Big Box of Word Chunks

Practicing phonics just got a whole lot more fun! Picture an entire box full of onset and rime puzzle pieces, just waiting for word construction by phonetic construct. 220 letter puzzle pieces to be exact, consisting of word family pieces (-ead, -ee, -ub, -out, -ice, -at; 90 in all), consonant blends (bl-, fr-, kn-, str-; 2 each of 30), initial consonants (b, c..z; 3 each of 20), and consonant digraphs (2 each of ch-, wh-, sh-, th-, and ph-). Pieces are cut so that all beginnings and endings are interchangeable, but stay put when attached. Pieces are color-coded for easy segregation. The included Resource Guide has a word family reference list, directions, teaching suggestions, and five game and activity ideas. Many more await your invention (Random matching is always funjust reaching into the box and pulling out four chunks produced the words "gruff prone". Is that what an unhappy person is?). I also like that the chunks are shown printed on dotted middle-line ruling, allowing you to use for handwriting practice of the words. Just set atop some ruled practice paper for copying. Pieces are made from heavy cardboard (thicker than standard puzzle pieces) and have a glossy finish. I thought it would be cool if you could use the non-printed side to construct your own onsets and rimes to add on to the set. Guess what? My Expo® marker erased without a trace! So, you can use dry erase marker for one-time use of the blank sides, or use a permanent marker if you want to keep your additions. That makes this set even more versatile. You could even draw dry- erase shapes or letters across the backs of intended matches to make them self-checking.