CVC Prewriting

A collection of CVC prewriting worksheets for Kindergarten students. Students will trace the CVC word, with a gradual increase to help improve their writing ability while learning the basic concept of blending with CVC.

What is CVC?

Before we get into the free Kindergarten CVC worksheets, you must understand what they actually are. CVC stands for consonant-vowel-consonant. A simple format for young learners to easily blend and decode a word.

CVC is the very beginning stages of reading. It allows the students to put their phonemic awareness into full use. CVC words only use basic single sounds, so it avoids any of the tough digraphs sounds that are learnt in later developments of reading.

Phonics

Phonics is essential for children to decode letters into their respective sounds, a skill that makes independent reading more efficient. Phonetic reading is very important in the education of children. Phonetic reading can help children learn new words independently.

The main advantage of phonics is that is it helps increase a child’s fluency in reading. Fluency does not regard speed, it means reading the text accurately with the correct pronunciation. Through practice the speed that a child can read will be built up.

Blending is key when it comes to phonics. It involves combining all the sounds to make the word. The hardest obstacle for teachers is getting the students to understand the technique. Through practice and patient, students will be able to pick it up.

How can we use CVC worksheets effectively?

This a question I get asked the most as an International Kindergarten teacher. My job is simple, get the students to recognise their single sounds, be able to blend and decode the word while working on their pronunciation.

CVC worksheets are very simplistic but easy to teach ineffectively. Simply reading the word to the student and getting them to repeat after yourself is not enough. Pictures can distract the students, giving a false indication of whether they know what they are reading. I have seen many cases of a student looking at the picture first, then telling their answer.

Lets start off with the key component, reading the word. Follow these instructions carefully.

• Sound out each letter apart in order.
• Say the word after the last letter.
• Get the student to repeat after yourself, with them trying it by themselves after multiple repetitions.

To break it down even more, let us look at the word cat. Break it down. C–A–T, CAT. Repeat it one more time for the student to register the pattern in their brain. C–A–T, CAT. Get the student to repeat the pattern on the third try, if no success, simply keep repeating until they are able.

My student is not getting the concept?

If your student is having difficult blending, do not worry. Putting pressure on a child will only cause them to resist and fear you more. Encourage positive learning. Positive reinforcement is key. Here are some key tips when teaching CVC:

• Teach with rhythm, students will be able to pick up the pattern more effectively.
• Break the word down even more. For example with cat. Start of with just C–A. Add the ‘T’ later on.
• Positivity, positivity, positivity. The smallest achievements mean the world to learners, especially ones in Kindergarten.