Phoneme Substitution Practice Using Task Cards

Phoneme substitution is a key skill for developing strong reading abilities. This resource is designed to help students practice substituting individual sounds (phonemes) in words to create new words. It can be used in guided reading groups or as a full-class activity to reinforce phonemic awareness.

Provide each student with a mini whiteboard where they can write the word from each task card, say it out loud, and then change the phoneme to create a new word. This activity enhances phoneme substitution skills while offering a fun, interactive way to learn.

Task cards can also be used with whiteboards, notebooks, or reading journals. They make a great warm-up activity to start your reading lessons.

Phoneme Manipulation and Scaffolding Tips

Encourage students to use visual aids like an anchor chart or an alphabet display to help them sound out words they may find challenging. After completing the task cards, have students identify which phoneme (initial, medial, or final) was changed to make the new word.

This resource can also be expanded into additional phoneme manipulation activities, such as scoot games, comprehension reviews, and more.

• Gallery Walk (Scoot Activity) For an engaging activity, hang all 18 task cards around the room and organize a gallery walk. Students can work individually or in pairs, writing their answers on paper. When you say “Scoot,” they rotate to the next card, continuing until they’ve completed all the tasks.
• Show Me! In this whole-class review, give each student a mini dry-erase board and marker. Project a task card on the screen and have them solve for the answer on their board. Once everyone has written down their answers, say “Show Me!” and have students flip their boards to check their responses. This allows you to quickly identify who needs additional help with phoneme manipulation.
• Mirror Game – This small-group activity is a fun twist on the classic “Newlywed Game.” Split the class into two teams, facing each other. Display a task card and give students time to write the new word on their boards. On your cue, they flip their boards to reveal their answers to their partner. Points are awarded based on correct answers, making this game both fun and instructional.

Download this Phoneme Substitution Activity Today!

Print the task cards on thick card for durability. You can also punch a hole in the corner of each card to store them on a binder ring, making them easy to keep organized.

Use the dropdown on the Download button to select either the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource to best suit your classroom needs.

This resource was created by Samantha Rose, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Phoneme Manipulation Worksheets and More!

Check out more fun ways for your students to practice phoneme manipulation: 

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