My original plan had been to complete each set of free word family printables before moving on to the next vowel. But many of you have been asking for more word family houses — and I know that beginning readers can’t wait! I’m also pleased that blending sounds has become more automatic for my Five – and he’s ready to add more short vowels as well. So to go with my short a and short i word family houses — I bring you short o!
I’m not a fan of flash cards for beginning readers. They can be boring and tiresome – and frustrating at worst. Learning to read can be fun! Let’s not burden our kids with expectations of worksheets and flashcards that they have to plod through. While some kids will enjoy that kind of seat work (my daughter comes to mind), we need to provide hands-on learning opportunities wherever we can.
Especially if you have a busy boy like mine!
To assemble the five free word family houses for short o, follow these steps:
1. Print the document on brightly colored cardstock. Here’s what a sample download will look like:
2. Cut out the house and wheel. Make sure to cut into the house and snip out the window, too.
3. Laminate both pieces. (I love our affordable home laminator! ) If you’ve cut out the window before laminating, you will have a nice clear window:
Here are our finished houses:
We highly recommend this reading curriculum for learning short vowel words – it’s fantastic!
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Katie
I made these and the kids went crazy for them! Thank you!
Anna G
That’s so great to hear, Katie!
Marg
Thankyou so much for these cute little houses for the word families to live in! They will be a great resource for my ESL children.
Anna Geiger
So glad you can use them, Marg!
Ronda
Thanks for these word family activities. I am a student teacher looking for activities to do with the class I am working with. I have to teach a unit on word families and with so much to do already I love finding ideas from others that I can use or modify and use for the students that I am working with. It’s a lot easier to find stuff that other people have already used than it is to make it up and hope it works. Thanks Again!
Anna Geiger
You’re very welcome, Rhonda! I remember student teaching — a very busy time! I hope you find other things here that can help ease your load.
Anna Geiger
Sorry, *Ronda*
stephanie
These are great!
Anna Geiger
Thanks, Stephanie 🙂 I’ll be returning to your post about the 10 frames soon (I’m pretty sure that was you!) My daughter is having trouble with the school’s “new math” which requires them to work with 10 when adding and subtracting. I need tips!!
Beth
My kids favorite activity in Kindergarten were always these word wheels – what a great free printable! Pinned and added to buffer. Thanks for linking up to TGIF! Have a great weekend =)
Beth
Anna Geiger
Thank you, Beth!
Deb @ Living Montessori Now
I love your word family houses, Anna! Thanks so much for creating and sharing them! I featured your post as the Free Printable of the Day at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page and on Pinterest. 🙂
Anna Geiger
Thank you so much for the feature, Deb!! I always, always appreciate that!
Jackie
Thanks for sharing your great work. I was teaching my child with your A and I family word mats and wonder if you will make the O mats too. Thanks.
Anna Geiger
Yes, Jackie, the rest of the short vowel mats will be shared right along with the word family houses by mid-January if not sooner. 🙂
Niki
You are awesome. Thanks so much for sharing.
Anna Geiger
Thank you, Niki 🙂 I hope you can use them!
Margie
Thank you, Anna, for posting the short o families. I know you’ve got a lot going, so I really appreciate your getting these out. My mom helper was going to print, laminate, and assemble them after school today. I have my first graders list all 8 words and then illustrate one of them and write a complete sentence with another. Makes a simple phonics project that reinforces basic skills.,
Take care,
Margie
Anna Geiger
You’re welcome, Margie! Glad to hear these are getting some use in your classroom!! Sounds like you’ve got a great way to make the most out of them. I’ll be sharing the rest before Christmas. Saw Kate’s giant snowfall today and heard a little Max song 🙂