Manipulation

What is it?

Children are able to add, delete, or move sounds in a word to form a new word

Importance: This skill is important as it allows readers to test alternative for spellings that represent more than one
sound

How do I teach it?

You can embed manipulation into your everyday routines: morning message, read alouds, snack time, dressing, math,
music, and transitions.

Students typically learn to manipulate initial sounds, then final sounds, then middle sounds. This could be consonants
or vowels. Before they go ahead and make the new word you can discuss which sound they are changing. Is it the
first, second or third sound? When doing this activity, it’s important to only change one sound at a time. The words
don’t always have to be real words either. This is fun to do with made up words. This helps students really listen to
the sounds in the words.

• Songs- Activities like substituting different sounds for the first sound of a familiar song can help children
develop manipulation

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily; Life is but a dream

Bow, bow, bow your boat bently bown the beam. Berrily, berrily, berrily, berrily; Bife is but a beam.

• Other Songs-Apples and Bananas, Willably Wallaby Woo

• Silly sound games- This is a fun activity to do with younger children. First pick a category to focus on, such as
animals, names, or colors. Pick one thing from the category, such as the color black. Then ask your students to
change the first sound in black to make new silly words. It could go something like: black, glack, slack, clack,
plack…. This is a simple activity that can be done while your students are sitting in a circle on the mat or lining
up at the door.

Resources for manipulation:

• George, J. Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here

• Rey, H. A. Curious George
• Seuss, Dr. There's a Wocket in My Pocket
• Yolen, Jane. Owl Moon