chip for each sound
  • Box filling: Write letter in each sound box
  • Speed segmenting: Quick sound identification
Segmentation Process:
  1. Teacher says word: "got"
  2. Students repeat word
  3. Say slowly: "g-o-t"
  4. Count sounds on fingers: 3
  5. Push chip for each sound
  6. Write letters in boxes
Practice Words: pot, mat, dig, sap, top, mad, gap, sit

4. Decodable Text Reading (12 mins)

Introduction: "Let's use our blending skills to read a whole story!"

Sample Decodable Text:

"Sam and the Map"

Sam has a map.
The map is big.
Sam sits on a mat.
He looks at the map.
"I can go to the top," says Sam.
Sam pats the dog.
The dog sits on the mat too.

Reading Strategy:
  1. Pre-read vocabulary: map, mat, top, pats
  2. Read sentence by sentence
  3. Use sound buttons for tricky words
  4. Discuss meaning after each sentence
  5. Re-read for fluency
Comprehension Check: "What did Sam have? Where did he sit? What did he want to do?"

5. Fluency Challenge & Exit Ticket (4 mins)

Exit Ticket Tasks

Task 1: Blend these sounds to make a word: "/d/ /i/ /g/"
Task 2: Segment this word into sounds: "mop"

Assessment Criteria:

  • Emerging: Blends or segments with significant support
  • Developing: Completes both tasks with minor hesitation
  • Secure: Blends and segments quickly and accurately
Success Celebration: "You're becoming reading detectives! You can break the code and put it back together again."

📊 Assessment & Differentiation

Key Observation Points:

  • Smoothness of blending
  • Accuracy of segmentation
  • Reading fluency improvement
  • Confidence in applying strategies
  • Understanding of text meaning

Intervention Strategies:

  • Struggling: More modelling, slower pace
  • Confident: Longer decodable texts
  • Advanced: CVCC words (cats, dogs)
  • ELL Support: Vocabulary pre-teaching
Next Lesson Preview: We'll learn about consonant digraphs (ch, sh, th) - two letters that make one sound!

Kaiako Planning Snapshot

English Literacy — Structured Literacy & Phonics Foundations — Years 7–8

Te Mataiaho | English — Oral language, reading, and writing (Years 7–8). Achievement Objective: Students will read and write with increasing accuracy using phonics knowledge.

Ngā Whāinga Akoranga — Learning Intentions

  • Recognise and apply the focus grapheme–phoneme correspondence with accuracy
  • Blend and segment phonemes fluently in supported reading and writing tasks
  • Apply structured literacy strategies to decode and spell target words independently

Paearu Angitu — Success Criteria

  • I can identify and name the focus phonics pattern in at least 5 examples
  • I can blend phonemes to read 3 new words correctly without support
  • I can complete the exit task using the target pattern independently

Differentiation & Proximinal Guidance

Entry: pre-decodable word cards with visual supports and phoneme frames. On-level: target word list with blending practice. Extension: student-generated sentences using target pattern in context.

Cultural context: tikanga-based classroom protocols (karakia, mihimihi, manaakitanga) frame each session. Incorporate te reo Māori alongside structured literacy to honour hauora and whanaungatanga.